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Chapter Text

Izuku felt the judgmental stares as soon as he walked into the dining hall of the Academy of the Enchanted and Unnatural. The antlers of blooming wood upon his head of green curls made him easy to spot, but it wasn’t unusual for someone with forest nymph ancestry. What was unusual was the tall male that followed close behind him, with his light blonde hair, scarlet eyes, and a crown made of two twisting horns. The leathery wings, gargoyle-like feet, and scaled, swishing tail just added to the effect. The only comfort the nymph felt as he continued to an empty bench came from the heavy steps his fawn-like ears heard falling behind him.

About to slide himself onto the bench, Izuku was carefully picked up by his demon familiar only to be sat on the creature’s lap as he himself took residence on the bench. The nymph couldn’t stop his blush, and he nervously wrung his hands around his long, thin, tufted tail, but didn’t oppose such an action. He then quickly began collecting food for his breakfast from the serving trays set before him, scrambled eggs and some fruit, before he lifted his eyes about to ask the one with him a question. Instead, a soft cough caused him to peer across the table.

“Deku?” the brown-eyed and brown-haired white mage questioned.

“Ochaco?” Izuku asked back.

She looked from his freckled face to the red eyes staring icily in her direction, “The ceremony wasn’t wrong then?”

Izuku shook his head and, with tumbling hands, took a bite before timidly answering, “No, it wasn’t. He came to me through the hearth in my room.”

“This a school for white magic though, Deku, and he’s, well, he’s of the darker kind.”

Izuku didn’t want to discuss this. The ceremony had given him a mark that spanned his right arm, up his shoulder to cross his upper back. It told him everything he needed to know. His familiar was demonic, powerful, and ancient which had very much also announced that Izuku was even more of an outcast than before. Even though most seemed disappointed or scandalized, with him having pure magic of creation running through his veins, Izuku found peace with this. He needed a protector; the Spirits knew neither his mother nor father had been very protective of him at all. He only found some small semblance of it when he had entered the academy, but now he had the embodiment of it with him.

Turning his jade eyes back up to the one given to him, Izuku quietly asked, “Would you like something to eat, Kacchan? Some of my eggs?”

The demon turned his head into the nymph’s neck drawing out a tinkling giggle, before pulling away and giving his blessed companion an answer, “I like meat and spice, Izuku, or should I call you Deku? That is what the shitty mage called you.”

Izuku reached across the table to another dish and grabbed some bacon with his fork in offering, “You can call me Deku. That’s fine. It’s just a nickname is all, something I got used to from my father since he found me worthless.”

“And your damn friends call you this, when it means ‘worthless’?” the horned beast inquired before pulling the bacon from the fork with his razor-sharp teeth.

Izuku chuckled nervously, grabbing some ham next, “I introduced myself as that. My father is the one who brought me here, happy to be rid of me.”

The demon nodded in understanding before removing the ham from the fork in the same way he had the bacon. Taking the eating utensil from his nymph, he scooped up some eggs and offered them to his familiar. Izuku happily ate what he was given.

“Kacchan, was it?” Ochaco began, trying to figure out why this had happened but was shocked by a low growl that ripped from the demon’s throat.

“You will not fucking call me that. You are not my damn promised. I am Katsuki,” he continued growling. “What could you possibly need from me, you shitty witch?”

Ochaco sputtered before glaring, “You can’t talk to me like that!”

“I fucking can. You have no ownership of me.”

Izuku jumped, the tip of his tail puffing and his ears up in alarm, when a stern voice yelled, “Midoriya! Get that thing under control! I will not allow the curse you’ve been given to ruin breakfast!”

“Iida, he’s not a curse,” Izuku angrily responded as steam blew out Katsuki’s nostrils.

The bespectacled, dark-haired, young man narrowed his eyes as he sat beside Ochaco, “Things of white magic are miracles, and those of black magic are curses. He is too, a curse.”

Izuku’s fingers curled into the wood of the table as arcs of glowing, green magic flared across it, opening tiny fishers for vines to grow, while tears of frustration pooled on his eyelids, “I am sorry the familiar I was paired with wasn’t someone in our class with training in white magic, like you and Ochaco. I am sorry they weren’t some majestic being that you could admire, like a sparkling unicorn, but he is still mine. This is who the Spirits have chosen for me. He is Katsuki. Not a thing, or a curse, just Katsuki to you.”

“But what does he offer you, Deku?” Ochaco demanded. “The ceremony had to be wrong. You are a being of creation,” she continued as she motioned to the vining Morning Glories along the table, “and he is one of destruction.”

Izuku’s large, doe eyes closed for a moment as he swallowed. He opened them to pick up a strawberry that lay on his plate as his other hand wove itself into the larger palm on his thigh. He studied the fruit as he thought how best to answer this.

While some familiars happened to also be one’s soulmate, soul bound since creation, it was usually someone who held similar magic. Ochaco and Iida for example were expected to be a couple now. Even Kirishima and his familiar, a werewolf hybrid with an animal spirit, were likely to be an item, but they were both of white magic. Yes, werewolves were still considered the grayer edge of white, but they were still accepted.

If Izuku were to announce the rarity of his existence, that he was in fact an intersex nymph to be the mate of a demonic entity, it would not go over well. For him to breed with such a creature and be such a curse to his kind might even be considered the most devious of blasphemy. Even with this being true, Izuku knew Katsuki wasn’t just a familiar that was made to be a magical partner and helper. He was to be his mate. He grinned when he remembered what the demon had just called him, he was the being’s promised.

Izuku was about to answer when the rough voice above him did instead, “I offer everything he would ever need. Don’t talk about me like I am some damn lowly thing. I offer centuries of knowledge and experience. I know as much about your shitty white magic as I do my own dark variety. What special thing do you have to offer your familiar, fucking cookies?”

Ochaco sat aghast, eyes wide and mouth open, while Iida looked at the winged being with a harsh glare. Katsuki only huffed, then speared a blueberry with a claw and offered it to the nymph on his lap. With quiet thanks, Izuku removed it carefully with his fingers and popped it into his mouth. He hummed at its flavor before eating another.

Izuku was startled when the two mages forcibly stood and left the table. The nymph swallowed against the lump in his throat. He knew he would lose friends and acquaintances because of this but he didn’t expect it to hurt so much. Feeling Katsuki slowly pull him close, he let himself collapse into the embrace, fingers clinging to the surprisingly smooth fabric covering Katsuki’s chest while curling into it as he tired to fight back tears.

“Holy shit, you hit the jackpot Midoriya!” a surprisingly friendly voice greeted moments later.

Izuku opened his eyes to the very werewolf he had been thinking of earlier, red eyes, raven hair, and huge sharp-toothed grin welcoming him into a conversation. Kirishima sat on the bench that had just recently been vacated. He tilted his head as he studied Katsuki, like a puppy does a new toy.

“I mean, look at him. Mineta, the disgusting freak, was hoping you’d end up with a horny succubus,” the werewolf cringed, “but no, you got some, I don’t know, what is he?”

Izuku couldn’t help the smile spreading across his face as Katsuki rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated, “Werewolves …”

Izuku sat straight and then shrugged as he looked up to his partner’s face, “Kacchan’s a battle demon, right?”

Katsuki grunted, “A commander of a legion if you want to get fucking technical. What is this furry idiot’s name?”

“I am not furry right now,” the werewolf whined but then brightened, “but the name is Eijiro of the Kirishima pack!”

“He didn’t deny being an idiot,” Katsuki mumbled under his breath and Izuku gave him a soft swat on his naked bicep in reprimand.

“Kirishima, this is Katsuki,” Izuku introduced his demon. “I don’t know if he has a pack or clan name,” he then continued with a furrowed brow while tapping his chin. “He kind of found me in the middle of the night and I was little more worried about a winged beast suddenly appearing in my room.”

Katsuki chuckled at that, “I just wanted to find you as quickly as possible. I had been waiting hundreds of years for you. If you are curious though, my legion is called Bakugo.”

Kirishima nodded, looked at the two untouched, food-filled plates in front of him, shrugged, and started eating while speaking, “I am glad you have your familiar, and he’s fuckin’ awesome, but I can’t find mine for the life of me. Was searching around the school grounds all night.”

Izuku was glad Kirishima wasn’t treating him any different so he offered assistance, “Maybe if you show me your mark, I can at least help you find out what kind of animal spirit they are?”

The werewolf nodded with his mouth full before whipping off the tunic he wore. His mark spanned the top of his chest and Izuku studied it for a moment, before standing to lean over the table to get a closer look. His narrow, spade-shaped ears flicked to and fro as he muttered to himself. And then he sat back down with a huff, a solid arm encircling his waist.

“I don’t think it’s just an animal spirit.”

“What?” Kirishima squawked.

“I mean, I can see where the Reader could have been mistaken since the ceremony goes rather quickly, but I think you are actually looking for a Kitsune. They are an animal spirit in a way, but they are usually more revered and powerful. Plus, depending on the number of tails, they could be old, like ancient old, you never know. That also means, they may have the ability to shift, and kitsune are tricksters, so you may have passed them multiple times without knowing.”

“Izuku, I think you are confusing him,” Katsuki said with a smirk as the shapeshifter looked on with his mouth wide open and eyes staring. “Just, tell the furball what to the fuck to look for.”

Izuku blushed embarrassed, “Sorry, you know how I like studying all these things, Kirishima. Kitsune, you know the foxlike spirits that can have many tails. They can be either female or male but tend to look beautifully androgynous. They like gifts. If you plan on using today to also go searching, bring a gift, something shiny or interesting.”

“A gift,” the toothy male said with a smile, “I can do that. Something shiny?”

Katsuki was suddenly fingering the collection of beaded necklaces he wore, before unhooking a glittering, dark violet one and offering it to the werewolf, “Volcanic glass from deep within the earth. It will draw your familiar’s attention immediately. Just wear it and they won’t be able to help themselves from coming close.”

Kirishima looked at the necklace and then to the demon, “Are you serious?”

“You are the only one so far who hasn’t looked at, spoke of, or treated Izuku fucking badly since we walked in here.”

The shapeshifter’s eyes went wide in surprise before he started looking around the dining hall, his slightly pointed ears twitching a bit, “I didn’t know. I mean you were made for each other, right? So, why does anyone think they can judge? I don’t get it.”

Katsuki held the necklace closer to Kirishima, “Take it. If it doesn’t bring your kitsune to you, I’ll eat the rest of my shitty jewelry.”

The excited werewolf shoved another fork full of food into his mouth before grabbing the necklace from the demon’s palm and running out of the dining hall. Izuku smiled up at his own familiar and then investigated the beads still around Kacchan’s neck with gentle fingertips. When he then turned to unhook one of them from around the blonde’s neck, Katsuki only smirked and held his forehead against the nymph’s to watch which necklace he had chosen.

Izuku chose one that mimicked scarlet eyes he had quickly grown so fond of and claws that would never hurt him.

***

Katsuki followed behind Izuku as he wandered around the school grounds. His promised nymph had explained that those that had turned seventeen this year before the harvest moon and partook of the pairing ceremony were allowed the whole week to search or wait for their familiar. The demon had made a point to find his promised the moment the dark mark on his left shoulder, arm, and pectoral had materialized. He had been done waiting.

Being one of, if not the strongest in his realm of the netherworld was amusing and all, but it did not hold a candle to being free. Yes, he knew, most demons thought being tethered to another being from the realm of light was a form of slavery but Katsuki was tired of ruling over a bunch of stupid fools that were only slaves to dark magic. He could breathe here without another thing demanding his presence or his power to destroy a different legion like his own to prove another pointless claim. It was just a never-ending pissing contest.

The demon had been pleased when he entered through the hearth of that cold room to find this beautiful, dozing nymph. Concern quickly overrode that feeling when he realized how little was in the sleeping quarters. The few blankets the young thing had to keep warm were ragged and fraying. There was one small trunk full of, what looked like, secondhand clothing and only a few other things that even made the place looked lived in. Katsuki had been showered with things when he was small and this was this complete opposite.

Quietly approaching the bed, Katsuki had noticed the green-haired gift shivering even in sleep from the lack of quilts or furs. His pillow did not offer much comfort either, flat as it was, for his neck or for him to turn his head and allow space for his antlers. What was amazing, was the glowing plant life that grew from underneath the bedframe, to curl around its corners and edges, covered in barb-like thorns. Even while dreaming, the nymph was protecting himself, but from what?

Katsuki had reached carefully and slowly over the threshold of angry foliage to comb his claws through dark jade curls, only for impossibly large eyes of the same shade to pop open. The nymph’s hand had sprung forward, the thorns obeying the action to begin wrapping around him. Katsuki did not struggle, he stood there and took the punishment for scaring the creature. The vines did not tighten seeming to notice the demon’s lack of aggression.

“Who are you and why are you here?” the young man on the bed asked shakily as he sat up.

“The one you’ve been given. I started searching for you are soon as I felt your mark burn into my hide.”

The nymph climbed out of his bed then. The thorns curled away from his freckled skin as he hugged himself with his arms and tail, still trembling with just a long nightshirt covering him. He then slowly approached the demon standing in his room.

“Where is it? Let me see it,” he requested and Katsuki nodded his head to his left arm. The fearful, little being walked to that side, the vines pulling away to make it visible, and ran his gentle fingertips against the brand only for it to glow like the plants that guarded him, “Oh. Oh wow.”

The vines suddenly retreated to the bed, and the nymph pulled down the neck of his nightshirt to show his right shoulder. Katsuki kept his sharp eyes on the face now staring at the floor as he moved to look at what could only be his own mark. He grinned when he turned to see it in the glow of the burning ambers of the fireplace. It was only a small corner of it, but there was no mistaking the stark lines. He ran the back of his fingers across it, causing the mark to become alight in fierce orange.

“I am Izuku,” the nymph quietly offered. “I have no gifts or anything of much importance to give you but myself.”

“Katsuki. Just your existence is enough,” he had answered back just as quietly. “Go back to bed little nymph, I will keep you warm.”

Katsuki had done just that until Izuku rose at dawn to bathe before heading to breakfast. His cute, little promised had blushed when Katsuki had followed him into the bathing area. It was a large room with basins dug into the limestone fed constantly with fresh water from the natural occurring hot springs. Each one was sectioned off with privacy walls and heavy curtains, the domed glass ceiling above provided light. The demon had not dared enter the water with the nymph this time, worried about scaring the cautious creature, but had quickly found out why he was so protective of himself.

Izuku was not only male, but also female, and that was something Katsuki would never have guessed he would be blessed with. They were rare, intersex nymphs. It was something his people whispered about as if you spoke of it too loudly it could steal your very life from you. Kitsune and such spirits were known to have the ability to carry young no matter their gender but nymphs prided themselves on being truthful creatures. To be intersex was thought to be the very embodiment of deception among their own kind but to demons, this was the same as being given uncontested lordship over an entire kingdom.

When exiting the bath, Izuku would not dare even look him in the eye. He picked up a towel that sat on a nearby shelf and began drying himself like he was expecting a sudden punishment for just breathing. Katsuki got up from the smooth floor he had been sitting on, grabbed another fluffy towel and stood behind the nymph who began to shake uncontrollably. He gently brought the towel to the head of emerald curls, being careful of those blooming antlers, and began drying the damp hair. Izuku then froze and that is when the knowledge that kindness was not part of this lovely creature’s everyday life hit Katsuki hard.

Having to witness it in the dining hall had been enough for the demon. He was glad when Izuku had headed outside to the forest surrounding the large fortress that made up his school. As the demon followed his promised through the trees and brush, he became more aware of the nymph’s uniqueness. Branches bowed to touch the nymph, flowers turned their blooms to face him, and anything green directly in his way gave him room to walk through. He may not be loved by many that walked around on two legs, but the things that grew from the earth adored him.

***

Izuku crunched into a fresh apple the kind tree had given as he sat high in its branches to get out of the noon day sun. Katsuki was lounging in a tree across from him, the tip of his tail curling this way and that with his huge wings wrapped around his torso as he dozed. The changing leaves let the nymph know before he heard the commotion. His demon familiar’s eyes squinted open just as a male, three-tailed kitsune, with chin length, straight, flaxen hair burst through some bushes in between the two trees.

Keen golden eyes looked at Izuku before jumping up to the branch where the nymph sat. The foxlike spirit wore the volcanic glass necklace and Katsuki moved to watch him as the kitsune shook himself to take on an appearance identical to Izuku. He smiled at the surprised nymph, before relaxing on the branch.

“I hope you don’t mind. I am having a bit of fun with a werewolf. He thought I’d be an easy catch just because I am supposed to be his familiar,” he chuckled in a voice strange to be coming out of that body.

Kirishima, sharp teeth bared and eyes wide and wild, burst into the area next. He sniffed, turned toward the two identical nymphs, and huffed. A grin spread across his face before he fell into a seated position on the forest floor.

“Midoriya, you were right, the little fucker came for the ‘something shiny’ as soon as he eyed it,” Kirishima drawled as he watched both nymphs intently before turning to look at the being hiding in the shadows of the other tree’s branches. “And Bakugo, thanks for that necklace, he obviously loves the thing. I wonder if he knows it’s cursed by a demon?”

“What!?” the imposter Izuku suddenly shrieked, falling off the branch and losing the glamor as Katsuki’s booming laugh cracked through the tiny clearing.

Kirishima pounced and pinned the wiggling kitsune in his lap, “I caught you now! Stop running from me already!”

“You said the necklace was cursed by a demon! ARE YOU MAD!?” the kitsune was screeching. “Let me take it off!”

Izuku could not help but also laugh then and the kitsune turned to glare at him while still trying to get free from Kirishima’s arms.

“It’s not cursed,” Izuku corrected with a smile and dropped from the branch. He pulled at his own red beaded necklace, “I have one too and Kacchan would never give me something cursed.”

“Who is Kacchan? How do you know you can trust them?” the spirit huffed out as he stilled in the werewolf’s arms.

Izuku lifted his eyes to the crimson, glowing orbs in the other tree, “My familiar.”

“Oh, well, yeah, they wouldn’t want you cursed. So, this necklace,” he nodded his chin to the one he now wore around his neck, “is from your familiar? What are they to get ahold of something so rare? I have never seen the stuff before.”

Izuku lifted his hand and spread his fingers, the branches around Katsuki doing the same, allowing the demon to be easily seen, “That is Katsuki of the Bakugo legion and I am Izuku Midoriya. Can I ask your name?”

The kitsune turned, his eyes widening as Katsuki’s clawed, scaled feet hit the ground, “Uh, the name is Denki of the Kaminari skulk and you have a fucking demon as a familiar. One built for battle, holy shit.”

“He’s pretty awesome! And since names are being passed around, I am Eijiro of pack Kirishima but most just call me by my pack name,” the werewolf happily added to the conversation.

“Furball, you were chasing the little, fox fucker, and he didn’t even know your name yet?” Katsuki said with a roll of his eyes.

“This guy swiped the necklace before I could even say a proper ‘hello’!” Kirishima whined.

“That’s what we do,” Denki shrugged as the arms around him loosened. “You have to earn your right to have us as a familiar. We don’t just roll on our backs and say, ‘I am here for the taking!’ That would be so boring.”

“Well, Midoriya didn’t even have to search for Bakugo. The demon was nice enough to find him instead,” the werewolf countered with arms crossed as the kitsune turned around in his lap.

“Duh,” the triangle-eared blonde responded. “Demons are possessive! Once they know that something is theirs, they make sure to get to it. Geez, you should know that!”

“Why would I know about demons!?”

“Why wouldn’t you!?”

“Because we go to a school of white magic so they skirt around the dark magic stuff!” Kirishima exclaimed.

Izuku and Katsuki watched and listened to the banter, every now and then adding a statement or two. When the sky quickly grew dark with thick clouds and the wind kicked up, the four decided it was best to start making their way to the school. Denki was curious about it, of course, only having lived in the spirit realm and venturing only along the edge of the one of light that touched his own. He had never dared near the opposite edge where the dark realm lay.

Amazed by the plants’ admiration for Izuku as he moved through and under them, Denki asked, “You said you are just a forest nymph?”

Izuku nodded, “Yes. I mean, my father is a fire nymph and my mother one of the forests. And when nymphs have children, they are either one or the other. The genes for magic don’t mix, just the ones for appearance.”

“Hm, I have never seen plants act this way towards one of you. I have only met a few but you don’t even have to do anything really, they just reach for you,” the kitsune commented as Kirishima nodded his head in agreement and Katsuki listened.

Izuku nervously raised a hand to stroke an antler, his slender tail wrapping around one of his legs, “They have learned I need any protection they can give me.”

Before anyone could ask for more clarification on that statement, the heavens opened and rain started coming down like furious waterfalls. Izuku was immediately picked up and wrapped in Katsuki’s wings while the nymph heard Kirishima’s clothing ripping, signaling his shift to get Denki and himself back to the fortress quickly. The demon was keeping pace with the large werewolf carrying the kitsune on his back. They reached the large overhang above the entrance before the first flash of lightning and crash of thunder.

***

The rest of the week had been used for all the new pairings to get to know each other more. The school now had extra occupants, which is why each student had a room of their own. They were to make it a place safe for themselves and their familiars. The students that were paired up with another student were to choose if they would share a room or not, and if so, the chosen room they would share got a larger bed. Izuku had nervously submitted the form for a larger bed, with Katsuki standing next to him, since his familiar was obviously going to be sharing it.

Most who had familiars other than another student were paired with the average animal spirit, sprite, pixie, or fairy. With those creatures’ much smaller sizes, or the abilities to shift into animal forms, a larger bed was not necessarily needed. They could ask for nests, specialty cushions, fairy or pixies houses, or sprite dens. When Izuku was submitting his own form in the headmaster’s mailbox, Kirishima had walked up to do the same. Kitsune could be rather picky.

After the first day of following and listening to Izuku talk about whatever was on his mind or answering any questions he had, Katsuki had left as soon as the nymph had fallen asleep that night to quietly go back to his realm. He needed to grab some of his things that might be useful. He had to admit, it was quite a lot, furs to keep Izuku warm through the upcoming winter, clothing and jewelry for himself, maybe some extra pieces to size down somehow for the nymph, and of course his weapons. A demon had magic, but their weapons were like an extension of their own bodies.

He returned a couple hours later to the shivering nymph and quickly unrolled one of the furs to spread over him. Thankfully, the thorns around the bed no longer saw Katsuki as a threat, or it would have been rather exhausting. He wanted to help his promised sleep, not wake him up like the first night. After he was sure Izuku was warm, he started setting his things around the room, trying to make it organized.

He had plenty of space to work with, what with Izuku’s lack of belongings. There was a bookshelf with only bound school notes, school texts, and a few other books about magic. The rest was free for the taking. Katsuki placed some smaller weapons and his jewelry boxes on it. He easily went through the trunk and made half of it available for some of his clothing, but it looked they would need to get another for the other furs and more clothing when the demon insisted on getting Izuku better apparel. He had heaps to trade for new things.

After that night, the free days passed quickly. Izuku tended to stay in the forest as much as possible, not that Katsuki could blame him, only eating breakfast and dinner in the school. The plants provided the nymph his lunch and the demon hunted for his own. They never stopped learning more about each other. Izuku wanted to know everything, and Katsuki only needed to observe to learn. The first day back to Izuku’s classes came too soon. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki had joined Izuku in the bath the morning classes began. Of course, the nymph refused to look at him once he stripped naked. The demon could see his blush wrap around the back of that slender neck as Izuku scrubbed himself and he couldn’t help but smirk. His promised was a cute, little thing. He didn’t hesitate to take the second washcloth to wash that freckled back.

Freezing for only a moment, the nymph allowed it. Katsuki was always a smart strategist, he knew when to push and when to wait. He would not go about gaining all Izuku’s trust foolishly. There was a lot buried in that green-haired head and he would unearth it in its entirely when the time was right. Once the demon was done with the other’s back, he turned to begin washing the rest of himself and was met with surprise a moment later.

Shaking but sure hands began washing between his wings very, very gently. Izuku was most likely studying them as he scrubbed. Katsuki had seen him to do such things while looking at insects crawling along a bloom or studying the beads on the necklace he had gotten from the demon. The nymph was a curious being and the intelligence he gained from everything he noticed he put to use. Katsuki had seen it in the last week being together.

“Can I cleanse your wings or is there a special way I am supposed to? The skin between the fingers look thin. I don’t want to hurt them somehow,” came a soft voice from behind him.

Katsuki chuckled, “They have seen so many shitty battles, you won’t hurt them. Move back and I will spread one for you, it will make it easier to clean.”

He heard this promised wade back in the water and spread his wing out and down so it almost laid itself on the rippling surface, extending over the floor even with the bath’s rim. They were large things, able to lift his weight and then some. The demon had been told they were beautiful even in their menacing appearance, starting black then fading into a dark green to end in a burning, bright orange. The black scales also covered the bridge of his nose, cheekbones, joints, tail, feet, and the backs of his hands.

Chuffing at the feeling of careful hands stroking the pinion, he squeezed some water from the rag he used to wash his body out onto his spiky hair, making it droop. As he scrubbed his claws through it, he heard Izuku mumbling to himself his observations on the coloring and the elasticity of the appendage as he washed. Katsuki looked back at that green head bent over the wing and shook it to get the nymph’s attention.

“I have two of them. Since you’re finished with that one, you can wash and study the other,” he spoke as he ran his tail up the nymph’s side which caused him to startle.

Izuku nodded, “Sorry. It’s just so interesting.”

Katsuki faced forward again, spreading his other wing while folding up the clean one, about to dunk his head but stopped himself when he felt a slender, smooth tail wrap around his scaly one for a moment. Another smirk made its way to his lips. The demon’s nymph was too curious for his own good, not that he’d hold it against Izuku. He was probably the only darkness dweller to enter this area in decades.

After that wonderfully interesting bath, they went back to the room so they could pick up a few things. Izuku needed his school supplies and Katsuki decided to take a bag of things to do if he grew bored. He most likely knew everything Izuku was learning, being centuries older, but like hell he was going to leave his promised to go about his day alone. He had seen enough of the sneers, heard plenty foul words, and had witnessed some cruel things thrown the forest lover’s way.

Katsuki made sure no one would mess with either of them today. His heavy, red cape was fastened around each shoulder with engraved leather straps, he wore his hellhound hide pants covering his legs to just below his knee and laced tightly, a brown leather belt with his legion's symbol as the belt buckle, and his ears, horns, and neck had jewelry of gold, beads, teeth and claws. His chest was bare showing off the brand Izuku’s existence had left on his skin and a few piercings as well. He knew he looked like the demon he was and didn’t care one bit.

Izuku had blushed but hadn’t said anything against it, although he did surprisingly ask, “Can Kacchan pierce my ears? I have always wanted to but I couldn’t afford the earrings. You have some extras, right?”

“Want some decorations, do you?” the other had grinned as he leaned to look at those furry, spearhead-shaped ears. “I can fucking do that. Probably have a few things for your antlers if you want some of those too.”

Izuku had nodded with a smile, “Tonight then, Kacchan can pierce them tonight?”

“Sure,” the demon grunted out. “I’ll make sure to have the perfect damn earrings ready.”

Smiling even bigger, the nymph grabbed his bag, books, and shabby old cloak that Katsuki was planning to quickly replace. That thing could barely stop a breeze let alone a blizzard if one howled through the area. In fact, the demon had brought back fabrics and all the fixings to make a new one. They were in the bag he was carrying.

The large hall down the center of the school was not made of stone and mortar. Instead, huge, ancient trees spaced evenly on either side, with doors to different rooms set in between the thick trunks, made the hall. Magical lattice filled any holes before reaching the canopy of leaves and branches so thick, shingles did not even compare. Multicolored lanterns that never went out hung from the lowest branches. It was supposedly built by dryads, the long-lost ancestors of the nymph race.

Izuku looked so natural walking through it, tail swaying happily, ears perked, one hand running along every rough trunk they passed. He had explained its construction to Katsuki with such a reverence that the demon treated the hall with the same respect as a temple. He did not dare touch anything here, worried even a wisp of his own burning magic may damage it. The trees here loved Izuku as much as those outside, he could sense it.

Entering the classroom held an entirely different ambiance. The nymph’s shoulders slumped, his slender tail fell and curled inward, and those expressive fawn ears drooped. It was like Izuku deflated. There were just a few others in the room so far, with their familiars of course, and yet the being in front of Katsuki looked ready for an ambush.

Katsuki made sure to stay as close to Izuku as possible, guarding his back. The demon did not enjoy his nymph looking so anxious as he set his things on a large desk that he shared with another student. As he sat in his chair, Izuku grabbed one of Katsuki’s clawed hands for comfort and the scarlet-eyed being understood why. He could feel the eyes staring at them, studying them like some sort of odd exhibit and his emerald-haired promised needed to physically feel him nearby.

Crouching down so he was more level with the seated nymph’s face, Katsuki smirked before asking, “What is your first shitty class again?”

Izuku let out a little giggle, “Kacchan, it’s not ‘shitty’, it’s Magic Theory.”

“Magic Theory,” the demon rolled his eyes, “you learn more about that with fucking experience and damn battle than through classes.” He held up his palm, little sparks popping from it, “These for example, most people think shitty water would be best to stop them but not really.”

“Then what works best?” his familiar asked, ears perked forward and eyes zeroed in on his hand.

Katsuki closed his hand into fist, “That’s a well-guarded secret, Izuku. No damn fool will learn it, but I will tell you later.”

“Kacchan is amazing,” Izuku smiled.

“Of course, I am,” the demon smiled sharply. “Wouldn’t leave a mark that large on your skin if I was some worthless nobody.”

Izuku, sighing with a smile at his demon’s smugness, was suddenly distracted by the sound of someone sprinting down the hall toward the classroom. Not a moment later, in burst a short, dark-violet haired monstrosity known as Mineta. His eyes were darting around the room until they landed on the fawn-looking nymph watching him with curiosity.

“Where is she, your succubus!? Tell me she’s sexy!” he practically yelled as he raced over.

Sighing, Izuku answered with, “First, my demon isn’t a ‘she.’”

“Oh, an incubus then. Can they at least like hex some girls for me?”

Shaking his head and then dropping his face into his palm, he sighed again, “Second, he is not a lust demon of any type.”

“Third, I am right fucking here, you pervert,” Katsuki growled as he stood again even though he had been easily visible if the little idiot had really looked.

Mineta’s eyes grew to the size of full moons as a little tree frog spirit jumped out of his hair onto Izuku’s desk, which caused the forest nymph to begin studying her, to say with annoyance, “I told you. You really need to shape up. Probably the only reason I am paired with you is to keep you under control. Ribbit. You are disgusting.”

She hopped down to shift into a girl that looked the same age as Izuku or Mineta. She had long, evergreen hair with fringe and big, wide, dark eyes set into her round face. She was wearing something that looked more made for water than land but was still modest. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her somewhat amphibian looking fingers for a moment.

“I apologize to you, the proper nymph, for the stupid one I got paired with. And to you, battle demon of fire. My name is Tsuyu Asui, or you can just call me Tsu. As you can tell I am Mineta’s familiar.”

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, “I am not sure I am a proper nymph but it’s okay. I am pretty used to him, by now. I am Izuku.”

“Well, I’m not. Thinking you’d get stuck with damn selfish succubus,” Katsuki snarled down at Mineta. “Trying to truly curse him, are you? You do understand they slowly suck the life out of you, right? With every touch, every kiss, every fuck your magic, your life force, all that you are gets fucking stolen. You want that, you ass?” he growled low at the purple-haired nymph that barely reached his waist. He then lifted his eyes to the girl that was shorter than his nymph but much taller than her own, “You can call me Katsuki.”

She nodded in understanding, then grabbed Mineta by the ear to drag him to a different desk. Katsuki watched it all with narrowing eyes. He did not like that little fucker at all. If he was as perverted as he seemed to be, it was good thing he did not know Izuku’s secret. There was no way he would be able to keep his shitty mouth shut.

“Kacchan?” Izuku called and Katsuki turned. “You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to.”

“I’m not fucking leaving.”

Smiling, his promised explained, “No, I mean, the tree said you can sit up there.”

Izuku was pointing right above his head by the end of his sentence while his other hand was on the thick wooden support with climbing roses now wrapped around it. He followed his nymph’s finger and the colorful blooms up to the ceiling to see some of the larger branches of those ancient trees from the hall also invaded the vaulted ceiling of the classroom. They were thick enough for him to easily recline on and get comfortable.

“The tree said?” the demon repeated with curiosity.

His companion blushed and as he pulled away his hand from the support causing the flowers, leaves, and climbing stems to return to wherever they had come from, “I asked the roses to ask the tree since I couldn’t touch it directly. They said it’s fine. The tree trusts you have no ill intentions against it.”

Observing the three branches that wove within the support beams, Katsuki shrugged, “If you’re sure. I guess that way I will not bring any more annoying or shitty attention your way, but I’ll be right up there. Let me know if you need me for something.”

Izuku nodded with a smile. The demon unfolded his wings, vaulted himself up and used one downbeat to get up unto the branch where he would be able to see his nymph easily. He had just situated himself comfortably, wings and tail hanging down and legs crossed in front of him with his bag between, when he noticed roses climbing back up the support.

When he looked down, there was Kirishima and Denki looking up watching and waiting. Izuku withdrew his hand, the plants following again, and he nodded to the kitsune. Then, like a squirrel, instead of like a fox, the blonde animal spirit scampered up to Katsuki. The other male smiled and moved to sit opposite of him.

“Heard about Mineta asking about you even after Kirishima told him you existed. Thankfully, my werewolf is willing to be your nymph’s desk buddy. I guess they can pick new seats every term or whatever. I hope you don’t mind my company,” Denki voiced as he fluffed one of his tails to curl behind his head.

The demon grunted as he pulled out rich, red velvet, “As long as you don’t mess with what I am doing.”

***

Katsuki found use for the kitsune. Denki was close to the same size as his nymph so the spirit became a way to measure how much cloth he would need for a cloak. The fox fucker loved curling up in the stuff, so it hadn’t taken much convincing. The demon was just finishing up part of the large hood, big enough to fit over blooming antlers, when those huge, furry ears popped out of the fabric he had cut for the rest of the cloak.

“I want this for my den. So soft,” Denki practically purred. “Give it to me.”

“Fuck no,” the demon growled low. “I am only here to take care of one person and it isn’t you.”

“Are you going to make Izuku a den then?”

Katsuki lifted a brow as he continued making perfect snitches with his needle, “Izuku is a nymph, I doubt he wants a shitty den.”

The kitsune skuttled out of the crimson fabric and looked as though he had been threatened with death, “What? Are you crazy? Think about how all the plants try to stay as close to him as possible and he loves the forest right?”

Putting his work down in his lap, the red-eyed demon glared at the other blonde, “Okay, and?”

Denki crawled closer, “He would love it! Okay, maybe not a den, more like a nest or something? And he said the plants know he needs protection, yeah? So, wouldn’t a den or nest make him feel protected?”

With his head tilted and eyes narrowed, Katsuki considered it, “You may have a point, he does sleep with killer vines guarding him all night even with me there. If I do make him a fucking nest or whatever, it’s going be to something a demon can be proud of. A damn sanctum just for him.”

“A sanctum?” the kitsune repeats with a shiver. “Okay, that sounds a bit creepy but whatever lights your fire. Now, about this cloth …”

“I said no,” Katsuki snarled. “Now hold still, let me try this hood on you, keep you dumb, large-ass ears up.”

Denki sighed and submitted to his fate as a mannequin for now. The students down below had finished with Magic Theory and were currently being taught ancient languages. It was downright dull and the kitsune had hoped to play a few tricks by now but a least the fabric was warm and soft. It was also surprising to know a demon had such domestic skills, but when one lives for centuries, it would make sense they would pick up a few hobbies.

***

Izuku sighed as he shut his ancient language notes and then his stomach rumbled. He had skipped breakfast this morning by making sure to take his bath later than normal. The dining hall had not been too full this last week because of the excitement of meeting and getting to know one’s familiar. Today would be different.

Everyone in his year had seen the ceremony. They had watched the mark burn across his skin as the Reader had said the enchanted words and anointed him with the ritual oils. They had heard her intake of breath, watched as she shook her head, and then spoke in a voice full of pity and what sounded like regret.

“Your familiar is powerful being from the darkness, full of fire and destruction. Izuku Midoriya, your familiar is a great demon,” she announced and instead of clapping, or shouts of celebration from his classmates, he had heard gasps and silence. “I am sorry, young nymph.”

Izuku had exited the evocation circle, grabbing the ceremonial, robe-like top and quickly covered himself. Most wanted to show off their brands, the girls of his class only wearing fabric strips wrapped about their breasts or the boys totally topless but he did not dare. He did not even return to the crowd. He had raced outside to take in the news under the harvest moon with the trees, bushes, and flowers that knew him best. They had celebrated with him when no one else would.

Soon, he would face them all again and so he looked up. There was Katsuki, a great battle demon with a needle and thread sewing something while Denki, the playful kitsune, lounged nearby, talking to him. He then looked to his right and Kirishima, the werewolf, was rubbing his temples as he stared at the notes he had tried to take. He had them on his side. He could do this.

“I am going to get Kacchan and Denki,” he spoke to Kirishima, “then we can head to lunch.”

Kirishima nodded, “Yeah, I can understand lunch. This stuff,” he said motioning to his notes, “I can’t.”

“I’ll help you! And I am sure Kacchan can help too.”

Izuku hopped onto their desk and studied the support beam. It wasn’t known by many, but he could climb almost anything. It came with hanging around in the forest most of your life. He quickly began shimming his way up, his tail giving him a bit of extra help. When he neared the top, a strong, black, scaly tail offered him assistance.

Smiling, Izuku grabbed a hold of it only for it to lift him into Katsuki’s lap and the demon to wrap his arms around the nymph. Izuku giggled at his familiar’s smug face, his horned, blonde head leaning back against the beam the nymph had just climbed. Lifting his hands to stroke dark scales along strong cheekbones, Izuku watched those scarlet eyes close and heard that comforting chuffing noise again.

“How do you make him act cute? He is a brute to everyone else,” Denki whined from behind Izuku and the demon’s eyes popped open to glare.

The nymph turned with a smirk, “I guess I am more special than you.”

The kitsune gasped and Katsuki agreed with a sharp toothed grin, “You bet your ass you are. The large furball can keep his small furball.”

Turning back to his demon companion, Izuku grinned wide, “Well, I am glad you want to keep me around.”

“Of course I do!” the winged man growled as he tightened his arms around his promised’s waist.

“Anyway, I came up here to tell you both that Kirishima and I need to head to lunch. We better get going if we want to find any seats.”

***

It was crowded, so crowded. Izuku was as close to Katsuki as he could be and Denki was the same with Kirishima. With almost twice as many bodies, even if some of them were quite tiny, it was still quite a difference. Thankfully, large, webbed wings and a lashing tail tended to give them some breathing room.

Finally, with quite the maneuvering, they made it to a table with enough free seats. Katsuki, as usual, pulled Izuku into his lap. Denki was too interested in everything and everyone to sit still. Kirishima, feeling territorial in such a crammed place, was shoving as much meat into his mouth as he could, growling at anyone who got too close to the serving platters he had claimed. Izuku just tried to find something to munch on when his demon suddenly pulled two platters within arms’ reach in front of them.

“Eat, my little nymph.”

Izuku didn’t hesitate, just started eating whatever he grabbed off the platters. Katsuki was doing the same while also observing everything around them with narrowed eyes. The nymph moved to grab the pitcher of starfruit juice when he started to hear it. Even with all the commotion of so many people eating and talking, his twitching ears still picked up the insults, the gossip, the uneducated theories of his situation.

“Look at that, he is actually cursed with a demon.”

“Do you think the thing has tried anything on him yet? I mean I doubt he cares if he’s a boy.”

“He should be expelled. Magic that dark doesn’t belong here.”

“Oh my spirits, he is sitting in its lap. Its lap! I wonder what else he does with it. Disgusting.”

The closest to speak about him was a girl with vines for hair. She was another forest nymph, one that was very celebrated for her beauty and gentle demeanor but Izuku had grown to learn another side of her. Her words were filled with hate disguised in love for only goodness.

“Weeds need to be cut down,” she said like a gentle warning to others. “He isn’t a true nymph. We are beings of peace and truth and yet his familiar is one made of war, wrath, and death. He shouldn’t be watered, no sun should be allowed to touch him, he needs to burn just as he did when he was dropped off.”

“Are you talking about Midoriya?” Kirishima suddenly questioned the female nymph a few seats down. He was still chewing something but he watched her closely, “You’re wrong.”

“The trees practically bow down to him as he walks through the forest,” Denki added as he peeled an orange. “I am sure they would not agree with you.”

The girl turned, her eyes only slightly narrowed, “Flowers burn and he is sitting in the middle of a forest fire.”

“That’s fucking cute,” Katsuki finally ground out and when Izuku looked up, he knew why. His jaw held so much tension, his sharp teeth were bared in a ghastly snarl, “But I am worse than any shitty forest fire. I am an active damn volcano ready to fucking blow. And volcanoes? They may burn the flowers but they also give them fertile soil to grow better, stronger, and into something to envy. I don’t plan on burning my flower though, but fuck if I don’t burn all those around him who steal his light and water. Then I will use their ashes to nourish the soil my flower grows in.”

Her eyes had widened quickly, her skin paling, and she fell silent. She turned back to her food and not another word left her mouth.

Izuku let out a breath he had not known he was holding. He attempted to pour a glass of juice, but his hands were shaking. Glossy, dark-scaled hands gently moved his aside and poured the juice for him. He downed the whole glass and then sighed as the cup hit the tabletop.

“Thanks,” he mumbled. “I appreciate it.”

“Izuku?” Denki asked with his head tilted. “What did she mean by ‘he needs to burn just as he did when he was dropped off’?”

The nymph let out a humorless chuckle, “My father was angry that he had to travel so far to finally get rid of me.” Reaching up to glide a finger along the living wood growing from his scalp, Izuku continued, “He grabbed my antlers, and set them on fire. He burned them clean off in front of every other student arriving for their first year. He never let them grow past the main beam when I lived with him.”

****

Izuku was so worried, he was practically terrified when they left the dining hall. Katsuki would not look at him or touch him once they got up from the table. The demon still stayed nearby, but not a wing, a hand, or even a tail brushed against him and those scarlet eyes never looked his way. It made him feel more alone than before. The nymph hadn’t been able to stop the tears from leaking out. Was Katsuki going to leave him now for some reason? Should he have shared that information with him sooner?

“What’s with the shitty tears?” had quietly been growled out as they walked down the dryad’s hall.

“I’m sorry, Kacchan. I didn’t mean to make you angry. I didn’t know you needed that information. Talking about it hurts and my father or mother haven’t visited me since they left me here. I mean, look at my antlers, they’ve filled out, they’re blooming. They had never bloomed until a few years ago …”

“Izuku, fucking settle down,” Katsuki managed to snarl somewhat softly. “I am not angry with you.”

“But you won’t touch me at all. Usually your tail or something seems to make sure I am still nearby. You wouldn’t even look at me,” Izuku said while a hand wiped his eyes, his ears drooping lower than they had been.

Katsuki let out a steaming huff and rumbled, “I don’t want to fucking hurt you and right now, I am not exactly in full control of what I might do. Your shitty father, fuck … and what about your mother, hah? Why didn’t she fucking stop the damn bastard?”

“Because she loves him,” the nymph replied as he grabbed his own tail seeking comfort.

Katsuki stopped dead in his tracks, “The reason for her not protecting you was because she loves your father? You’re fucking telling me you are not good enough FOR HER LOVE!?”

Izuku swallowed and whispered, “You saw what I am. I am the lowest of the low. I don’t deserve anything.”

“FUCKING SHIT! You cannot really believe that, can you!? Please tell me you don’t believe that!?”

“Kacchan, what else is there to believe?”

The demon had roared as they entered the classroom, immediately launching himself among the beams and branches so far above everyone.

***

Shota Aizawa had been around a long time. He had seen some insane things but a forest nymph and a demon being this woven together was a very new thing, even for him. He had been watching them closely, oh so closely, since the ceremony. The only reason he ever attended the thing was because his male siren loved to be entertained. When his problem child of a nymph had been branded, it had been a spectacle.

Hizashi’s crest had flared, his golden-feathered wings shook and he had squawked in alarm as the nymph ran out, “Shouldn’t someone go out there with him? A demon, oh spirits, he’s been paired with a demon! HAHA! He must be more powerful than anyone knows!”

“He is,” Aizawa had murmured. “Hizashi, stay here and let me know who gets paired with what or who. I will go after Midoriya.”

He had not really gone after the nymph. He had gone to watch the private celebration with smile behind the scarf he wore. Others may have been concerned about what just transpired but he had been observing and studying the boy in front of him since the beginning. There was a reason a protector was chosen for him, and not just a partner. He was a different kind of special that Aizawa himself still did not fully understand.

He had felt when the demon arrived and had watched him with Midoriya that first time at breakfast when two of his other students had confronted the pair. He had also been sure to know how the demon reacted to Izuku’s way with the forest by sending Hizashi to observe. The recent lunch had proven the demon valued the nymph more than most would expect and that was very, very interesting.

Walking into the classroom, Aizawa noticed Midoriya was already seated and wiping his eyes. Kirishima was next to him. Not wasting time, he pulled out one of his oldest, leather-bound books and an enchanted fountain pen. They were not the first on the list but it didn’t matter. He walked up to the werewolf and lifted a brow as the raven-haired kid just kept going on about something or another with his kitsune.

“Kirishima,” Aizawa spoke in a stern tone and both had jumped. “I need to know the name and skulk of your familiar. It is required for records.”

“Uh, oh yeah. This is Denki of the Kaminari skulk. Denki, this is Master Aizawa,” his student quickly introduced.

“Number of tails?”

“I have three,” Denki said with a smile as he swished them about.

“Lovely,” the warlock grunted sarcastically. “Midoriya, title, name, and legion of your familiar.”

“Commander Katsuki of the Bakugo legion,” was practically snarled out from above the warlock.

With his head turned to the side, the teacher looked up at the demon sitting in the beams and among the ancient tree branches. His crimson irises were glowing, his wings partially spread, and his tail lashing about. His sharp teeth were clenched with clouds of steam or smoke escaping his nostrils. The jewelry he wore, gleaming and sparkling, did not take away from his fearsome appearance.

“I apologize, Master Aizawa. He is, um, irritated?” Midoriya mumbled with a sniffle.

“IRRITATED!?” The demon boomed from above. “I’M GOING FUCKING KILL HIM, IZUKU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!? AND THEN HER! I DON’T DAMN CARE IF I WASN’T YOURS AND YOU WEREN’T MINE YET! THEY FUCKING-,” he flung his head back and literally roared at the ceiling causing the glass panes of the windows to shake. With huffing breaths his head slowly lowered back down, the slender golden chains scalloping between his horns slightly tangled, “If I ever meet your parents, Izuku, it will be too fucking soon. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Kacchan. I understand,” the nymph spoke clearly but softy.

The beast of darkness dropped down then, next to his companion and rumbled, “And it’s not your fault, little nymph. Never think that. Fuck, I need to destroy something.”

“Well then, Bakugo, I think you will enjoy my plans for today,” Aizawa declared as he wrote down another familiar. He then addressed the class, “Today, in Spell Strategy, we will be taking it outside and will be testing your familiars’ strengths and weaknesses.”

A feral grin spread across the demon’s face and he snorted out smoke, “Bring it on.”

***

After Master Aizawa’s announcement, Katsuki was walking with Izuku held close and a sadistic smile on his face. That smile only grew as they entered the large courtyard between the different halves of the school, the Intermediate section, for the ages of 13 through 16, and the Finishing school, ages 17 through 20. Younger mages, nymphs, and shapeshifters were there practicing beginner magical arts.

Most of them seemed to cower as the older students filled the space. Izuku remembered how it felt to be the newer group at the school. He was skittish to begin with, his antlers and himself still recovering from the abuse they had been through for years and him believing anyone would find out he was beyond worthless. These kids though were most likely just intimated by the new familiars of the upper class, or one particular familiar.

Katsuki never tried to look friendly and, with how much anger Izuku knew was still under the surface, he looked downright murderous at the moment. His red eyes were ablaze and that crazed smile was still there showing off sharp teeth and even sharper canines. Izuku probably did not help tame the image of intimidation the demon was, being smaller, leaner, and misleadingly delicate looking against his familiar’s well-muscled, larger frame.

Jusan, the veiled woman who had been Izuku’s practical magic teacher his first three years within the academy, started gathering her students at the other end of the wide courtyard. Lining them up along the wall, she seemed to be counting them before turning back to Aizawa. She approached him like she was floating, her long skirts and robes barely rippling as she moved. Being an air nymph was rare, being one as powerful as herself rarer still.

“Do you mind if we observe?” Jusan questioned, her voice having an ever so slight echo. “I think my students might benefit from this, only really being aware of familiars if one of their parents happened to have one since mine likes to flit off all the time.”

“As does mine,” Aizawa drawled. “I do not see an issue as long as they stay a safe distance away.”

“I’m here, huzzah!” Hizashi sang, the siren landing like a large parrot on Aizawa’s shoulder. “I am sure this will be entertaining!”

The warlock rolled his eyes, “You always seem to know when something unusual might occur, don’t you?”

Hizashi’s crest raised in excitement and he ruffled his wings, “Of course I do! Sirens love to sing but we also love stories to tell!”

“Right,” the man agreed with a drawl. “Anyway, as I was saying, your students are welcome to stay as long as they do not enter the training area.”

“Master Aizawa!” Iida’s voice suddenly bellowed as he moved to the front of the group. “Are you sure that is the right decision? We have a certain individual who might not take others’ lives into consideration when dealing with his own magic.”

“Kacchan has been considerate,” Deku defended Katsuki as he took a step in Iida’s direction. “He hasn’t hurt anyone and he has been within the school over a week now.”

“And what do you call what he did in the classroom, screaming like a delinquent, and his language is utterly foul!” Iida announced back. “I do not think it is safe for that demon to participate with others involved.”

“Iida,” Aizawa almost growled, “I believe I am the instructor here and I make those decisions. All new familiars will participate whether you like it or not.”

Izuku watched each one tested against spells, fake opponents launched at them, and what students would guess were their weaknesses. Each familiar faired reasonably well. Denki was great at quick, fast movements and could harness lightning to throw at anything. Mineta’s frog spirit familiar, Tsu, could jump unbelievably high, capture things with her sticky, long tongue, and showed a good understanding of strategy. Each had succumbed to their weaknesses though, Denki overloading himself with electricity from his attacks when an enemy was resistant and Tsu to fire that dried her out or cold that slowed her down.

When Katsuki was finally allowed to show his skills, his palms were already glowing with heat as he stepped into the training area. Izuku was anxious, not because he thought his familiar would not fair well, but he didn’t know what would happen once the students could choose what things they thought would weaken him. Crouching with wings spread, tail still and few inches above the ground, he waited ready for anything.

Aizawa started with the list of invocations he had used on the others, Katsuki easily canceling them out with his own dark hexes or casting stronger incantations to destroy those meant to trip him up. They were frightening, being explosive yet well aimed, glowing like magma within the earth and erupting when they hit. Even more frightening, Izuku could feel each one, like he was casting these magical enchantments himself. The nymph enjoyed the sensation every time, like a loving caress, and maybe that was the most frightening of it all.

Chapter Text

Katsuki was huffing in fucking delight. Using his magic after being peaceful for so long felt so damn good. This warlock wasn’t using kid gloves either, these attacks were powerful enough to give him an energizing power workout. He smirked as he felt foreign magic clinging to his own. Making a quick turn, he saw his nymph’s eyes holding a slight dark glow. Their bond was maturing already. Fucking fantastic!

A familiar bond usually took almost a year before even starting to mature and sync, theirs seemed to be different in more numerous ways than most cared to know. Katsuki allowed his magic to weave with the nymph’s, tie knots along their link, and basically dance, ebb, and flow as he kept answering the warlock’s attacks. It would only make them both stronger. That’s when he felt the cooling touch of his promised magic flow into his own.

With every move, every output of enchanted energy he let loose, the calm, gentle touch of Izuku’s own curled around it. It was like breathing fresh air for the first time or being set free from captivity after centuries. It was magnificent, new, and somewhat daunting knowing the nymph could connect with him this intimately already. What had he all been through, other than the regular burning of his antlers and the neglect of his parents, that he could cuddle so easily with darkness?

Stopping his attacks, the warlock turned to the class, “Start hypothesizing weaknesses and we shall test them.”

“Water!” someone called out first which only made the demon roll his eyes before a torrent come at him.

He turned it to steam easily, his body fully heated from all the moving from earlier. Next came wind, which only helped spread the flames he created. Earth, love spells, sleep spells, golems, storms, light, even fuckin’ butterflies were named. He took down every single one. He now crouched in front of the group waiting for the next guess.

“Cold,” it was Izuku, standing there with wide eyes. “I mean to say, like cold air. You’d have to attack him in the dead of winter, when he hasn’t been able to get his body moving and warmed up.”
Katsuki grinned. That was his smart, little nymph.

“So, he is weak in the same area you are?” another student commented, his two-toned hair annoying to the demon.

Katsuki wanted to burn it off, but then again, he could recognize someone with demon blood like one sees the sun. Interesting, he knew most demons who came here did not come together with another of light peacefully. He wondered who was the one forced into creating cambions, the father, or the mother? He guessed it was the mother, as most female demons gave birth to half-breed young in the darkness.

“That is a misconception,” Izuku mumbled. “Just because we forest nymph don’t use our magic much in the winter doesn’t mean we are weakest then. Actually, once the cold really sets in, we are usually rather strong. The dormant state of winter allows our magic to build into something capable of spring. Autumn would probably be considered the time we are weakest but, even then, if a nymph knows what plants thrive during that season, they can feed off them to help restore what is lost as other plants wither to get ready for the big sleep.”

“Are you one of those nymphs, Midoriya?” the bi-colored young man questioned, that’s when Katsuki noticed his eyes also presented his double lineage.
Izuku turned back to look at his demon before turning his eyes to ground, “Yes.”

The demon-cursed mage took a step closer to the nymph, causing the winged demon to let a low, quiet growl leave his throat, before Aizawa stepped between them.

“Midoriya, I think that is the correct assumption,” Aizawa approved. He turned to the demon, “Is it not Baguko?”

Katsuki nodded and Aizawa waved him back into the crowd for the next familiar to show what they could do.

***
Returning to the classroom hours later, Master Aizawa only gave a few more words of wisdom and dismissed everyone for the day. Izuku gathered his stuff, Katsuki glaring towards the back of the room at Shoto Todoroki. The nymph had theories about the white-and-red-haired mage but never knew if they held any truth. He wondered if his familiar knew.

“Is he like you?” Izuku murmured as he came to stand next to his demon.

Katsuki huffed a laugh, “No. He is a half-breed, or a cambion, but not of my kind. I am guessing his father is only a hellfire wielder.”

Looking up to red eyes, the curious nymph asked, “Why do you think it’s his father?”

“If the demon was his mother, he’d be living in the darkness.”

“Oh, would he be accepted there, being a cambion like you say?”

Katsuki looked down to his promised with a smirk, “So many fucking questions today. Yes, there would be no issues but he would not be as unique as he is in this realm. Demons don’t often breed with each other, we’re too busy trying to fucking kill one another or force others under our feet. We have to find someone we value to breed and that is hard among constant violence.”

Izuku looked to his feet, “I see. So, his father found someone of value. His mother must be is very loved.”

The demon faced the nymph to lift his chin and corrected, “No, probably not. A demon can value a mate for genetics alone and not for shit else. They will find someone who will produce strong young and force them into giving them just that. Love is rarely a factor.”

The nymph’s eyes widened and he swallowed against the knowledge, “I understand.”

Katsuki leaned in close, “Do you truly understand? I’ve waited fucking centuries for you. I refused to settle.”

Izuku tried to look away even with his chin being held, “I am nothing of value.”

“Stop it,” Katsuki growled so lowly only Izuku can hear. “In the shitty darkness you are fucking royalty, you have no idea.”

The nymph’s eyes turned to the ground and he whispered, “Don’t say that. Please don’t say that, I will only disappoint you.”

“I find that fucking hard to believe,” the demon murmured.

“Just, can we go back to my room?” Izuku murmured. “I will show you.”

Katsuki nodded as he straightened up and they left the classroom. One turquoise and one gray eye followed their exit and it did not go unnoticed. The battle demon really wished he had burned that cambion’s hair off.

***

When Izuku opened the door to their room, he froze. There were imps inside setting up the larger bed he had put in a request for a week ago. Thankfully, the vines that had been growing under his bed did not attack because he was not present, but one of the imps was chittering at them and about to grab one.

“Please don’t,” the nymph pled as he quickly took a step inside. “It may hurt you and I asked them to be there.”

The imp tilted his head exaggeratedly to one side and looked annoyed but did as he was told. The new bed was quickly installed, the new bedding set on top, and then the imps left in a rush. They seemed to get more motivation when it came to their chore as soon as they spotted the demon hovering beside the doorway.

After getting the bed made, with his familiar’s help, Izuku noticed his own blankets were now much too small. He cringed as he looked at them, thin and frayed, but they were all he could afford. His parents only sent the bare minimum that the school required for fees and extra spending money. He was actually surprised the school gave him nice, new sheets for the bigger bed. The money his parents sent was supposed to cover those and these were better than anything they would pay for.

“I have furs large enough,” Katsuki hummed, reaching into the chest and shaking the nymph from his thoughts. “Good thing too, your blankets were never fucking enough to keep you warm.”

“Yeah,” Izuku shakily sighed, “I had to bring the ones from home and, and …”

“And what?” Katsuki responded as he stands, a pile of plush furs in his arms.

“These are the only ones I ever had,” Izuku whispered. “I didn’t ever earn new ones, not after what happened.”

The demon dumped the furs on the bed before he lightly growled, “You keep saying shitty things like that and you fucking said you would show me what you meant.”

Nodding, the nymph walked over to one of the stone walls in his room and tapped on a large block like he is knocking for a mouse. Instead of a small, furry rodent, little plants sprouted, pushing out the block as they grew. Branches also germinated and leafed into existence to hold the block away from the wall as Izuku reached in. Once the nymph’s arms retreated from the hole in the wall, the plants moved the block back into place.

Katsuki looked at his promised who now stood hunched over a thick book held in his arms. He also heard the sniffles and the choked off sobs when the nymph made his way closer.

“Can Kacchan pierce my ears first, please? I want something to remember him by if he wants to leave,” came out as a begging whimper.

The demon wasn’t going to deny him, “Yes, but you have to know I won’t fucking leave.”

“Don’t say things you can’t be sure of yet,” Izuku breathed as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

Katsuki moved around the room, grabbing his small chest of jewelry from the bookshelf and piercing needles from a bag he had placed in the corner in case he had wanted to give himself more. He sterilized the metal in his hands and found the green, ammonite studs among his other earrings. He spoke through the entire procedure as his nymph nodded in understanding and followed his directions without a peep leaving his lips but plenty of silent tears leaving his eyes.

When the demon put the back on the second earring, Izuku finally spoke, “I am what my clan calls a Janus. Janus was a god humans used to believe in long ago that had two faces, two aspects, but my clan sees a Janus as slime, as garbage, as the great deceiver that will only pull you into the great and deep darkness. My father will probably find it fitting when he learns I was paired with a demon, thinking you’ve been giving me the treatment I truly deserve.”

The nymph swallowed while Katsuki watched as the flowers wilted on his antlers like they were weeping, and then looked up at the ceiling, “My father didn’t want to be associated with such a thing, so my mother and father chose not to tell anyone what I was. It was easy to hide because my mother gave birth by herself at home while my father was traveling. I wouldn’t face the clan’s punishments as long as the secret stayed a secret. It didn’t.”

“One day, during early dawn when the sky was still mostly dark, I was taking my bath in the river because no one usually came by the area at that time. I thought I was safe. I thought I was alone.” The sobs returned as Izuku put a hand over his mouth and opened the book, “A nymph had been there, a water nymph. He had watched me strip, had seen what I was, and then demanded his payment to keep quiet.”

“His payment?” Katsuki mumbled having a good idea that this was a very bad thing.

Izuku nodded as he turned the book in his lap, a trembling finger pointing out a short paragraph toward the bottom on the page, and choked out, “His payment was to use me anyway he saw fit, along with any other male in his household until I was able to leave the clan.”

Katsuki stared wide-eyed at the paragraph that stated the request was absolutely legal and biding. A Janus had no say, no way to defend themselves against such a demand. As long as the Janus fulfilled the ‘agreement’, their secret would stay between those two households. If the one that made the request didn’t feel like the Janus was fulfilling the parameters of the ‘agreement’, the whole clan was informed of the secret and then given free reign over the Janus to do as they please.

“His household abused you?” Katsuki whispered harshly. “They … they fucking raped you!?”

Izuku nodded and the book fell to the floor as he curled in on himself to whimper through tears, “They forced themselves on me, made me do horrible things, and when something came of it, they were angry with me. Blamed me. I had just turned thirteen and they had kept me all night. A month later I knew, I could feel the life inside of me, but they didn’t want it because it was a part of me. And then, and then, they killed it, destroyed it by cursing my womb until I bled.”

Izuku was shaking, claws Katsuki had never seen before were digging into his legs as he hugged them to himself, his antlers dropping leaves and blooms, and he screamed, “THEY KILLED IT BECAUSE IT WAS A PART OF ME! THEY KILLED SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE I WAS A PART OF IT! I AM DISGUSTING! I CAUSED SOMETHING TO DIE! I AM SUPPOSED TO BE A BEING OF CREATION AND I BROUGHT DEATH! I AM NOT WORTHY OF ANYTHING!”

The room suddenly burst into viciousness. Carnivorous plants, thorns, poisonous ivies, fruits, flowers, and mushrooms sprouted everywhere. Katsuki stood, his body tense, his curving claws extended, his sharp teeth clenched, and ready to set everything ablaze. He watched as Izuku lifted his head, his green eyes growing eerily like something that belonged in the deepest darkness as the vines from under his bed grew to embrace him.

“I am not worthy of anything but pain, torture, and death. I am a great deceiver, a Janus, a curse. I will not hold it against you if you leave. Just know, I valued your affection for as long as I received it,” the nymph whispered and then everything returned to it’s previous state as fast as it had come.

Katsuki rushed forward as his promised went limp, allowing himself to fall from the bed. The demon caught him, cradled him to his chest, and rocked him as he sat on the floor. Hatred he had never felt before in all his existence was burning inside on him. He wanted to destroy everything that was Izuku’s disgusting clan, the people, the buildings, the ground on which they walked. He wanted to wipe them from this plane and it still wouldn’t be enough to atone for what they did to the one he held in his arms.

“I will NEVER leave,” he growled lowly. “They killed their own unborn child. They are the bringers of death, not you. They raped you when you were just a child. They are disgusting. You are worthy of everything I can give you.”

Izuku only grabbed at him and the demon brought his thick cape forward to wrap around the nymph. He leaned in to very softly kiss his promised on the forehead and cheek. Izuku was still hiccupping from his sobs, his body still trembling, but Katsuki would hold him together as long the nymph needed. Then tomorrow, when he had any free time, he would begin building Izuku a sanctum, a sanctuary from anything and everything, because this being of the forest deserved everything under the sun and earth.

***

Izuku woke up the next morning before the sun came up as usual. He had a bath to take before everyone else. To stay hidden and undiscovered, unlike before. As he opened to eyes to face the incoming day, dried petals and crunchy, small leaves greeted him. He slowly lifted a hand to his antlers and realized they were soon to shed. Cold weather or deep, dark emotions could do that to them.

A heavy arm shifted around his middle and he rolled into the warmth that had been cocooning his back. Tucking his head under the demon’s chin, the nymph hummed in contentment. He still felt so drained, so unclean, so deplorable especially now that Katsuki knew everything. The arm tightened around him and his familiar chuffed into his hair.

“You are none of those fucking things, stop mumbling stupid shit,” a groggy voice broke into the sleepy room.

“Sorry, didn’t know I was mumbling,” Izuku murmured back. “I should be getting up but I don’t want to see anyone.”

“I’ll be with you. If any shitty idiot so much and blinks at you wrong, I’ll make them fucking regret it.”

***

The next few days passed by with Midoriya being overly quiet in class and Aizawa noticed. The nymph wasn’t exactly a loudmouth but he hadn’t been this timid and closed-off since he had first arrived to the school. His antlers also looked like they were about to shed months early. The leaves and blooms had dried up and were falling one by one throughout the week. That usually happened with the first snowfall and they hadn’t even had their first big frost.

Bakugo was also acting odd. He was being extra attentive with his nymph. The demon still hung out in the rafters with Kirishima’s kitsune, Kaminari, but if Midoriya even made a peep in his direction he was next to the boy in seconds. The thing he was sewing was also growing more elaborate as the days went by, it was no longer just thick red fabric. It had golden clasps, fur lining, and embroidered ribbon along its edges.

What had happened? What had he missed? The warlock made sure to observe everything as he taught and sent Hizashi to follow them when he could not. So far nothing had come to his attention, no reason for this turn of events. He surmised he might need to have a private meeting with the pair. He had to get down to the bottom of this because something smelled foul.

As class ended, he approached the green-haired boy, “Midoriya, I need to speak with you and Bakugo.” The warlock didn’t flinch at the heavy sound of the demon landing behind him, “Grab your things and meet me in my office.”

The nymph had only nodded in understanding.

Moments after he sat down in the large chair behind his walnut desk, they both came wandering in. The nymph didn’t lift his eyes from the floor, tail wrapped around himself for comfort and those fawn ears hanging low. The demon on the other hand, stood tall and ruffled his wings, his tail moving to tangle in his familiar’s as it loosened from Midoriya’s frame.

“What happened?” Aizawa hated beating around the bush when it came to serious matters.

“N-nothing,” came a soft reply.

The warlock narrowed his eyes, “Midoriya, your antlers will leave your head by the beginning of next week and I haven’t seen you acting like this since your first year. Something happened.”

“Really, nothing h-happened. Just, I just ...”

“I asked him to explain something to me and it wasn’t fucking pleasant,” Baguko rumbled.

“It’s been days. What could he have possibly explained to affect him this long?” the instructor questioned the demon.

“It’s not for me to say,” Baguko answered as the nymph turned into his side.

“Not for you to say?”

The demon’s jaw clenched but he didn’t say another word. He did begin running a clawed hand through jade curls. Then the nymph whispered something and that made horned head nod.

“I won’t hold anything against you,” the demon murmured.

“M-master Aizawa? Do you have a book of nymph c-castes, practices and laws?” Midoriya spoke as he turned his head to face him, his eyes wet.

The warlock stood and walked to the bookshelf on the far wall, searching through the volumes there. He found what he was looking for and slid it out before offering it to the boy who was now shaking. He watched the nymph swallow as he took it like it was a death sentence. He then shook his head at it.

“Not what you need?” the warlock questioned.

“It is,” he whined as tears began to fall. “K-kacchan, can you show him, p-please. I don’t think I can even o-open it.”

“Do you really want me to show him? You don’t fucking have to,” the demon responded as he got on his knees to wipe tears away.

The nymph nodded and held out the book, “I t-trust Master Aizawa and he should probably know. The Winter Solstice G-gala is coming up and I have to dress my part.”

“Dress your part?”

“My s-station.”

Scarlet eyes narrowed, and Bakugo tilted his head, “Why do you have to dress your shitty station?”

Midoriya’s eyes darted across the demon’s face and he swallowed hard again, “It’s a formal event and my p-parents will be there, they can even bring guests they feel want to celebrate my accomplishments. It is customary for newly paired creatures of magic to dress in our m-most formal attire.”

The winged-being seemed to consider this, before he took the book. Studying his companion closely first, he then began flipping through it. He was cursing under his breath as he searched and when he found what he was looking for, his eyes went wide at the illustration on the third page of the section.

“What the fuck …” Bakugo whispered. He turned the text towards Midoriya and tapped the page with a claw, speaking low, “This is the shitty formal attire you are supposed to wear?”

With a meek nod the nymph answered, “For the g-gala you can add touches of your kin’s attire to it but it can’t take away from what mine represents.”

When the demon looked at the volume again, he growled, turned the page back to the beginning of the section, and then handed it to the warlock, “Read it all first before you start asking fucking questions. I don’t want Izuku having to explain damn everything all over again.”

Aizawa eyed him as he took the open tome, “Always so polite.”

The demon only showed his clenched teeth in a silent snarl and then quickly turned back to the nymph. The warlock rolled his eyes then looked at the tome. An eyebrow lifted in slight confused interest. The Janus? He remembered hearing a few things about these beings existing in nymph culture but had no idea exactly what they were. Supposedly, they weren’t something even nymphs, themselves, spoke of.

The instructor leaned against his desk and began to read. His brow became more furrowed the more text he consumed. The risqué illustrations, the disturbing descriptions, the lack of rights, and the utter sickening punishments. He lifted his eyes to look over the top edge of the book to study his forest nymph of a student yet again.

He was currently curled in a demon’s lap, who sat on the floor, and looked to be ready to doze off. The tears had stopped and he appeared calm. Bakugo was again murmuring things to him and the warlock saw the small expressions each uttered phrase brought to the surface of that freckled face. He turned his sight back to the volume.

According to the book, he did exhibit some of the ‘outward physical signs of a possible Janus’ with his large, round eyes and slightly feminine appearance for being male. Of course, the other indicators were poppycock. He was not deceitful, openly promiscuous, or insincere. He had never met anyone more the opposite.

“I am guessing I am correct in assuming you have faced some of the ‘punishments’ listed for being what you are,” Aizawa began as he slid the book onto the surface of his desk. “How many abused you, Midoriya?”

The boy rubbed his eyes, “One water nymph saw me but he had two older sons living with him, so three.”

“And your father, I saw what he did to you when he brought you here,” Aizawa added. “How long did this go on?”

“I was twelve when I was discovered and they took their payment up to the day I left to come here,” Izuku answered ever so quietly.

“Their payment?” the instructor questioned.

“Our punishments are payments for people having to see us,” the boy explained.

“Was sexual and physical abuse your only ‘punishments’?” the warlock asked in clarification.

The nymph shook his head and the tears began again along with choked sobs. Aizawa noticed his student’s hands immediately moving to cover his lower abdomen. The man’s eyes shot wide and he looked to the demon. One glowing, scarlet eye looked out from under the being’s bangs, Bakugo still facing his familiar before he answered the unasked question.

“They got him pregnant, then fucking cursed his womb until the babe died and he bled.”

“May the Spirits curse their family line and rain down misfortune upon them,” the warlock hissed.

***

Aizawa had sent the nymph and demon back to their room after he had made certain to assure Midoriya that none of the information shared would leave his office. He needed to organize a plan of action. The boy would need some type of counseling and possibly a physical exam, and the one that would be the best for something this delicate would be Chiyo. She had years of experience dealing with healing, physical and mental.

Aizawa tapped on the crystal inlayed into the top of his desk, murmuring the correct incantation. He waited a short, few moments before the gray-haired, wrinkled, but youthful woman appeared as a magical image before him.

“Aizawa, it must be important if you aren’t sleeping yet,” she chuckled.

He stared at her image a second before speaking, “Have you heard of a Janus, Chiyo?”

She became excited, “I have! They are amazing creatures in the healing world, both male and female. Their bodies hold mysteries no one dares touch, so rare though. Why do you ask?”

“There is one in this school, I just found out today. He has been severely abused according to his kind’s customs. I need your help because this is a very delicate situation and his familiar will not be very trusting,” he answered flatly as he watched the woman’s expression change from a smile to a horrified frown.

She immediately turned into her professional self, a notebook appearing in front of her and a quill in her hand, “He is an older student then and obviously a nymph. His familiar, what are they?”

Aizawa gave a sharp smile, “A battle demon by the name Katsuki, commander of legion Bakugo.”

Her face paled, “It’s little Izuku Midoriya then? Oh my, oh my my my.”

“There is something else you should know, he didn’t just receive the normal ‘punishments’ which I am sure your highly educated mind is aware of, but they repeatedly cursed his womb to cause him to abort a life they had put there,” the warlock didn’t even try to hold back the angry power flaring in his eyes.

Chiyo’s face turned hard, “When can I see him?”

“You are welcome to pull him from my class at any time. He is usually ahead in his studies.”

The woman nodded and ended the magical connection. Aizawa steepled his fingers as he thought about his next move. Midoriya’s oppressors would not go unpunished, they dared to force a student of his into sexual servitude and then repetitively cursed him for something they caused. He hadn’t been the warlock’s student then, but the boy hadn’t had anyone willing to fight for him in the past, but now the man was sure he had two. His clan would know Izuku Midoriya was not a bug they could step on whenever they wanted. He was something worthy of protection and retribution.

***

Waiting until late at night, when he was sure the little nymph would be asleep, Aizawa magically entered his student’s room only to be surprised. The entire thing looked like the bed chamber of some ancient deity.

Rich, expensive, and ornate fabrics of all colors draped from the ceiling’s center. Branches were practically woven together to keep the cloth high enough it wouldn’t ever touch one’s head but low enough to make the space seem intimate. Sparkling, intertwined chains of precious metals hung from the branches and held multicolored, volcanic glass that glowed of enchantments and wards. A bookshelf and two large trunks were tucked against the far walls of the room, while the fire in the hearth crackled softly. Then, surrounded in the center by glowing, thorny vines that would every now and then shift or sway, lay the large bed that housed the sleeping nymph and a very annoyed demon.

Aizawa tried to approach only to be hurled back against the door by demonic magic and for the blonde to whisper, “You’d think a shitty warlock would know those are blood spells and the only ones able to enter them must be made of the blood of which those very spells contain.”

“I do know but thought you might let me pass,” the intruder breathed with narrowed eyes.

Katsuki quietly snarled through razor teeth, “Never. Izuku didn’t give you such a fucking privilege.”

“He told you himself he trusted me,” the warlock countered.

“That was in your own fucking office. This is my nymph’s space, his sanctuary, and I will not allow someone entrance without his damn permission,” the demon responded back in a low hiss. “Why did you come here?”

The warlock leaned against the door since he wasn’t allowed any closer and whispered, “I wanted to discuss the downfall of Izuku’s clan.”

A terrifyingly, sharp-toothed grin took over the monster of a demon’s face, “I have a plan already set in motion. Don’t worry, everyone will fucking pay.”

Aizawa spared a rare feral grin of his own, “Oh, do you?”

The demon nodded, sinister smile still on his face, “Some of the lowest in my legion tracked his clan and are reporting their daily activities. And today I decided when the rest of my legion will wipe those fucking ingrates away. There is only one thing I need to ask of you.”

The warlock tilted his head, “And what would that be?”

“Only Izuku’s disgusting, shitty parents are to come to that fucking gala. I want them to arrive home to nothing but ash, destruction and death,” Katsuki was vibrating with excitement until his nymph whimpered and clung to the furs on their bed like a lifeline. The demon quickly and carefully lowered himself only to murmur soft reassurances, “I am here. No one else will ever hurt you again. Breath easy, sleep deep, stay warm. You are so precious.”

Aizawa watched deadly claws tangle with soft green curls and soft words come out of a being hardened by and for war. Izuku rolled into the caresses, trusting something that no one else would. The again, Izuku was a being that was supposed to know adoration, joy and life and yet had experienced neglect, abuse, fear, and death. They were two sides of the same coin and depending on which side you decided to focus on, your fate would be determined.

The demon demanded the warlock to leave after that and he did without objection. The two were a set no one would ever be able to separate. That he knew for certain. He would be sure to change the invitation for the Midoriyas, and to keep his mouth sealed about any plan against a nymph clan. He was not meant to get involved in cultural affairs but this was not something he could ever overlook.

Chapter Text

Hisashi thought himself a clever man. He had only one large blemish in his life and he had gotten rid of it, or so he thought. Sending his revolting creature of a son, if you could even call it that, to that academy across the continent had been his life’s best decision. Yes, he knew Deku had secretly sent an application to be accepted and probably thought it had gotten away with something, but Hisashi saw it as a way out of an embarrassing situation. How dare the thing show itself to another.

Though now in his hands was a scroll inviting to him to some party to celebrate the stain’s accomplishments and meet its new familiar. A familiar which was probably some weak little thing to prove how entirely worthless the being was. Why would he, the great Hisashi Midoriya, ever care to come? He reread the scroll and then smiled widely.

A formal event? The invitation stated to dress according to one’s status among your culture so all could be represented. Laughing, Hisashi thought of the slave harness, collar, and measly undergarments his son would have to wear so it couldn’t deceive anyone of what it was. Once that was said and done, the public being witness to what it was, Deku would be owned by the clan. The fire nymph didn’t care what happened to his mistake once it returned and, if the clan owned it, it would be for anyone to use.

Maybe Inko and himself would travel all that way to see Deku humiliated in front of everyone. Hisashi knew the useless thing wouldn’t lie about its status, always trying to prove itself to be a good nymph whether a Janus or not. He would also love to see the familiar’s shamed face when they fully realize what they have been magically bound to. Yes, he and his mate would attend in their finest robes.

There was a problem, however. The forest around their village had gotten rather dangerous recently. Things seemed to be creeping in the shadows and while people could return from their travels, no one had managed to leave. It felt like the forest had become their jailor, attacking anyone who dared to wander too far from the settlement’s borders. Although, not many were willing to travel with the cold setting in, so most hoped the threat would pass by Spring and tried to ignore it.

Hisashi was sure he’d be the first to get through with his mate. He was powerful, not many things could withstand fire. He would have to inform her at once and make plans for their transportation. This event was a little over a month away and, if they wished to travel comfortably, they would have to leave soon. He would be sure they showed up well-rested and perfect to shame the embarrassment even more.

***
By the time the first hard frost had hit, Katsuki had been with Izuku for over a month and a half. The nymph woke up with such a deep stretch, he squealed his pleasure causing his demon to chuckle at him. Izuku turned his head to playfully glare at the blonde before swatting at his grinning face. Katsuki retaliated by grabbing him and pulling him close, his face buried in the nymph’s neck, to growl into his delicate skin.

The nymph loved his demon’s touch. He didn’t fear it like he would from anyone else. When they went to bed at night, he allowed the man to touch him, kiss him, give him pleasure in ways he never thought he’d ever grow to enjoy. He had yet to allow Katsuki to touch his nakedness below the waist, but if his demon ever asked, he didn’t think he would have the heart to say no. He trusted him with everything.

It would not have been possible without his time spent with Mistress Chiyo. Izuku had to admit, when he first got pulled out of class to meet her, he feared many things. Katsuki had been with him and the little, gray-haired healing mage had only smiled as she led them to the medical quarter. Holding the door open as they walked in, she waited until she firmly shut it before declaring that Master Aizawa had let her know of Izuku’s past and just wanted him to get any help he would need.

The physical exam had been painless, he hadn’t even been required to remove his clothes. Her glowing hands could sense everything within without her even actually touching him. She had scowled when they hovered over his womb and then shook her head. His heartrate had climbed at that and Katsuki had squeezed the hand he’d been holding.

“Are you cycles painful?” Mistress Chiyo had asked as she wrote things down in a notebook where the ink disappeared as soon as she left it.

“Yes, but I have made myself potions to deal with the pain and salves to hide the scent from others,” Izuku quietly answered and his demon sat straight looking concerned.

“How often do you have one? I have heard your kind do not have them monthly like a female mage would,” she then questioned.

“Around every three months,” the nymph replied as she motioned for him to sit up. “I think they are painful because I bleed so much.”

“No child, you bleed so much and they are painful because the curse they put on you is still there,” the old mage answered. “I am getting the impression they expected to abuse you more without consequences.”

Izuku choked as he shakily brought a hand up to cover his mouth, his demon quickly moving him into his lap to comfort him. They were planning to just keep killing every life they helped create? The nymph knew he would have never been able to handle knowing that, probably would have rather died than live with the knowledge that his body was killing every new life before it had a chance. He could sense living energy like it was tangible and it would never happen without him knowing something taking root within him had immediately been killed.

“Can you fucking remove it?” Katsuki had lowly growled as he held him close.

The woman nodded, “I can but he will be weak and ill for a few days after I remove its anchors. He will also bleed, like a cycle, his body ridding his womb of any poisonous thing.”

Izuku whimpered, “But it will be gone, forever?”

A sad smile graced Mistress Chiyo’s face, “Yes, but you will be in pain.”

“I can handle a week of pain if I will be free of something so horrible,” he mumbled as tears continued to fall.

“Of course,” the mage murmured. She then went to retrieve a sacred cloth with runes and circles of power interwoven in silver to lay on the examination table, “I need you to lay on this, please.”

Katsuki moved to stand up and lay Izuku onto the cloth, nuzzling him in the process. They both watched as the healing mage grabbed a few vials, a couple pots of oil, and some powders from a locked cabinet. She then moved to quickly drop drapes in front of the windows and murmur sealing enchantments around the room.

“I know he doesn’t wish anymore than necessary to know of what he is,” she announced as she approached the pair again. She then looked at Katsuki, “You will take him straight to his room afterward, give him the potions I give you, and I will have food sent up to his room at dinner, understood?” The demon gave a firm nod and she continued, “As I said, he will bleed. You aren’t going to get all squeamish, are you?”

The winged man looked at her affronted, “I have seen bodies in every form of fucking torture. What do you think?”

She nodded in approval and then grabbed a step stool so she could lean over Izuku, “Child, I will need to see and touch your front for this, I am going to lift your shirt. I will only do what I need to, understand. Let me know if at any point you need me to stop so you can rest.”

Then it began and took two hours. She chanted and drew in different oils. Spread the powders and mixed them with potions. She watched and waited for reactions or signs before starting the next string of actions and rhythmic words. Izuku would arch off the cloth, soundless screams trying to escape him as his body felt like it was on fire from within, and yet, he could feel something he never realized was corrupting him coming loose while also trying to cling to him like a parasite.

Katsuki was there offering what support he could. Murmuring encouragement into his ears, telling him he would spoil him all weekend when this was over, holding his hand and wiping his brow of sweat. By the end, Izuku could only whimper and whine, his eyes refusing to open, his breathing labored and his body so sore. He felt one last bit of powder being poured in a line down the center of his stomach.

“Demon of destruction, burn it, kill the thing that pollutes what’s yours,” he heard the elderly mage command.

Without hesitation, he felt Katsuki move, snarling something into the skin of his belly before he snapped his fingers. The intense heat was immediate. The nymph couldn’t help but thrash his legs and cry out as the thing inside of him wailed its death through the pain pulsing through him. He collapsed on the sheet, no more fight left in him.

Spoken word was all lost to him. He could hear Mistress Chiyo and Katsuki speaking. He felt gentle, large, clawed hands smoothing something cool across his exposed skin. The sweat on his brow was again wiped away and then he was carefully lifted into the air. He couldn’t remember what happened after that, only that he woke up the next morning in his own bed.

Katsuki had been true to his word, spoiling him the entire weekend he recovered. Uncaring of changing the dirty rags between his legs or the sweat that coated him head to toe, the being never tried to take advantage of his weakened state in the least. Izuku rested soundly and had mostly recovered by the time the school week started again.

The meetings after that first one had been more about his mental state than physical one. Mistress Chiyo had used a few magical techniques on him to keep certain memories from invading his dreams and to help separate truths from the lies his mind would whisper to him in his darkest moments. She let him speak about anything and everything. Gave him books that would help calm his mind and chants to cleanse his soul.

Katsuki sat patiently through every one of these meetings, never once complaining about their length or topic matter. If anything, he looked enthralled, listening and absorbing everything. The demon would sometimes even ask a question just to be sure he understood. It made it all that much easier for Izuku. A month of those twice weekly meetings had done him wonders.

The growling into his neck soon turned into kisses and a warm, scaled hand began wandering up into his nightshirt, causing Izuku to giggle, “Kacchan! I need to take a bath and get ready for school!”

The demon nipped at his ear, “Fine, but I get to help you wash.”

Izuku grabbed the other’s horns to pull him back in to kiss his forehead, “Of course, and guard me from wandering eyes.”

“Always,” Katsuki practically snarled before rolling off the bed to ruffle his wings and shake out his tail.

Izuku sat up to swing his feet over the edge of his bed and to comb the tuft at the end of his own tail. He hummed as he worked and his vines snaked up to wish him a good morning. He grinned and freely caressed them before they hid themselves under his bed for the day. When his tuft looked presentable, he stood and stretched again to the tips of his toes.

“Your antlers are growing in well,” Katsuki commented as he gathered up some clothes for them to change into after they washed.

“Are they? They feel different,” the nymph mumbled as he touched them with careful fingers. “They curl almost as much as my hair. It’s odd.”

The demon shrugged, “They look more like the living wood they were meant to be. There are fucking buds all over them.”

Izuku smiled, “What color do you think the flowers will be, Kacchan? You think they’ll be the same?”

“I doubt it. You are purer than you’ve been in damn years,” the winged being replied with a roll of his scarlet eyes.

“That’s true,” the nymph mumbled before grabbing his thin robe to walk down to the baths with his familiar.

The academy was so quiet this early in morning, and with the extra chill in the halls, most were staying under their covers as long as possible. Izuku didn’t mind the cold, not with a hot-blooded being of darkness walking right next to him. Their footsteps echoed, Izuku’s ears turning this way and that to pick up every sound. He never let his tail leave Katsuki’s as they moved to the lower floors of the fortress.

Making it to the baths, Izuku picked the one in the back corner he favored and pulled the thick drape shut after Katsuki. When he slid into the steaming water, the demon was there to immediately move him into the middle. A washcloth covered in scented oils from the realm of darkness, an odd but pleasing mixture of frankincense and myrrh, soothingly cleansed his skin, causing it to tingle pleasantly. The closest thing to a purr, a low-pitched humming, escaped the nymph as he leaned back so the demon could softy scrub his neck, a clawed hand holding the back of his head.

Katsuki absolutely adored that Izuku trusted him this much, eyes closed, body relaxed, totally nude and not a worry that he would do anything obscene or harmful to him. He made sure to value it, to never take it for granted. He knew Izuku would not be like this with anyone else, that this was something he willing gave to him only. He shifted around him, to begin washing his back when those spade ears suddenly popped up in attention and the nymph’s body went tense.

Other bodies were heard entering the bathing area, “Stay calm, little nymph. I’m here, you’re safe.”

“Sorry, Kacchan,” Izuku whimpered. “This, I don’t like this at all.”

“I know, I fucking know. Let’s finish quickly and we can leave, okay?”

Once the trembling being nodded in conformation, they finished cleaning themselves before getting dressed and heading back to their room. Walking back, the hallways were littered with waking students and Izuku was a bit confused. He didn’t understand why so many were up right now. It was still later than his earlier waking time, but most didn’t get up until the sun was fully over the horizon.

“Midoriya,” a familiar deep voice called almost lazily, “I see your confusion and forgot you missed the announcement since you were with Chiyo Friday.”

The nymph walked up to his warlock of a teacher, holding his dirty laundry, and questioned, “Announcement? What announcement?”

“There is no class today. All the students of your year, and their familiars, are going to the town in the valley to begin searching for the proper attire for the Winter Solstice Gala, among other things. Master Kan and I will be accompanying you,” Master Aizawa explained.

“Oh, but I don’t have any spending money and I doubt they’ll have anything for my given attire anyway,” Izuku quietly replied. “Should I just stay here?”

“Fuck no,” Katsuki replied from behind him. “I’ve been hording shit since the beginning of damn time. I got plenty for you to spend even if it’s just on stuff you need, since your parents don’t give you shit. Do you even have anything resembling that shitty formal attire they expect you to wear?”

The nymph shifted from foot to foot in silence but Aizawa answered, “It was a requirement that students come to the school with at least one set of their required formal attire, although we do give them the opportunity to get something new if they can afford it.”

Katsuki then leaned down to look Izuku in the eye and very quietly rumbled, “So you do have that shit, the sex slave get-up, and I am guessing that is the one thing your fucking father bought for you.”

The green head of hair reluctantly nodded and then shakily replied, “It also shows that I am owned by, by, by them on the collar.”

An angry hiss of a growl escaped the battle demon, “THAT ASS! We are going to that damn town, getting you new fucking shit, and then I have an idea of where to take you to get a true attire fitting of your station.”

***

Once back in their room, Izuku looked a little more excited than downstairs in the hall, “Are you sure you’re okay with purchasing stuff for me? I mean, we can just go to look around. I haven’t left the school grounds in so long!”

“I wouldn’t say it unless I fucking meant it!” Katsuki lightly snarled, tapping the fireplace to allow a smaller demon to enter through the hearth. They handed the battle demon what looked to be a large coin purse, before they were addressed, “You, let Midnight know my promised and I will be visiting her later.” The stout demon sputtered something in Enochian and Katsuki leaned in, close enough to whisper something that Izuku’s sensitive ears only managed to pick it up, “Blessed Chimera.”

Izuku watched as the imp of a demon froze to turn and look at him with wide eyes before bowing low and exiting back through the flames without ever lifting their head. He looked at his familiar confused. Katsuki smirked and then chuckled.

“What’s going on?” the emerald-eyed being asked. “Who is Midnight and what do you mean we are visiting her, like in the dark realm? And why did they act like that? Blessed Chimera?”

The demon rolled his eyes as a sly smile took over his face, “Always so many fucking questions. You’ll figure it out soon enough. We have a shitty town to visit.”

Narrowing his eyes, Izuku pursed his lips, “That’s true but what else are you planning, Kacchan? Should I be worried?”

“Have I ever done anything to harm you?” the demon asked with a raised eyebrow as he leaned in front of the nymph’s face.

“No, you haven’t,” pouting pink lips answered.

“Do you think that would change now?” was then asked with both blonde eyebrows raised. The nymph shook his head, “Well then, let’s get fucking out of here.”

“Okay, Kacchan!” Izuku said with renewed excitement and went to grab his thin, overworn cloak but jumped when it was snatched and thrown into the fire the other demon had just left through. “Um, Kacchan?”

“You’re wearing the one I made you for now on, not that stupid, shitty thing,” Katsuki practically commanded as he pulled out a thick, dark red velvet, hooded, fur-lined cloak edged in embroidered ribbon and golden clasps from his bag. “That thing couldn’t keep a damn gnat warm in the heat of summer.”

Sputtering in disbelief and tears already collecting on his eyelids, the nymph pulled it close, “Thank you, Kacchan. It’s beautiful.”

Crossing his arms, the demon looked away with a slight blush under his scales, “Don’t fucking mention it.”

When they headed back down to ground level, Katsuki was wearing his own crimson cloak along with a thick leather, cropped jacket laced across his chest and open in the back for his wings. Izuku giggled as he rubbed his face in the soft fur of the hood of his new cloak and walked beside him. As always, the blonde wore his collection of necklaces and his promised donned the one he had taken a while ago. The demon had also helped his nymph change out his earrings to ones that dangled from his expressive ears and changed his own to match. They were going out in public and no one would question to whom they belonged, Katsuki had made sure.

They ended up at the edge of the large gathering of both classes that had just been paired with familiars. It wasn’t long before Kirishima and Denki found them, both dressed for the colder weather. The kitsune was as excitable as ever and the werewolf wore a huge toothy grin.

“He finally gave it to you!” Denki exclaimed, barreling into Izuku only to cuddle into the cloak and purr. “I still want this stuff for my den.”

“I fucking said no, foxface!” the demon snarled as he grabbed at the other blonde.

“Hey, Midoriya!” Kirishima greeted. “That cloak is awesome! Bet you can’t wait to pick out your formal robes, nymphs are always so fancy!”

Rubbing at the back of his curls and gliding light fingers over his regrowing antlers, the forest nymph nervously smiled, “Well, I guess, but werewolves always look so fierce! I bet you’ll find things to make you look amazing.”

“Actually, I was thinking of piercing my ears or something after seeing yours done for the last few weeks,” Kirishima replied with a thoughtful smirk. “We are supposed to wear the claws or teeth of our first kill and I really don’t want to wear them just on a necklace. Everyone does that.” He then took his hands out of his own fur cloak to open a small, suede, draw-string bag holding several long claws and a few sharp teeth, “I am bringing these hoping a jeweler can make something awesome with them.”

“Oh!” the nymph responds in excitement, “I bet they can! What are they? Bear?”

The group of four stayed together even as everyone went through rollcall, got counted twice, and finally left for the trek down the mountain side. Denki ended up on Kirishima’s back while Izuku greeted the plants that had yet to fall dormant and Katsuki followed closely behind him. The hike was a good hour before the town opened up before them. It was bustling with life even though the time for breakfast had just passed.

“Do you guys mind if we hit up the jewelers first or do you just want to go our separate ways until lunch?” Kirishima questioned as they stood on the main thoroughfare.

Izuku looked up to Katsuki, “I don’t mind going to the jewelers. Kacchan?”

The demon shrugged, “Fine with me. Not like any shitty place here has something I haven’t fucking seen before.”

Finding the shop had been easy and it being so early meant it was practically unoccupied other than those who owned it. Kirishima greeted the old man behind the counter with one of his huge, sharp-toothed smiles while his kitsune bounced around the room, looking at all that was displayed. Izuku stayed within the center, only looking from there at what he could see. Katsuki had his wings and heavy tail held close to his body, under his cloak.

Moments passed with the fox spirit looking ready to swipe any shiny object and the gentlemen of a jeweler rearranging the claws and teeth Kirishima had brought along a piece of fabric as they discussed the werewolf’s options. The older woman who had been hovering around the cases the kitsune seemed to be stalking, finally managed to build up the nerve to approach the rather large demon guarding the bright-eyed nymph. They were an odd pair but she refused to not give every customer the same care.

“Hello! Can I help you with anything?” she spoke while keeping a respectful distance. Being an earth nymph, she knew the forest nymph had to be someone interesting to be bound to such a powerful and dark being, “See something you like?”

Looking up, the green-haired, antlered being whispered something to his horned familiar causing the blonde the smirk and declare, “The little nymph would like some new earrings and a few tail cuffs.”

“Tail cuffs?” she questioned before a slender, tufted tail appeared from under the nymph’s heavy cloak for him to hold in his hands. “Oh! I am sure we can find just the right things for you! I must admit, I haven’t known many of our kind to have tails. That is quite unique.”

The boy shyly giggled as his cheeks flushed, “No one has ever really mentioned it but I suppose you’re right. I don’t think I have met another nymph with a tail.”

The women smiled. The demon may be intimidating, but this little nymph was adorable. As she walked back to displays, she quickly shooed the kitsune away as he was getting way too close to snatching an item or two and began pulling out other merchandise that might interest the timid, vibrant, young costumer. The demon seemed to be the one to satisfy however, as he would shake his head to anything he deemed unworthy of his familiar.

“Kacchan, these are fine, I promise. I don’t need anything too fancy,” the boy would argue whenever the blonde, scarlet-eyed being would believe something unfit.

The demon would lightly growl back, “Your standards are too damn low. You are getting the fucking best we can find, not something anyone else could fucking wear.” A clawed finger would tap on the glass then, pointing at items they rarely allowed out of the spells of protection, “I want to see these earrings and bangles here. Nothing less.”

The woman had pulled out the pieces and the nymph had looked nervous at the idea of such expensive jewelry. The demon on the other hand, studied them closely, picking the most exquisite ones in their collection. Three pairs of earrings, and five different sized tail cuffs later, rare gems from deep within the earth were traded for their purchases. The earth nymph had then watched as the being of darkness had carefully and gently positioned the cuffs to his familiar’s tail only to secure the earrings in their own pouch attached to his belt.

***

By the time the four stopped shopping for lunch, Kirishima was excited to pick up his earrings and necklace set in the coming week the male jeweler had come up with and Denki was not only after Izuku’s cloak, but his newest jewelry. Katsuki made sure to not let the kitsune too close and kept snarling at the werewolf to buy his shitty furball something shiny already. The nymph giggled at their antics, the kitsune kept pouting that he would give them back, and the demon growled he’d believe it when he fucking saw it.

“Please, please, please! He doesn’t need all those cuffs or earrings!”

“YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE YOUR FUCKING EARS PIERCED, FOXFACE! AND THE BIG FURBALL BOUGHT YOU NEW SHITTY ROBES!”

“Kacchan, you could pierce them …”

“I am not fucking doing that so he can wear your shit!”

Big ears flattened, Denki whined, “Pleeeeeeease!?”

“NO!” Katsuki snarled with steam raising from his nostrils. “WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING WEREWOLF FOR, YOU SHITTY THING!”

“Eijiroooooooo!” Denki whimpered as he turned to the raven-haired boy. “He’s not being nice!”

“Dude, there are enough shiny things in my room now to decorate a palace! You could make some damn nice jewelry from that stuff. We can visit that jeweler again even!” Kirishima responded as he searched the food booths.

“That will take too long!” the multi-tailed blonde moaned in mock despair.

Izuku quickly grabbed the fox spirit’s wrist with both hands only to let go as a vine of colorful flowers sprouted along his forearm, “Will these make you feel better? I know they are small, but they will bloom in the cold air and are beautiful.”

Golden eyes widened amazed, “Oh, I like these!”

The demon rolled his own eyes in annoyance, “You’re fucking ridiculous.”

“Hey, you guys like barbeque?” Kirishima asked.

As the group sat at a long table in front of the food stand several minutes later, Izuku was greeted by two people he wasn’t sure would ever show interest in his friendship again. Ochaco sat beside him and Katsuki while Iida sat beside Denki and Kirishima. It seemed odd since the nymph was in his normal spot during meals, on his demon’s lap, and Denki had sat on Kirishima’s to save seats since the booth was growing busy. Why were they here?

“Deku,” Ochaco began which caused a small growl to burst from Katsuki, “I need to apologize for the way I left our last conversation. If your magic bond is with a demon then I need to accept it.”

“I also should apologize, Midoriya,” Iida then announced. “I said things I had no right too.”

“Um, thank you,” Izuku said cautiously, something seemed weird because the white mage was fidgeting. “Is there something else?”

Ochaco then looked at Iida for encouragement and the man gave a nod, “I also wanted to talk to you because a while back you seemed off and then disappeared for a weekend. When you came back to class, you looked a tad ill. You also have been missing class on certain days. Is something wrong?”

Izuku turned his eyes to his serving of barbecued vegetables with the bit of brisket Katsuki had placed on the side from his own plate, “It’s personal and nothing you need to know.”

“But we used to be so close, you would tell me if something is wrong right?” Ochaco argued.

“He said it’s personal though,” Kirishima insisted as Denki nibbled on a chicken leg. “I mean, it’s sort of disrespectful to ask for more information when he said that, isn’t it?”

“But he told you two, didn’t he?” Iida demanded. “So, I do not understand why he can’t sooth Uraraka’s worry. She still cares for you, Midoriya.”

“So, this is about making her feel better,” Denki said as he chewed, “and not really about Izuku at all. Also, he hasn’t told us anything other than about Katsuki piercing his ears.”

“Doesn’t that bother you at all?” Ochaco aggressively questioned. “He’s your friend now and hasn’t told you anything about what happened then. Kirishima, you sit right beside him!”

Kirishima swallowed a large bite of meat before he answered, “I could tell he needed space and Bakugo was taking care of him. The dude was totally manly about it too, didn’t whine or anything when Izuku wasn’t feeling up for stuff.”

“Of course, I damn didn’t!” Katsuki rumbled. “It’s no one’s fucking business then and it’s not now if he doesn’t want to share it.”

Iida’s eyes narrowed, and it looked like he wanted to say something but he held his tongue, while Ochaco, on the other hand, exclaimed, “I was there for him years before you! I don’t understand why I can’t know if something is wrong!”

Izuku suddenly stood and slammed his palms on the table, Edelweiss springing into existence, “You left my company when you realized Katsuki was going to be staying around. Iida and yourself both made it known that you didn’t agree with our pairing even if you have no authority to spout such things. Now you are demanding to know information because you were my friend.”

“But Deku,” Ochaco tried, “I am still your friend.”

“In what capacity?” the nymph inquired. “You haven’t taken a step in my direction for over a month and yet you noticed how I had been acting that long ago, so why approach me now?”

Ochaco sat and pulled her arms off the table to lay in her lap, “I just was busy with everything. I had to move into Iida’s room and get used to being paired with someone. And then our studies, they aren’t getting any easier.”

“If you were too busy to come speak with me, how could you somehow take in things happening to me?”

“People talk.”

“Oh, that’s it!” Denki suddenly declared with a smile of recognition. “You weren’t actually worried about him, were you? You just needed to find out what rumors were true. That makes sense because I have known the little nymph for a long while and have never met you two before.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Iida defended.

“Bro, but it makes sense because I was with Midoriya moments after you guys left the last time, I ate your food by the way, and I haven’t seen you at all near him since then,” Kirishima spoke. “It’s only been me, Denki, and Bakugo hanging around with him.”

“Please leave,” Izuku mumbled as he sat back down. “I just want to eat and finish shopping. Believe whatever rumors you want.”

“That isn’t it!” Ochaco cried out. “I need to make sure he’s not hurting you!”

The girl froze as soon as that statement left her mouth while the demon glared in her direction and said in a low, harsh whisper, “I would never fucking hurt him. I have said that so many damn times. Those apologies were shit if you are thinking that. You will leave right now.”

Izuku shakily reached out to lift a kabob of veggies while Ochaco and Iida again left him sitting at a table with his demon. Thankfully, Kirishima and Denki stayed just as always. He just stared at the kabob for a moment wondering why there was always someone who needed to know everything going on with him, like they were entitled to everything he was. He let out a shuttering breath before taking a bite of the seared mushroom and bell pepper.

He felt a light kiss on his scalp and closed his eyes as he relaxed while he chewed, “You okay, little nymph?”

Izuku only nodded but leaned further back into Katsuki. He knew his familiar wouldn’t ask any more questions until he had time to process. Kirishima and Denki seemed to also understand as they spoke with each other and the scarlet-eyed blonde. He ate slowly, enjoying his warm cloak and the hum of his friends’ conversation. By the time he swallowed his last bite, the others had been done for a little while.

“Ready to get back to shopping, ‘Zuku!” Denki exclaimed as soon as the nymph sat up in Katsuki’s lap. “There are still so many pretty things!”

The nymph grinned, “Yes! I need some new clothing. My stuff is getting so worn.”

Their day ended with the demon happy to have spoiled his promised thoroughly. He smirked at the nervous looks Izuku gave, worried he had gotten too much. Katsuki was glad he could throw the rest of the garbage the nymph’s disgusting parents had gotten him into the hearth. All his clothing had been patched multiple times and made of the cheapest fabrics the scaled man had ever seen. His pants and sleeves of his tunics were often too short, and his shoes looked like he had been mending them way too often. Katsuki may not need shoes for his clawed, dragon-like feet but if Izuku did, he would get them.

When they made it back to the academy, the group reported back to Master Aizawa and then headed to their rooms. Izuku watched as Katsuki laid all their purchases on the bed and sighed in defeat. He would still have to wear what his father had bought him. He had tried to discreetly look for place that might sell anything resembling his formal wear but, of course, no respectable place would sell such items.

“Are you ready?” Katsuki questioned as he laid out the last pair of trousers.

“Ready? For what?” the confused nymph questioned.

Katsuki turned around to throw a log in the hearth and snap his fingers to get the fire roaring, “To head to Midnight’s, she is fucking waiting for us.”

“Oh! You mean, what you told the other demon about. Is that okay? Me going to the dark realm? I mean, I’m not really meant to ever be there and they might attack me when I am not in my element. Not that you wouldn’t protect me, but what if something bad happens? What if I offend someone?” What if-” Izuku’s fretted mumbling stopped a light kiss to his nose.

“No one would dare touch you there, that’s a damn promise. Now come on, where is that shitty formal wear of yours,” the battle demon said as his scarlet eyes darted around the room.

“We have to take that?” Izuku asked ashamed.

“That’s the whole fucking reason we are going. She has a way with such things, trust me,” Katsuki assured.

The nymph nodded and then headed to where he had stored the book that held the information about his fate. When the plants had moved the block away, he reached in to pull out a small, black, silk bag, tied tightly closed. Holding it close to his chest, Izuku ambled back over to the demon without lifting his eyes.

“It’s all here. Do I need to put my cloak back on?”

“No, we’ll be entering through Midnight’s flames and she likes her living space damn warm. Just walk through, you will not burn.”

Izuku swallowed his anxiety only because he trusted his familiar, his future mate, and shakily walked into the flames, closing his eyes at the last second. It felt odd, like walking through a dream. The sensations touching his skin felt like echoes of what they should be and then reality was back. He stopped walking and opened his eyes. He was in something that might have been a cavern except the walls and ceiling of it was covered in colorful crystals lit by the flames he just stepped from. Katsuki was then there behind him, pushing his body a few steps forward.

“This is, wow, Kacchan,” Izuku murmured as he eyes took in the jeweled space.

The demon let his own eyes wander, “She has to harvest the damn crystals she uses from somewhere.”

Gasping at the new information, the nymph exclaimed, “Midnight harvests these? How long do they take to form? Does she have to add different minerals to change their color? Or their shapes?”

“Depends on the crystal and I do but it becomes second nature for me,” a strong, alluring, feminine voice interrupted.

The antlered being jumped in fright, dropping the bag that held his formal wear, and screamed, “Kacchan!”

“Calm down,” the demon lightly chuckled as he pulled his promised into his embrace. “She’s a shitty succubus and has a thing for sneaking up on people.”

A female demon, with long dark hair, pale skin, and light blue eyes then materialized from the shadows. She was not covered in scales like Katsuki, but something otherworldly could be seen even in her very human appearance. Undoubtedly attractive in every way one could find her, she was wearing next to nothing, only small undergarments covered by a robe made of tiered ruffles of black, sheer fabric.

“I apologize, I would never want to frighten you,” she spoke as she approached them to pick up the silk bag. “Forgive me.”

“I-it’s okay. I am just nervous,” Izuku stuttered out.

“Nervous, why be nervous?” she practically purred as she held out his bag for him to take.

The nymph just shrugged as he shyly reached for the bag which caused the succubus to turn her eyes up to Katsuki, “He hasn’t always been treated well, that is why we are fucking here. We need to show you something shitty and I would like you to fucking fix it.”

The female suddenly stood straight, her eyes narrowed and teeth bared to only whisper, “Who would dare harm him? Do they not understand what he is?”

“We all knew other nymphs don’t value his kind,” the battle demon whispers back, “we are just ill informed how fucking little they do.”

“Kacchan,” Izuku whined as he hid his face in Katsuki’s chest, “please, don’t.”

“She needs to understand little nymph, but I will tell her no more,” the blonde promised as he rubbed his face into green hair and rubbed his nymph’s back.

“They have no idea what they have then!” the woman quietly growled, a scent filling the area that made Izuku’s eyes water. “He is a blessed Chimera! Something so precious is a deity compared to any of those elemental bastards!”

Katsuki nodded in agreement and murmured softly, “So, can we fucking show you what we need help with?”

“Of course! What is your little blessing’s name?” she replied, her voice back to full volume.

Izuku turned in his demon’s arms and extended out his hand to stammer, “Hello, I’m Izuku Mid-Midoriya.”

“Izuku, the Sacred One, come, follow me,” Midnight said like he was something of awe.

Katsuki led the wide-eyed, jade haired being forward, as the other demon strolled through the shadows to a room filled with candles, beautiful clothing, headpieces, and expensive trinkets. Izuku felt so out of place here, so unworthy of anything this succubus had obviously made. The nymph, so often abused and tossed to the side in the realm said to be of goodness and light, soon found out in the feared realm of darkness, he was an anointed jewel, a enlightened being, the best of omens.

Chapter Text

Katsuki watched as Izuku nervously followed the trusted succubus into the back chambers of her home from her little crystal mine. Her luxurious boutique of exquisite wearable pieces opened up before them and the nymph stared in astonishment, emerald eyes wide and ears straight forward at attention. His long tail was even twitching in excitement, the tails cuffs reflecting light along the dim lit walls.

“Everything is so beautiful! Do you make things for nobility?” Izuku questioned as he slowly spun around to take anything in.

Midnight snickered, “No, I make things to make people feel good.” She then licked her lips, “My kind love to make people feel good in so many different ways, little one. I am a creature of pleasure after all.”

Freckled cheeks blushed then and those sparkling eyes turned to the ground, “O-oh, well, I am not sure why Kacchan brought me here then. I mean, I guess I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Katsuki sighed and leaned over to be eye to eye with his promised to explain, “Put that fuckery you are holding on over there, behind the shitty dressing screen in the corner, and then come out and show her. You will know why then.”

Izuku paled, “Put it on for her, but …”

“Little nymph,” Katsuki smirked, “I am betting you’ll still be more covered than her in that.”

He shook his head, “I don’t have a robe.”

“Would it make you more comfortable if I took my robe off?” the female demon questioned and let the garment slip off one pale shoulder.

Squeaking in embarrassment at the idea and blushing red, Izuku quickly shook his head no, “I’ll just do as Kacchan says.”

The battle demon smirked, “Good idea, she has walked around fucking naked before.”

The nymph managed to turn redder as he rushed behind the screen, and Midnight took the opportunity to move a bit closer to quietly ask, “There is something to wear it that small bag?”

Growling low so Izuku couldn’t hear, he answered, “It’s the fucking formal wear he is meant to wear to represent his shitty station according to the nymphs. Just wait until fucking you see it. I have only seen diagrams of the shitty thing but I am not looking forward to it.”

The succubus narrowed her sky-blue eyes as she turned them back to the screen she heard rustling behind. The sounds of hushed sniffles soon reached her ears and she grew concerned. Rushing forward, the battle demon moved to the screen and got on his knees right before the side the Chimera entered.

“Kacchan, I look like a … a …”

“Come on, it’s fine. Trust me, no one is judging you in this fucking room. That is why I bought you here. She will fix this shit.”

“How can she fix it? I have to still wear something like this.”

“But we can make additions, right? You said so.”

Midnight heard the nymph hiccup on a small sob, “Yes, yes we can.”

The battle demon nodded to the one still hidden from view, “I fucking promise you, she will make you feel like damn royalty by the time she’s finished.”

“Okay,” was spoken in a shamed murmur before the sacred being slowly came out clinging to a clawed hand.

The blessed nymph revealed himself in something that made the succubus cringe. The slave body harness made of unforgiving leather and chain straps dug into to fragile looking, randomly freckled, ivory skin like talons of a great dragon. The collar he wore was wide and stiff holding his head in an uncomfortable position and decorated with a large ring one could yank and a coat of arms. Even the undergarments he wore were small, uncomfortable, flimsy things that allowed anyone a view of exactly what he was, providing absolutely no dignity. It wasn’t beautiful, wasn’t becoming, and definitely was nothing this anointed creature should be wearing.

“Take the collar off, Bakugo, he should never be collared like that,” Midnight sternly growled as fury, red and hot, hit her at the thought of a Chimera being forced to wear such a thing. She then stomped over, grabbing one of her more modest, satin robes on the way and handed it to the sanctified nymph, “Please change into this, with only your chosen undergarments beneath, so I can measure you.”

Katsuki got up to quickly undo the buckle on the collar and threw it into one of the dark corners of the room. With it removed, Izuku breathed like he had been suffocating and that’s when both demons gasped. There were bleeding wounds all around his neck.

“What the fuck?” Katsuki murmured as he hovered clawed fingers over the oozing spots. “Were there damn spikes in that thing?”

“To keep me from lying and deceiving people,” Izuku muttered in return and then quietly asked, “Do you have any healing salve or a mortar and pestle so I can make some?”

Midnight snapped something in Enochian and a small imp came running from the crystal cavern. They bowed their head as soon as they observed who else occupied the room. The she-demon then pointed at the Chimera, snarled something quietly at the imp, and they quickly ran back from where they came.

“You will have what you need it a few moments,” the succubus smiled, “I will turn around so you can change right there.”

Izuku stood there confused until the woman does just that and Katsuki begun ripping apart the harness to get it off his body, “Kacchan!”

“She won’t fucking dare turn around, she’d lose her head quite literally,” the demon growled as he continued to tear leather and chains from his body.

“You don’t know what you are to us, do you?” Midnight inquired still turned to face her worktable. “You are a goddess, or god if you prefer. You are the very embodiment of pure beauty, of perfect sensuality, of wholeness, you are everything a demon would ever want. Bakugo is beyond blessed to have been chosen for you and anyone is blessed who gets a chance see you at all. Any demon who would dare move against you in any way would be immediately executed.”

The nymph shook his head in denial, tears pricking his eyes, “That’s ridiculous. I am worthless.”

Midnight’s spine stiffened and Katsuki stopped what he was doing to turn Izuku’s face to him, “Stop. Mistress Chiyo has been working with you about this. You are anything but fucking worthless, you know that.”

“Am I really though?” the anointed one said as he turns his eyes down, “I mean, I am definitely not someone to die over. I have been used like a whore and cursed for years without knowing. I am nothing special.”

“WHAT!?” Midnight screamed. “WHO!?” she then demanded still facing the wall.

“Don’t worry about it,” Katsuki answered flatly as he moved to grab the small shorts Izuku wore as undergarments, “I am taking care of it.”

Izuku stepped out of the uncomfortable undergarments of his formal wear as the battle demon pulled them down without a fuss and he questioned, “What do you mean, Kacchan?”

The demon cleared his throat as he offered the other underwear for his nymph to step into, “Some of my legion has found your shitty clan and has been watching them. Your mother and father left last night to head this way for the gala. They are the only ones allowed to fucking leave.” Katsuki stopped speaking for a moment and gently wrapped the satin robe around his promised’s slender, curvy body, “The damn night of the gala, I will send the rest of my legion to smite your clan for daring to hurt a deity like you. Nothing will be left and that is what your shitty parents will return too, absolutely, fucking nothing just like what they have given you your whole life.”

“Serves them right,” Midnight snorted and Izuku stood there with his mouth hanging open.

“Kacchan is serious? But why? I am not with them anymore. I am safe here,” Izuku finally managed.

Tying the belt of the robe to securely but gently hug his nymph’s waist, the horned being very quietly answered, “It is the curse of those daring to look at, touch, or take a Chimera against their will.”

Then in a chant like echo, just as the imp returned, Midnight and Katsuki whispered together, “Death, torture, and poverty will meet all who participate in or allow such actions that would try to stain a Chimera, that is the curse of the dark realm.”

The nymph swallowed, voice thick as he muttered, “They will pay? I won’t have to see them ever again? They can’t - won’t be able to … but they said I was the curse and, and that I would bring them ruin …” Izuku stopped, eyes widening and body sagging, “The curse wouldn’t have come from me, but from here because they, they …”

“They dared to harm you,” Katsuki murmured and he watched those green eyes fill with realization before closing, a hand rising to cover trembling lips.

“They will be gone, oh thank the Great Spirits, I’ll be safe, finally,” and Katsuki’s promised was crying again, but for an absolutely different reason.

He went limp as the battle demon drew him close, “Yes, you’re perfectly safe now.”

“But only here. There, not yet, when I go back …”

“After the shitty gala, no one will fucking dare to even speak ill of you there. Trust me,” Katsuki vowed before he noticed the small imp shuffling from foot to foot holding a small, lidded bowl. “Get over here, you little ass, his neck is still bleeding.”

The imp only glared at the blonde demon before looking at the succubus with her back still facing them, and then she snarled, “You dare keep the sacred one waiting!?”

The imp jolted at her anger and rushed to Katsuki with the salve. The large, winged demon bared his teeth as he swiped the ointment from the dark imp’s hands and began insulting him in Enochian in such way it dissolved into violent growling. Izuku’s gentle hand stroking his cheek is what stopped his demonic worded tirade.

“Mistress Midnight, you can turn around now,” Izuku spoke as he drew back to wipe his tears. “I am dressed.”

Midnight spun around with a flourish and a smile, “Well, now that we have so many things to look forward to, this appointment will be even more exciting.”

Izuku allowed a small smile as Katsuki began gently applying the healing cream on his skin, “Yes, I guess so, but I still have to wear something with the elements of what I had on.”

“Oh, anointed one, you have no idea what I can make out of those pieces. I am guessing it has to involve a body harness, collar and undergarments?”

“And chains to express my bondage,” the nymph murmured as he raised his head so his familiar could get the front of his throat.

“And we are allowed to add demon elements, yes?” Midnight tisked and then replied as she turned to grab a large sketch pad of parchment, a quill, and a seamstress tape. She let go of the pad and quill and they stayed floating in the air while she then turned to grab a low stool, “Please come stand on this.”

Katsuki helped Izuku step up and Midnight started measuring him. As she did so, she asked his favorite colors, flowers, fabrics, precious stones, crystals, and metals. The nymph didn’t know how to answer some of those questions because he had never really considered it. He hadn’t the means to get beautiful or expensive things that he couldn’t make grow himself.

So instead, he would show her his favorite blooms and leaves explaining why he enjoyed them. The different, extreme color variations of Asiatic Lilies, the ruffled petals of certain Irises, and the eeriness of black bat flowers. He showed her the interesting shapes of tulip tree and ginkgo leaves, the way hydrangeas bloomed in groups to form clouds of color, and the velvety texture of jewel toned petunias. The succubus’ boutique ended up full of plants by the end, but she seemed delighted by it all.

Then Izuku fell off the stool, thankfully into Katsuki's arms, when a raging feminine voice suddenly bellowed from another part of Midnight’s dwelling, “BRAT! TELL ME WHY I FIND OUT YOU ARE HERE AGAIN FROM AN IMP! YOU BETTER STAY LONG ENOUGH TO FUCKING TELL ME WHO YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR!”

“Fuck that imp! Had to tell the damn hag,” the battle demon growled from clenched teeth as he set his promised back on his feet.

“Hag?” the Chimera asked right before a female demon, much like Katsuki, rounded a corner Izuku didn’t realize had an entrance to some other area.

She was ash blonde much like his familiar with sharp scarlet eyes, and golden scales in many of the same places. Her wings were not as large and her tail didn’t appear as heavy. The horns on her head were tight curls on either side and not as imposing as they sat right behind her pointed ears. It was her facial expression that was terrifying, she looked like she wanted to rip something, or someone, apart.

The armor she wore did not lessen that fact. Small, horned skulls sat on both shoulders and only dark chainmail and a collection of necklaces covered her breasts. She wore similar pants as Katsuki that hugged her lean legs as they transitioned into those gargoyle-like feet it seemed battle demons possessed. She was also holding a very deadly looking dagger.

Izuku took a step back, “Kacchan?”

The demon in question immediately started spitting furious words in demon tongue at the other. Midnight chuckled at the display, rolling her eyes like it was a normal day occurrence. As the screaming match ensued, the woman’s hand holding the dagger slicing through the air, it rose in volume and soon Izuku was covering his ears and squeezing his eyes shut. He didn’t realize the plants he had grown were wilting and dying in his distress until the yelling suddenly stopped. He felt the soft touch of Katsuki’s scaled hands on his own, pulling them away from his ears and he opened his eyes to concerned, crimson ones.

“Are you okay? I’m fucking sorry. The hag makes crazy.”

“I’m okay, it was just overwhelming.”

“Katsuki,” he heard the newest occupant of the room urgently whisper, “Is he what I think he is?”

In the most level murmur he could muster, the blonde battle demon voiced as he stood straight, “This is Izuku Midoriya and yes, he is a Chimera.”

Gone pale, the female battle demon quickly put the dagger back into its sheath and bowed, “I apologize. I never meant you any undue discomfort. I am Mitsuki of the senior Bakugo legion, Katsuki’s dam.” She then straightened to study the nymph closely which caused him to move slightly behind Katsuki, “You are beautiful.”

The blessed being shook his head and quietly muttered, “I don’t think so but it’s nice to meet you.”

“So timid,” Mitsuki smiled as she watched how close he was already willing to get to someone as abrasive as her son. “I will not harm you.”

“I know. Midnight and Kacchan explained everything to me, but I don’t understand it,” Izuku replied. “Is there a book I can read that will help, Kacchan. I don’t know what I am supposed to do.”

The female battle demon was surprised to hear her son chuckle, “I am sure we can find a volume about it. Why are you being so fucking shy? Any other time you would take the shitty opportunity to study the differences between us.”

“She’s your mother and she’s staring at me and what if I say something wrong. I wouldn’t want to make a bad impression. I don’t want her to hate me,” she heard the Chimera mumble.

“She fucking hates everything, she’s the hag,” Katsuki grumbles back.

“BRAT! I DO NOT! Don’t listen to the idiot, never respects his elders,” Mitsuki snarled back.

“SO YOU FUCKING ADMIT YOU’RE AN OLD HAG!”

“YOU BETTER SHUT THAT SHITHOLE OF YOURS OR I’LL BURN YOU TO A FUCKING CRISP!”

“I’M FIREPROOF JUST LIKE YOU! YOU GOING FUCKING SENILE NOW?”

“I WILL FUCKING-” Mitsuki froze when she heard growing giggles and turned to see the nymph’s face alight with laughter.

“She’s so much like Kacchan, it’s hilarious.”

“HAH! What did you just fucking say!?” her son turned to growl at being in the satin robe who was shaking with amusement.

“You even make the same faces!” Izuku was laughing harder now.

“WHAT!?”

“He’s not wrong,” Midnight added with a smirk on her face. “You two are very entertaining to watch.”

“What the hell!” Katsuki snarled as he turned toward the succubus.

She shrugged, her smile growing as she pointed back at the nymph. Izuku was bent over, laughing so hard, the robe had slipped off his right shoulder unnoticed. Katsuki’s brand that laid there was glowing a beautiful sunset orange. The darkness was in love with Izuku as much as Katsuki was, feeding the sacred being magic without him knowing.

They would need to find that text about the dark realm’s knowledge of Chimera very soon Katsuki was now certain. The sacred deities were more than both male and female, they were said to be ones that could balance dark and light. While light was said to purify things, dark was said to reveal a being’s true nature. The most beautiful woman in the light could become a ghastly cockroach in the dark. There were rarely spoken, ancient legends of the dark realm that told of Chimera becoming something that the light realm believed extinct.

***

They had returned to the realm of light soon after the damn hag got to truly meet his Chimera. Midnight had sent them away with swears of the delivery of fashion sketches and a book of dark realm history. While Izuku was changing yet again behind the privacy screen, the succubus had informed Katsuki she would also bring his armor up to date to match his promised. The battle demon trusted the female demon but hoped she wouldn’t go overboard.

Once they reached his room, Izuku collapsed onto their bed exhausted but content, which was what Katsuki had been hoping for. He was aware his promised worried more and more about the upcoming formal event, knowing he would see his parents after the years of being free of them and announcing exactly what he was in front of everyone. There were other nymphs at the academy after all, and who knew what their reactions would be.

The battle demon wanted his promised to feel like the deity he was, not some sex slave for anyone to use. He took off the cropped jacket he wore and then moved to grab one of the new, long, warm night shirts he had purchased for Izuku. He wrestled the sleepy nymph out of his current top as he whined about being too tired to help.

Katsuki smirked, “Right, or you’re being fucking lazy. Come on, sit up, so I get you into this so you can sleep.”

Izuku hummed but only lifted his arms like he was reaching for the ceiling, “Like this, Kacchan?”

The demon narrowed his red eyes, “Little fucker, being smart tonight, are we?”

“No, but why can’t you do it all?” Izuku moaned in response as he stretched before pushing himself up and letting the other clothe him like a toddler. He then immediately fell back and curled into a ball, tail included, “Is Kacchan done now?”

The behavior caused Katsuki to chuckle, “Are you going to sleep in the pants you’ve been wearing all fucking day then?”

The nymph pouted, before giving a sly look that the blonde fully comprehended, and rolled onto his stomach, “I guess you should take them off too.”

A low growl rumbled out of the demon’s throat as he leaned forward to grab the waist of Izuku’s trousers while placing a soft, wet kiss right above his slender tail. He lowered the piece of clothing slowly, his lips continuing to mark the creamy, slightly freckled skin of the nymph’s hips that lied above his undergarments as his palms caressed that being revealed. He felt his promised begin to shudder and one of those gentle hands reached back to tangle in his hair.

Katsuki threw Izuku’s pants to the floor, shook his head to free his hair, and then climbed onto the bed so his hot mouth could travel up the nymph’s spine as he hiked up the night shirt. He touched everything the green-haired beauty allowed, felt that shy tail wrap and unwrap from his body, as those curvy hips lifted ever so slightly for more attention. The battle demon then slid careful hands underneath them, his wings supporting his body weight, to touch the undergarments that covered the rare treasure between those tempting thighs.

“Kacchan, Kacchan,” was coming out of panting lips as the demon stroked a covered, hard dick and caressed a swollen clit, the nymph trapped between him and the bed. “I can’t, ah, I am not allowed to cum …”

Pressing his lips against one of that twitching fawn ears, Katsuki huskily whispered, “I am not them, you know that. Cum as many fucking times as you want, however you want, whenever you want.”

“But, ah, ah, but…”

“Don’t you fucking dare worry about me, I will take care of myself,” the blonde growled before practically purring, “Come on, precious, cum for me.”

Face pressed into the bed, fingers clawing at the sheets, Izuku keened. He hips shook as he came hard, the demon groaning at the feeling of wetness soaking his hands through the thin fabric covering the hidden prize, uncaring that he would be the one to clean his promised and change him. He would be respectful when he did so, because whenever the Chimera freely offered all of himself, it would be worth however long he had to wait.

***

After their morning bathing ritual, Izuku and Katsuki headed to breakfast and were quickly joined by Denki and Kirishima. Arriving early, there were plenty of empty seats to claim and so the group picked a long table near the windows so the nymph could look out at whatever plant life remained. Izuku was wrapped tightly in his new cloak, cozy in his demon’s lap as he drank hot, spiced cider and hummed at the conversation.

The upcoming Winter would make him crave more sleep than usual as his body began storing the magic his kind was known for. The nymph thankfully handled it better than others, venturing out to find the plants that still enjoyed his company even covered in ice and snow. Still, he yearned for warmth and comfort and thankfully, he had a huge, living heater that followed him everywhere so he was sure the Winter would be easier this time. He yawned as his hands curled even tighter around his mug.

Suddenly fingers snapped in front of his face, “Hey, ‘Zuku, you there?”

The nymph’s emerald eyes opened wide to see Denki staring at him with his head tilted and large ears lopsided, “Sorry, I am tired. What did you say?”

A huge smile split the kitsune’s face, all three tails wagging, “I was asking if you found anything for the gala. I don’t remember you buying anything but I can get easily distracted.”

“Distracted, fucking understatement,” Katsuki huffed under his breath as he pushed a bowl of warm oatmeal his nymph’s way, covered in fruit and nuts.

Izuku shook his head as he took another sip of steaming cider before picking up a spoon, “No, but Kacchan took me to someone who understands what I need and is willing to create something amazing.”

Denki was bouncing in his seat, his ears turned forward at attention waiting for more information while Kirishima spoke, mouth half full, “Are they in another town or something? Did he take you right after we got back?”

“Oh no, they -” Izuku was interrupted by someone pulling on his cloak and he looked down to see a small, dark imp looking around worriedly before turning to him. They offered him a book and a portfolio, “Oh, hello and thank you.”

The imp blushed, said something softly in Enochian while looking to the floor, and then ran off to disappear into one of the hearths of the dining hall. The nymph watched him go and then turned to notice Katsuki smirking at the event.

“What just happened? Did that crazy, little bastard blush and then just jump into flames?” Kirishima questioned, eyes wide, staring at the burning fireplace.

Grinning at his bowl of oatmeal, and holding the things given to him close, Izuku answered, “Um, he was a dark imp of the dark realm. They can travel through flame and he was here to give me sketches of my formal attire to look through.”

“Oh, oh, oh! Let me see!” Denki said, standing to lean over the table and reach for the items in the green-haired being’s hands before the battle demon grabbed them.

“No,” the blonde growled and Kirishima pulled Denki back. “He can’t show you here even if he wants to, there is a reason we had to go to the dark realm for his garments.”

“I can show you later though, in my room? At lunch?” Izuku quickly replied. “I’m sorry, just, there are things about me that makes things complicated.”

“Hey, if you can’t show us, you can’t show us,” Kirishima assured, “but, I have to admit, you have me fucking wondering now.”

“Yeah, what? Do nymphs have secret robes or something?” Denki managed, glaring at Katsuki. “You are such a brute, you know that! Goat-head!”

The demon rolled his eyes, “Well, maybe you shouldn’t go grabbing for things like a fucking child wanting candy!”

The nymph sighed, wrapped an arm around the delivery, and began eating his oatmeal when Denki started bouncing in his seat again, squealing, “’Zuku, ‘Zuku, they’re so pretty!”

Looking up with an eyebrow lifted in confusion, green eyes ask a silent question, ‘what is so pretty?’

“Oh wow, your other ones weren’t those colors. I love the red ones!” the werewolf adds.

Izuku wiped his mouth as he sat up, “What are you talking about?”

“Your antlers,” Katsuki mumbled above him, “they’re finally blooming.”

“Really?” the nymph asked excitedly, and then quickly moved his bowl over, dumped his cider on the table, and said a few short words to turn the liquid into a rippling mirror.

He gawked at his own reflection, beyond shocked at what he saw. His now curling antlers were covered in jewel-toned blooms of different gradients and color variations, electric blues, flaming reds, warm oranges, sunny yellows, bright pinks, and the deepest of purples. They remind him of giant lilies or hibiscus and yet something entirely unique. He reached up touch one at the same time Katsuki leaned in to smell an orange and yellow bloom.

“I don’t understand,” he murmured. “I have always had such small blooms.”

Kirishima chuckled as he watched, “Well, you have a badass demon as a familiar, and you are supposed to share magic with him, right? Like I can feel Denki’s magic every now and then, maybe they’re just responding to that.”

Izuku grinned as he looked up from the make-shift mirror and giggled at the thought, “Big, bad, dark magic making my magic more beautiful? What will Ochaco and Iida think?”

***

The rest of the morning went smoothly. Many observed Izuku as he walked through the halls, his bright blooms bringing him attention whatever he went, some even complimenting his new jewelry as they passed by. Katsuki was content that his promised was happy, excited even about these new developments. He hoped Midnight’s proposals for the nymph’s formal wear would only add to the smile gracing that freckled face.

Sitting in the rafters, with the kitsune sleeping at the other end of the beam, the battle demon had a good view of the entire classroom as the students sat in their seats and the teachers cycled through as they taught the morning’s subjects. His eyes would stray to watch as Iida and Uraraka muttered to each other every now and then while motioning towards Izuku and jerking their heads in his direction. He rolled his eyes. Didn’t the pair have more important shit to worry about?

It was during the short break between Izuku’s second and third class that a Flame Lily bloomed next to Katsuki. Gentle claws touched it before the demon turned his eyes to look at Izuku who was grinning up at him. The nymph then climbed onto to his desk, his tail flicking back and forth playfully, before he began scurrying up the support beam. Kirishima laughed at the display and Katsuki smirked as he pulled Izuku to him with his thick tail and open arms.

The Chimera did his best to curl into the demon’s lap, “I’m cold.”

Katsuki chuckled, “Need some heat, do you?”

Izuku only pushed his face under his familiar’s chin, a few leaves and petals tickling his scales, “You want me to leave?”

The battle demon pulled the nymph closer, his wings and tail curling around him, “No, of course the fuck not, but I doubt your next teacher will allow you to stay up here.”

The green-headed being only hummed in response and then he was lightly snoring. Katsuki smiled, Izuku had warned him about this and he didn’t dare wake him up unless he had to. The blonde cradled him, shifted his body until he was sure the nymph would sleep comfortably, and was chuffing and crooning softly without thought. It was few long moments of relaxed bliss until the next instructor entered the classroom.

“Midoriya? Does anyone know the whereabouts of Midoriya?”

The specter of a teacher that only went by the name Master Ecto and taught Ancient Languages waited for an answer. Kirishima grinned and informed the man to look up. The pupil-less being moved his head towards Katsuki and the demon reluctantly opened one wing enough to show the sleeping form of his promised. The half-dead being then turned to look out the window and nodded.

“It is that time of year,” the specter hummed and then turned back to the demon to narrow his eerie eyes. “Will you be able to relay today’s class to Midoriya or do you need to wake him?”

Katsuki bared his teeth for only a moment at the very idea he was not capable of doing something so simple before, enunciating in very clear Enochian, casting dark magic that was sure to do the trick. The instructor chuckled as he walked to the very front of the classroom.

“A memory charm, very clever. Just be sure you pay attention, Bakugo, so your memories are clear enough as they transfer to him,” Master Ecto warned like the demon didn’t have lifetimes of experience.

***

When class ended an hour later, the dark orb full of copies of everything Katsuki had seen and heard pulsed, ebbed, and flowed, swirling in every shade of orange. He gingerly reached out, cupping the spell within his open palm before leading it to Izuku’s smooth forehead. He murmured the final demonic incantation as he pushed it into the nymph’s mind. That sleeping face grimaced for only a moment and then emerald eyes were blinking open.

The forest being sat up in his demon’s lap, stretching and yawning before asking, “What happened? Is class starting?”

“It just fucking finished,” Katsuki answers with a chuckle. Izuku turned to look at him, almost horrified, “Don’t worry. You have it all in that shitty brain of yours.”

The freckled student looked confused for a moment before he broke out into a soft smile, “Memory charm. Thank you, Kacchan.”

A horned head nodded and then Kirishima was calling up to them, “Hey, Bakugo! Can you wake Denki! I am starving and I know he is obsessed with knowing what Midoriya is going to wear!”

“HEY FOXFACE!” the demon roared before slamming his tail on the beam which caused the kitsune to startle so violently he almost fell.

“WHAT THE!” Denki screamed shocked as he clung to the beam, the fur on his tails puffed out like a frightened feline. “WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN!?”

Izuku tried to hide his laughter as Katsuki evilly grinned, “Furball told me to fucking wake you, so I did. I was being nice, doing the werewolf a shitty favor.”

“Denki,” Kirishima cried from below, “I didn’t know he was going to that! I promise! Do you want lunch and to see Midoriya’s formal wear?”

Large, golden ears perked up and the kitsune began nodding excitedly, “Yes! Yes, let’s hurry! We can take some food back to ‘Zuku’s room!”

They visit the closest table once they’ve reached the dining hall and collect some random finger foods before heading up to Izuku and Katsuki’s room. The demon stopped the canine pair outside the door, pricked his index finger with a claw, and then drew a line of blood on the back of each of their hands. They both look on horrified.

“It’s so you can come in,” Izuku explained as he turned the knob. “Kacchan put blood wards in the room so no one can enter uninvited.”

Kirishima laughed nervously, “I can understand locking your door or something, but blood wards? Is there something we should know about?”

“Yes,” Katsuki murmured low, “what Izuku shares with you right now is fucking important and keep it to your shitty selves until he tells you otherwise.”

“Geez, you don’t have to make it sound so ominous,” Denki whined but both still entered as the nymph invited them in.

The werewolf and kitsune’s eyes went wide when they entered. The beautiful rainbow of ornate fabrics and woven branches along the ceiling is something they never expected. Add to it the chains of precious metals carrying magical, glowing, volcanic glass and the space looked otherworldly. They stood there gawking until they felt something skimming along the fabric on their legs. Glowing vines greeted them and led to a large bed in the center that lay before their nymph friend.

Katsuki shut and locked the door as Izuku reached into the wall and spoke, “The vines are just getting to know you so they won’t attack you. They are another barrier of protection of my own making.”

Kirishima swallowed, “Midoriya, why do you need all this? Are you in trouble? Is someone after you?”

Head and tail slumping with his ears laid flat, the nymph held a large book and the package he received at breakfast close to his chest, “Not anymore but, at one time, people were allowed to steal me out of my bed and do whatever they wanted to me because of what I am.”

Chapter Text

“What you are?” Denki said confused as he took a step forward. “What, a forest nymph?”

Izuku shook his head, “I am Janus, or um, what demons call a Chimera, I guess. I am not male or female, but both. Nymphs see me as a great deceiver and feel that I deserve punishment and sexual servitude because of it.”

Kirishima looked like he was about to be sick, “Did you just say sexual servitude? We were thirteen when we got here.”

“He’s just giving it a tame name. A family of water nymphs raped him for almost a year,” Katsuki murmured.

Denki's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head, “THEY RAPED YOU FOR A YEAR!?”

The nymph swallowed and answered, “Yes, it is the way of our culture. I am a curse and have no real rights. I am nothing.”

There were electrical sparks coming off the kitsune’s fingers and tails as he hissed, “You are nothing to them, so I am guessing your formal wear is nothing short of degrading.”

Izuku was holding back tears at a few memories that threatened to surface, but continued by patting the book he held, “Well, it’s in here, what nymphs think I should wear but demons view me differently. That’s why Kacchan took me to the dark realm.”

Denki whipped his head the battle demon’s direction, “And what do you think he is?”

Katsuki’s voice was low and barely audible, “He already told you. He is a Chimera, a sacred deity in the dark realm. No one would dare fucking insult him, let alone physically harm him. It’s a death sentence.”

The nymph smiled as he muttered, “It was a whole different world for me down there.”

Kirishima marched to the bed and pushed the book away from the nymph’s hands, “I’d rather see formal wear from a realm that values you.”

Izuku smiled with a slight blush, “Okay, but I haven’t even seen these so we’ll all be surprised.”

Careful, slender hands opened the package the dark imp had brought, and pulled out a thin, handbound volume. Bright, jade eyes were so very focused on it as Katsuki moved closer to look over the nymph’s shoulder. Izuku opened the first page and couldn’t believe what covered it.

“Oh, oh wow. This can’t be for me.”

“It can. Midnight wasn’t fucking lying when she said we view you as a goddess of beauty and sensuality, a god of wholeness. You are meant to be dressed like a true deity, not some slave,” hummed Katsuki as he leaned closer and flipped to the next page.

“A goddess and god, huh?” the shapeshifter muttered aloud as he viewed the sketches of soft, graceful, lacey body cages, beautiful halo crowns, and jeweled chokers and chains draped over an ambiguous body shape. “You know, these remind me of how we werewolves don’t wear much formal clothing, but more like ceremonial paints. They are made to show pride in our forms, not in our fortune.”

The kitsune hummed, “I guess but there are still jewels involved.”

“True but they don’t look like they are made to be pompous. They look like they are there to highlight what he is,” Kirishima said as Izuku turned a page to view the next one.

Denki suddenly slapped the page to stop Izuku or Katsuki from turning it, “This one is perfect.”

Izuku giggled, “Why? I mean it’s beautiful and it does seem slightly different from the others.”

“It is,” the golden-eyed, animal spirit hummed. “It looks powerful with the geometric shapes throughout the flowers. The addition of the fur-hemmed, sheer robe makes it look royal. Plus, it’s a winter gala and you’ll need to match your demon, right? This has more black, even with the colorful touches, and would complement whatever he will wear.”

“I do like it,” Izuku sheepishly grinned. “You don’t think it’s too feminine?”

“No,” Katsuki practically purred, “you can be as fucking masculine or feminine as you want.”

***

Izuku had watched as Katsuki sent the bound volume of designs back through the flames with his choice clearly marked. He was nervous. It was beautiful and managed to cover more skin than his formal attire while seeming more sensual. It also felt like too much for him, but he was done trying to fit into this realm when another viewed him so differently.

Kirishima and Denki supported that decision when they reacted more to his past abuse than the uniqueness of his physical form. He was ready for the confusion, the revulsion, and the rejection and got none of it. It was a new, exciting thing, especially after Uraraka and Iida’s reaction to everything that was his life ever since the ceremony and Katsuki's arrival. He wondered if his former friends would ever accept his new life.

The group was now heading back to class with Master Aizawa, Denki enthusiastically going on about his formal wear and the new jewelry Kirishima was having made for him. Izuku was giggling as his demon rolled his eyes and Kirishima just shrugged with a bashful smile. They entered the classroom, Katsuki immediately making his way to the rafters with a jump and one strong downstroke of his wings, Denki scurrying after him up one of the support beams.

Aizawa entered a few moments after and smirked at the sight of the nymph’s antlers, “I see they finally bloomed, Midoriya.”

The boy smiled and reached up to touch a large flower, “They did, it happened at breakfast.”

“It’s always interesting to see what they will be year after year. I don’t believe you’ve ever had flowers this bright,” the warlock commented as he looked at them more closely.

“No, I haven’t. I think they are a good omen,” Midoriya commented as his Kirishima reached out to touch a large red one.

“We’ll test that theory today,” the instructor commented as he headed to the front of the classroom while making sure all his students were present. His next announcement caught all their attention, “Today is magic drills with the other class of your year. You have seen what your familiars can do, gotten to know them, and now it’s your turn to show them what you are capable of.”

The class and their familiars headed to the same courtyard as the previous outdoor lesson, although now it was covered in frost and light snow had started to fall. Izuku shivered, he hadn’t brought his cloak thinking they were remaining inside. Katsuki noticed and snapped a large fire into existence, entering and then stepping out of it moments later, his and his promised’s cloaks in hand. Izuku thanked him as the layers of warmth were wrapped around his shoulders.

When Master Kan entered the area with his class, the Blood Mage’s booming voice roared, “You will be going against someone with the similar magic or as close of a match as possible. This is to be a show of your abilities, not a full out battle. Tetsutetsu and Kirishima, you’re first.”

Kirishima was partially undressed and his face morphed halfway with a wide, sharp-toothed smile at the knowledge he was about to challenge the gray werewolf, “Come on, Tetsu, let’s show people how this is done, yeah?”

The other shapeshifter stepped forward, also removing his clothing, before shaking his body out, “Let’s do this. You will be the one to submit to me this time.”

The wolves clashed like boulders, broad, powerful, muscle-filled frames constantly at odds. Curses, growls, snarls, and garbled sounds of pain sprouting from their jaws as claws and teeth ripped into each other. While most thought werewolves were just that, they were also connected to an element or two, Kirishima belonging to the element of earth while Tetsutetsu was a rare breed and could only call upon metallic minerals to aid him. When they called on those elements at the moment of impact, the sound that rang through the courtyard caused the glass in nearby windows to shake.

Soon, heaving for breath and circling one another, the shapeshifters seemed to be at a stalemate. Tetsutetsu kept snapping at Kirishima when he got too close and the raven werewolf would dance out of the way, studying his foe. Tetsutetsu quickly grew tired of the game and charged. Kirishima was ready, hardening his body like the rocks the school was built from, and flipping the other enchanted canine to his back before pinning him. A dopey smile took over the crimson-eyed werewolf’s face and he let out a laugh of high-pitched yips as the gray wolf grumbled below him.

“Pinned you again, Tetsu,” left his mouth as Kirishima shifted back, Denki rushing forward to hand him his pants and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“You did awesome Kiri!” the kitsune exclaimed as the shapeshifter stood up with a slight blush.

“Thanks,” was mumbled as the raven-haired student secured his trousers.

As soon as the shapeshifters were fully dressed, a new match began. The group of four watched each one intently. It was evident that each student had improved since they did this last, whether it be from practice or because they now had familiars that fed them magic if they had already established a bond. Uraraka and Iida had to go against each other, both being white mages and needing to demonstrate what they could do for the other. That match had been interesting, the female mage known for her levitation spells and Iida know for his way with velocity charms.

Izuku was pulled from his frantic muttering of theory, his fingers leaving his bottom lip, when his name was called. He began his way to the center of the courtyard when he heard his opponent’s name. The Chimera should have known but that didn’t stop his mood from souring as he stopped on his side of the makeshift testing grounds. Lifting his emerald eyes to the opposite end, he saw her. Vines for hair, forest-green eyes, and a soft but deceiving smile on her face, it was Ibara, the one who had called him a weed.

“Hello dearest Deku, I guess we get to see who the living things of the earth favor more,” she greeted with her arms spread in a welcoming gesture. “I pray they find you worthy.”

Izuku lifted an eyebrow as he felt out the magic running through his veins. He wasn’t lying when he told Shoto the power he held built in winter but the Winter Solstice had yet to arrive. It was still Autumn and his power would rather sleep like many of the plants chose to do. He did know what vegetation would offer him help but he refused to be greedy and would only take what he needed to feel safe in his abilities. A pleasant burn suddenly and slowly building within him had the nymph grinning.

“Ibara,” Izuku called out as the vines attached to the castle walls, that were still green, begun reaching out to the center of the courtyard, “a sun sprite is your familiar, right? Tell me, how deep is your bond?”

The orb of a little being in question appeared from under the female nymph’s leafy hair as she narrowed her eyes, “Let’s see, shall we?”

The Chimera was aware of Denki and Kirishima shouting something and Katsuki snarling something else when a horde of thorny rose vines grew from under him to swallow him whole. He unleashed several Kudzu to counter, their woody arms and fingers easily strangling the other foliage. The hated, noxious weeds stayed hovering around him like green, lush sentinels. Pushing a booted foot forward, Izuku caused groups of nettles to explode across the space between them, the loathed plants growing so quickly anything Ibara tried to use against them only stopped some of their growth.

The female nymph glared at the stinging plants surrounding her while the male nymph grinned. She may be dressed for the cold, but if any of her skin happened to brush against those plants, it would burn making this magic lesson rather uncomfortable. With a wiggle of her fingers she solved the problem, noble mushrooms sprouted and ate away at the roots of the nettles that had already started to decay in the cold. Izuku answered with a rare form of nightshade, asking it to grow along the edges of their fighting space, its blooms only buds until they reached Ibara.

Looking terrified, she quickly covered her nose and mouth with the edge of her cloak as the deepest violet flowers closest to her exploded open, the pollen that could cause any who breathed it in to become lethargic enveloping her. Izuku knew even if she didn’t succumb to the pollen, her eyes would still water from its side effects. Suddenly light so bright it blinded the Chimera and burned all the plants and fungi present took over the area, only if it lasted a few moments.

“SHIOZAKI!” Master Kan bellowed as Izuku tried to blink the bright spots out of his version, “Your familiar is not allowed to take part! This is to show your abilities, not theirs!”

“I do apologize Master Kan. They were only reacting to my shock of seeing nightshade of all things. It is poisonous I am sure you are aware,” she answered dramatically, like an actress in a bad play.

“Only if you consume it,” the large, broad mage replied sternly. “The pollen only causes sleep. I am certain you are aware of that. If you allow that to happen again, you are banned from the gala.”

“Of course, sir, it will not happen again,” Ibara bemoaned.

Still unable to see fully, the male nymph felt a pang of dread roar through him and threw his hands up only thinking of a way to shield himself from whatever was coming. The burning energy of his demon angrily swirled through him, and then he heard gasps as his vision finally cleared. The large, vicious things that had answered his call stood before him like towering armaments. A pair of Sandbox Trees, male and female, with there spiked bark and the one holding its exploding seed pods stood ready to defend him.

“How did you do that?” hissed Ibara. “They are ancient and only answer to those who have the power of Spring. It is not possible for you to carry that amount magic right now.”

Izuku didn’t answer, only feeling more dark energy lying in wait inside his frame. It wasn’t Katsuki’s, unlike what had used to call the large trees into existence. He crouched down, his eyes still on Ibara as she looked at him vexed with his lack of response. His fingertips brushed the cold ground slowly accumulating snow. Crown of Thorns bushes spun to life in front of the sandbox trees and Izuku allowed the majestic, demon trees to disappear from a climate they were never meant to grow. The female nymph clenched her teeth and threw more of her signature, thorny vines his way.

Izuku had no idea why he did it, but he only extended his hands in front of him, pure, shimmering dark and light wisps of his magic floating from his fingers, “Please stop, I do not want to fight with you.”

The vines immediately halted their advance, only swaying in front of him causing the other nymph to scream, “Do you dare command my own plants?!”

“I asked them, living things seem to respond better that way. Ibara, your magic is growing weak, I can sense it,” the Chimera said before one of his hands, using that dark magic within him, called tangled, smooth vines of ivy to begin weaving themselves around the female nymph’s legs. “It’s feels odd, I must admit, I seem to have reserves I was unaware of.”

Suddenly, Izuku’s body ached and he flinched. The ivy stopped its advance at his opponent’s knees. He quickly recovered and asked it to continue crawling around her legs, only for another pulse of pain to echo through his bones as the dark magic answered his thoughts. He tried lacing the light energy, with which he was familiar, with it but he only had so much to tamper it. He fought against the growing throbbing as the Ibara ripped at the leafy vines, using small plants of her own to try to stave it off as her magic only grew weaker.

It was an unusual thing to witness, the nymph that seemed to be the victor falling to his knees in agony as the other was covered with growing vines and unable to move. Master Aizawa quickly called an end to the exercise as Izuku fell to his side curling into himself, Katsuki, Kirishima, and Denki running to him. All the plants withered from the courtyard as the demon picked Izuku up from the cold ground.

“Midoriya! What is happening?” the warlock demanded when he reached the demon, werewolf, and kitsune.

“I don’t know,” the nymph whimpered. “I had dark reserves for some reason and made use of them.”

“That’s not possible unless you were feeding off your familiar’s magic,” Aizawa replied as Katsuki wiped damp, emerald curls from the boy’s clammy forehead.

“It, it wasn’t Kacchan’s,” Izuku managed as the pain finally faded away. “It was there by the light magic available to me. Kacchan’s magic burns, this, it was cool just like mine.”

The demon moved to stand and then looked at the warlock to murmur so low it was almost silent, “He’s becoming what he is meant to be. Two halves of one whole, male and female, light and dark, life and death. He needs to rest.”

***

Aware of when his demon laid him on their bed, Izuku murmured, “What did Kacchan mean? What am I becoming? You already call me a Chimera.”

Katsuki moved a few furs around to make sure his nymph was comfortable, “Can you open the shitty wall for me so I can get the book Midnight sent?”

Izuku reached over the side of the bed and his glowing vines came to tangle with his fingers before climbing over to the wall to pull out the brick. He couldn’t create new plants right now, but the ones that were always around were willing to listen. He watched as his blonde familiar was careful with not harming a single leaf as he slid out the tome. He then walked over to sit on the bed and extended his wings over them like a makeshift cave.

With a soft voice that could be blown away by a breeze, the battle demon muttered, “Chimera is what we call you before you reach the end of your metamorphosis.”

“My metamorphosis?” Izuku replied just a quiet.

Katsuki nodded as he opened the book, flipping through a few pages and then began humbly reading, “Protogonus is a mystic primeval deity of light, goodness, procreation and new life. They are born when a Chimera reaches the final stage of their metamorphosis. Once a Chimera comes into the world male and female by their mortal mother, they must be thrice-born afterward through the three inverses, light and dark, pain and pleasure, life and death. It is said they can bare golden wings and brought about creation by mingling, having both genders. They are also said to be the rulers of the deities. They hold the keys to all creation.”

Izuku laid there wide-eyed and licked his lips, “I don’t understand. Why does it specify my ‘mortal’ mother? Wings? Thrice-born? Kacchan, I hold the keys to nothing.”

Katsuki set the book down and grabbed the nymph’s trembling hands, “Your shitty parents may be mortal, but you are not. You will live as long as I will. You will only die if something manages to kill you. The fucking wings come in at the very end of all of this. I have never seen a true Protogonus, but I am told their wings can appear and disappear like the rays of the fucking sun on a cloudy day. The thrice-born thing is damn complicated, especially since you have experienced them in the wrong fucking order.”

The Chimera was overwhelmed and couldn’t stop the tears starting to overflow, “Kacchan, this can’t be true. It can’t. If I am immortal and a deity, how could they do all that they did to me. If I am all those things, why do I feel so useless.”

Katsuki scooped his nymph up and wrapped his leathery wings around him, “Listen to me, fucking listen. You were put through most of your inverses or trials without damn help and through fucking intense situations. Chimera are supposed to experience everything in life to be a Protogonus but they are also supposed to have fucking guides of light and dark to guide them.”

“Okay, so what were my trials then?” Izuku sniffled.

Katsuki held up one finger, “Light and dark is supposed to be your first fucking trial and to happen when you are small. It just consists of the Chimera experiencing the light and dark realms which you did when you met Midnight.”

Izuku nodded in understanding and then the demon held up a second finger, “Next, most expect a Chimera, when they are fucking older, to learn about pain and pleasure. This can physical pain from a deep wound or emotional pain from betrayal. They are supposed to experience true pleasure from fucking sex. Instead, you only got pain from that which is why you have yet to fulfill this trial.”

The nymph cast his teary eyes down to his lap, “Oh …”

“Fucking ‘oh’ is an understatement, like what the fuck,” Katsuki managed to growl quietly and puts a third finger up. “The damn third trial is supposed to be life and death. You experience life by being born but you need to experience death in some way. The loss of a loved one, you know fucking family or some shit, or a near death experience. You experienced it on a damn personal level when-”

“They took my baby from me,” Izuku murmured.

Katsuki nuzzled against Izuku’s temple, “Yes, when they did that to you.”

“So, this pain and the dark magic?” the nymph questioned as he put a hand to the side of the demon’s face, to hold the being against him. “It’s part of all this?”

The horned head in Izuku’s hold nodded, “I know the dark magic reserve, as you fucking called it, is but I think the pain is from it too. Like I fucking said earlier, Chimera are supposed to go to the dark realm when they are small. That’s when they gain the damn ability to use dark magic with the light so they acclimate to it easier while they are developing magical abilities. You are more mature, and your magical framework is forced to bend to it more quickly to balance the magics within yourself.”

“So, it’s like a sapling compared to a tall tree. The sapling can bend with the wind but the tree stands against it, sometimes groaning and snapping when the wind is too strong.”

Katsuki took a moment to consider it, “I fucking guess but you won’t snap. You just need time. I also think more shitty visits to the dark realm will help your body get used to dark magic.” Suddenly, the hearth crackled loudly, “Fucking speaking of which …”

Izuku looked to his demon to see his scarlet eyes trained on the fire and jumped when he shifted his eyes to the hearth. A pale arm was coming through the flames before the rest of Midnight’s form became visible. When the succubus was fully in the room, she looked around a moment while holding a bound book with multiple odd things peeking out of it. She then turned to the pair and grinned.

“May I come in? I have some things I want to discuss with you.”

Izuku swallowed, “I don’t mind.” He then turned to Katsuki, “Do you care, Kacchan?”

The battle demon only kissed his promised’s forehead before getting up and approaching Midnight, “Don’t make a fucking habit of this, coming in here when the shitty thought strikes.”

“I would never but I wanted to start sewing and I needed the sacred one’s opinion on fabrics and whatnot,” she replied as a stripe of blood was draw down the back of her hand.

Katsuki grumbled under his breath as he went back to the bed, pulling his nymph into his lap while Midnight opened her workbook in front of them, “Now, where should we start?”

Izuku had been going over fabrics and trims with Midnight for about an hour when there was a knock on the door to his room, then a familiar voice called through, “Bakugo? Midoriya? Class is over and we just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

Izuku smiled and asked his vines to open the door, “Kirishima! Denki! I am doing fine, thanks.”

The werewolf and kitsune visibly relaxed and then startled when they noticed Midnight which caused Denki to exclaim, “There’s a naked lady in your room!”

“Oh, aren’t they adorable!” the succubus chuckled as she turned the next page of her workbook. “I am not naked. I am wearing undergarments and a robe. I am presentable.”

Kirishima was smiling but looking at the ceiling, “They’re see through, mistress.”

“Well, of course. Why would I hide something everyone wants to see? That would be ludicrous,” Midnight commented as she offered the nymph another fabric swatch.

“Shitty furball, foxface, she’s a succubus. Her fucking body is her weapon.” Katsuki spoke as Izuku hummed in delight at the piece of fabric and Denki looked like he was about to pounce on it. “It’s rare for their damn kind to wear anything. You should be happy she even considered it.”

“Let me in! Let me in let me in let me in!” the kitsune started to babble, ignoring the scaled demon.

“SHUT UP! Ever since I fucking marked you, you can come in whenever we are here, you fluffy rat!”

Denki then moved like a cat after a bird, pouncing onto Izuku's lap and grabbing all the swatches, “They are all so pretty!”

“Oh my spirits!” Midnight exclaimed. “I guess kitsune are just like magpies.”

Kirishima then walked in, blushing as he stared at the floor, “So, are you guys coming down for dinner or?”

“Oh,” the nymph chirped as he tried to wrestle all the swatches Midnight needed from the animal spirit in his lap, “it is that time isn’t it? DENKI! GIVE THEM TO ME!”

“FOXFACE! I WILL BURN YOU TO A CRISP!” Katsuki growled as he shoved at the kitsune’s face. “FURBALL, GET YOUR IDIOT!”

***

A week later, Izuku stood in a large, snowy clearing of the forest huffing as Katsuki stood across from him spinning a black, flaming spear as easily as someone in a circus with a baton. Endurance training with the dark energy had been painful at first, but the Chimera’s body was growing more accustom to it. The nymph clenched his teeth and then called Flowering Horse-Chestnut, Mountain Ash, and Magnolia trees to get the fire-covered weapon from the demon’s hands. Their fire-resistance woods made them some of the best choices but those glowing, scarlet-eyes watched as every tree burst from the ground and clawed hands manipulated the searing metal like one of his owns arms.

Growling in annoyance, Izuku asked for more, telling them to go for his scaled wings and tail instead to immobilize him. That caught the demon off guard, if only for a moment. The nymph used it to send wooded vines tangling up strong draconic feet and legs. The next three trees sprouted knocking the spear into the air, it toppling end over end, until the spearhead embedded itself into snow and frozen ground becoming only a smoking piece of metal. Falling to his knees, the Chimera kept himself from collapsing entirely in the snow from the waves of pain washing over him. He had reached his limit for the day.

“Kacchan.”

“I’m right here. You lasted much longer today.”

Izuku nodded, “I did. I think I need a bath though. Everything hurts.”

“I can fucking help with that,” a feminine, harsh voice growled and the nymph lifted his head as Katsuki snarled.

“Shitty hag, what the fuck are you doing here?!”

The female battle demon rolled her eyes as she approached in a red cloak a few shades darker than her son’s, “Since you won’t come see your own fucking mother, I came to see you. Your father also wants a damn word with you. He has yet to meet your promised, you shitty brat. While you visit with him, the Anointed One can use the mineral baths in the room you obviously have no more use for.”

The blonde, male demon helped Izuku stand before his bared his teeth, “Fine! Only because we have no where to be early in the morning and my fucking father is at least easy to get along with, unlike some shitty demons.”

Mitsuki let steam out her nose, “Same to you, bastard of a child.”

The she-demon glanced around before finding a dry enough patch of earth and twigs to set ablaze. Katsuki carried Izuku through the portal and the nymph’s eyes grew wide. They were some sort of dark palace, everything shining, detailed, and glorious. Stone gargoyles looked down from every corner with their gemstone eyes, flaming, scrolling sconces littered the walls with pulsing light, and the marble floors had veins of glowing hues. There was a hearth in every room and demons and imps alike bowed to them as they passed.

“MASARU!” Mitsuki suddenly screeched causing Izuku to jump in Katsuki’s arms.

“In here, Sweetheart,” came a very calm, almost gentle voice.

Following that voice, they entered a small room where another demon sat. His appearance was somewhat plain compared to the other two, sporting brown eyes, brunette, unruly hair, and smooth skin that had a slight shimmer. He smiled and his teeth looked almost human, other than the extended canines. Mitsuki walked up to the man and leaned down to kiss him before moving away to allow those gentle eyes to view his son.

“Katsuki, is this the one I was told so much about?” Masaru questioned as Izuku was carefully lowered to the floor.

“It is. His name is Izuku,” Katsuki answered calmly, his father obviously having a very different effect on him than his mother.

“Izuku, the Sacred One. It is wonderful to meet you. If you wish for anything, let us know,” the brown-eyed demon greeted.

Izuku swallowed, “Nice to meet you. I don’t mean to sound rude, but Mistress Mitsuki mentioned mineral baths? I am sore from magic training and …”

“Of course. Katsuki show him to your chambers, then please come back once he is settled so I can speak with you.”

Katsuki eyed his father for a moment before he gave a nod and led Izuku to his room. He made sure his promised had everything he needed, was happy and relaxed in the churning, steaming waters of his bath, and that every imp knew to stay well and faraway from the bathing Chimera. When he returned to his parents, they watched him take a seat across from them before his father started murmuring.

“Is he close to fully maturing? Has he faced all the inverses?”

Shaking his horned head, Katsuki answered in a whisper, “He has faced everything but true pleasure and that may be something more difficult to manage than taking on a horde of lust crazed imps. Sex has only meant pain in his life so far. I have shown him pleasure, but I am not sure when he will be ready to consummate our union fully.”

“What the fuck do you mean it has only meant pain so far, brat?” Mitsuki quietly snarled. “What the fuck happened?”

Katsuki dragged his hands down his scaled cheeks, “His clan fucking punished him for being what he is by raping him for a year. And, before you fucking explode, I have already started making the proper moves to destroy them. They will not live past the damn Winter Solstice.”

Mitsuki snarled through her teeth, “I will be joining your shitty legion that night. I will watch them all die!”

“He has experienced all the rest then, including death? The poor soul, facing all that alone,” Masaru commented as he closed his eyes against the knowledge. “I have to admit, I am surprised one has survived to adulthood. They usually kill them off at birth, so we can never guard and guide them into reaching their full potential. It’s both a blessing and a curse he has survived to this point.”

“They told him he was the cause of the curse, not their damn actions,” Katsuki hummed. “Fucking scared him from ever letting anyone know what he was.”

“They still believe the Protogonus, or Dryads as they called them, are meant to subjugate them and they are too proud to realize otherwise. They destroy the very deities that hold the keys to every living thing’s creation,” the calm, brown-haired demon muttered. “They have forgotten where they came from and that they are not rulers, but servants.”

Katsuki nodded in understanding, “Did the hag inform you on Midnight’s plans?”

“She did. He will look beautiful,” Masaru smiled. “You should see if she can teach him to dance.”

“In a few shitty weeks?” the young battle demon asked.

His parents laughed and Masaru murmured, “He is the deity of many things, including sensuality and coupling. He’ll probably take to it like a demon to flame.”

Chapter Text

Izuku laid in the swirling mineral waters letting his mind wander. His tail tuft was above the wet surface swaying back and forth like a furry metronome as his eyelids drooped. He had been internally reviewing everything he had learned from the dark realm about life and about himself. He wasn’t a cursed nymph here, but a blessed one, a Chimera. Someone that would become something so very rare to be called a deity, a Protogonus.

It was a lot to take in, to process. His whole world had been turned upside down. The light realm was said to be one of truth and peace and yet he had been lied too, manipulated, and used for others’ messed up pleasure. Then he followed a battle demon, a scarlet-eyed, horned, scaled, terrifying being that was his, into the realm of darkness and, within it, found everything had been covered with a veil of secrecy and fear. The nymph race, his own people feared him, dreaded his very existence.

His own parents had offered no protection against these beliefs. No, they had allowed another house to use him, enslave him, because of what lied between his legs made him something shameful. His own fingers reached down to touch his body, a body Katsuki found no disgrace in. If anything, the demon praised him, worshiped him, told him he was precious. Izuku's eyes opened to a realm he was told to fear, and yet no fear was in his heart.

Sitting up, Izuku grabbed the scented oils and washcloth Katsuki had left out for him. He was about to try to get his back when his familiar entered the bathing room and kneeled beside tub. With a shy smile, the nymph offered up the damp, scented rag to the demon and calloused hands took it without question. They gently began scrubbing Izuku’s spine. Humming, an antlered head fell and fawn ears hung low, absolutely relaxed in this ‘evil thing’s’ presence. The nymph couldn’t stop the small laugh that left his mouth. Izuku felt hot, smirking lips press between his shoulder blades, and couldn’t help giggling more.

Soon, the demon joined him in the bath. It was not as large at the ones at the school but that was fine because Izuku was no longer scared. He was done living with fears that only needed to exist in the realm of light, so he didn’t hesitate to climb into the demon’s lap as soon as the being settled in the warm water. Katsuki had tensed at the nymph’s movements but the jade-haired being was kissing along his mark on the demon’s chest, then moved up a strong neck, until his trembling lips meshed with the blonde’s own. Izuku settled his hips on the other’s, feeling that ribbed cock rub against his naked skin under churning waters, and wove his shaking fingers through light hair and behind swirled horns.

“Can Kacchan show me real pleasure? Change the mark on my collar and make me his?”

Izuku watched the demon swallow, “Is that what you truly want?”

The nymph looked up from under his dark lashes and nodded, “Yes, Kacchan, that’s what I truly want.”

Gasping as the demon’s hands firmly held and pulled him close, only for hungry, heated lips to feel like they were slowly and methodically devouring every part of him, Izuku’s head fell back and eyes closed. Gentle touches glided across his skin with goosebumps appearing in their wake, and he whimpered as a wet mouth suckled at his nipples. Before long, his body was alight with desires he had never experienced before. Then he was being lifted from the water and then laid among soft, plush pillows, fluffy furs, and smooth sheets.

Feeling Katsuki’s sharp teeth just barely nip at his skin, the demon’s steamy mouth moved down Izuku’s torso like it was mapping a battlefield, finding all the hills and valleys. The nymph’s slender fingers dug into the sheets as a surprised, high pitched sound escaped his throat, the demon’s mouth finding his cock. Pale, freckled hips left the mattress as the smaller man’s back bowed. He’d never felt pleasure like this. Clawed hands only encouraged him as he chased the warm wetness, a hand moving to tangle in blonde hair and his bottom half rolled with the rhythm of the horned head between his thighs.

The Chimera panted, whines and whimpers leaving him as his pleasure built with each new thing he was introduced too. Maybe new wasn’t the right word, but none of this had ever felt good before. Katsuki’s mouth left his cock, only for the nymph’s legs to be thrown over broad shoulders and that hot tongue to invade his cunt. Izuku threw his head back as far as his blooming antlers would allow, his hips arching away from the pleasure that felt too good, too much, too fast.

“Ka-kacchan! Stop, oh spirits, I’M GONNA CUM!” The demon pulled his tongue away, but only for a pair of fingers to replace it, and then his mouth was wrapped around the nymph’s cock yet again,
“KACCHAN! Please, please, doooon’t, oh, argh, don’t stop, DON’T STOP!”

Both hands grabbed twisted horns as Izuku keened, his thighs locked against hollowed cheeks and inner muscles clenching around thick fingers. He sobbed as his orgasm lingered, as Katsuki wrung out more and more carnal decadence from his body. A few moments later, when the Chimera’s hands fell limp to his sides and his chest heaved, the demon climbed up his body with gentle kisses placed on his hips, his navel, his ribs, his collar bones, and then his lips.

“Do you want to know more, little nymph?” Katsuki murmured. “More pleasure?”

Izuku whimpered and nodded, “Yes, Kacchan. Please?”

A hot mouth covered his own as the demon moved between his legs, before asking, “Do you want to do it like this, or would you rather be in control, promised?”

The nymph swallowed and pressed a light kiss to the corner of the sharp toothed mouth, “I trust Kacchan. This … this is fine just …”

The blonde being nodded as his hands moved in cup Izuku’s naked hips, “I fucking know.”

He leaned to kiss Izuku as passionately as he was able, strong, soft arms snaking around his neck as the Chimera got lost in the feeling, before he began to push into the slick, inviting heat that was his promised. The nymph shook, his back arching as his hands tried to weakly push Katsuki away. The demon knew memories of pain, of fear, of torture were probably trying to assault him through it all. He murmured and whispered to him, hoping his voice would ground Izuku in this moment instead of letting his past invade and infect the pleasure he deserved.

“It’s okay, little nymph. It’s just me, Kacchan. I would never hurt you, remember? Calm down, calm down, precious …”

The blonde felt Izuku shakily melt in his hold with every assuring word, even as peachy lips opened wider with every little gasp from every shallow thrust as Katsuki gently worked himself deeper. Oh fuck, spirits help him, but his promised took him in the deliciously, opening slowly and hugging his ridged shaft in the most perfect of ways. The demon ran his hands up and down the back of sweaty thighs until he finally sheathed himself as deep as he could go. His eyes rolled back as he cursed when Izuku’s insides squeezed enticingly around him. Panting himself, scarlet eyes looked down to the one underneath him, and the blonde groaned at the sight. His promised was a beautiful, flushed mess already, seemingly unable to understand why he felt so good.

“Ka- Kacchan,” the Chimera whimpered, “I, I, what do I need to do?”

“You need to fucking do absolutely nothing,” he muttered as he kissed the light tears off pink cheeks. “Let me take care of you.”

Taking his time, letting the ecstasy build like water behind a dam during a downpour, Katsuki’s movements only gained speed and power according to the desperation he felt growing within Izuku. At first, the emerald-haired being seemed anxious of taking part, feared some sort of retribution for enjoying himself. The demon didn’t let that discourage him, listened to the sounds that broke free, felt the reactions that ran through the Chimera’s body. The nymph bit his lips, moaned, whined, whimpered, and then the blonde angled a thrust just right causing the Chimera to cry out in surprise.

“AH! There, more there! Please, please Kacchan!”

Fingers clawed at Katsuki’s back, legs locked around his waist, and he picked up his pace making it his mission to fuck into Izuku just right. The nymph clung to him, begged for him, needed him. The demon didn’t deny him anything, and soon he pulled his promised up so Izuku straddled his lap and rolled his hips to take what he wanted. With a hand on the small of the Chimera’s back to aid his movements and one tangled in his wilting curls while he buried his face into a damp neck, Katsuki growled his praises.

“You feel so good, little nymph. Fuck. Take everything you want, all of it. I’ll even give you my damn knot, my spawn, little implings to grow inside you and bless you. Shit. Take it all!”

“I want it, please! Please, to grow a life again and keep it! Please!” Izuku whined, the rocking of his hips becoming more forceful. “Please Kacchan, please …”

The demon snarled, wrapping both arms around his promised’s form, thrusting up into the bucking hips on top of him, “Like I would fucking refuse you.”

Their movements were still not a frenzied fuck most contribute to his kind, incubi and succubi the cause of that ideal. It was dance that grew in intensity. Extra foot falls being added, more exuberate spins and jumps keeping the couple solely focused on each other, working towards a climax that would have both partners panting and falling into a state of intimate bliss. Breathless sounds left Izuku’s mouth as Katsuki’s knot began swell, forcing his cunt to spread even wider.

“Take your time,” the demon panted, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Izuku keened, his legs trembling with the effort as he sunk down on the demon’s growing knot again, “Kacchaaaaan… help me …”

The demon’s searing mouth returned to gasping lips not a moment later, guiding smooth, milky shoulders back to the furs, sheets, and pillows. He thrusts were measured, deep, and rougher than before, working his knot in and out of the sacred being below, giving him what he wanted. The blonde swallowed the nymph’s cries as it got harder to pull out, felt the thighs on either side of him spread wider, trying to relieve the mounting ache. All too soon his knot fully caught, Katsuki anchoring tense hips against his own only to grind down as he searched for the last crescendo.

It happened with such an intensity, Katsuki lost himself. His wings and tail shook with his orgasm as Izuku screamed his own, his slender tail wrapped around the demon’s thigh as the rest of the nymph came almost fully off the bed. Small claws scratched at scaled hands clinging to the body milking the blonde’s knot. When Katsuki finally managed to look at his promised, his Chimera, he swore he saw the subtle glow of golden wings lie on either side of a blissed out Izuku only to fade away moments later.

Katsuki was careful as he lowered himself to his elbows, he wings offering more support as he gently caressed the sweating fringe from Izuku’s face, “Little nymph, all is well?”

Izuku nodded as his eyes drooped, “Can we sleep here tonight? I am so tired, Kacchan.”

The demon kissed closing eyelids, “Of course. It’s my fucking room after all and you have nothing to worry about tomorrow. Sleep, promised.”

Continuing to touch him and kiss him, Katsuki watched his little Chimera doze off while his knot went down. Once he was able to separate himself from his beloved, he very carefully moved away to grab soft towels to wet and clean the precious being. When Izuku was cleansed, he quickly dipped himself into mineral waters to rinse, then adorned pants, wrote a small note, and left his room to find an imp.

“Give this to that shitty, red-eyed werewolf or his kitsune familiar Izuku is friends with, I don’t want them to fucking worry,” the battle demon murmured as he handed off his note. “No one else is to see it, understand?”

Nodding frantically, the imp ran to the nearest hearth to fulfill his given task. Katsuki turned to head back to his room, only to see his father at the end of the hall. His brown eyes glowed like burning copper, he gave a single nod, and walked away. The demon’s tail swayed behind him in thought before he walked back to his room to join his promised in sleep.

***

Izuku woke up in the most comfortable place he had ever experienced. The bed was warm, toasty, and soft, as smooth and soothing sheets laid against his skin. His fingers were entangled with another set he was very familiar with, tipped with claws and coated in scales. He smiled sleepily and the stretched his legs under the blankets and furs. He hummed a greeting that received a rumble in reply from behind him.

The morning was a relaxing affair. He took another bath with his mate, who kissed and touched him the whole time, never seeming to have had enough of him. Then they went to have breakfast, Mitsuki and Masaru there to greet them. Izuku had felt awkward asking for less meat and more fruits when with sharp-toothed demons but not one batted an eye. They only sent an imp to retrieve what was asked who returned with a cornucopia of choices, some the nymph had never seen in person.

Next, they traveled to Midnight’s boutique through the flames and the succubus was ecstatic to receive them. The Chimera’s eyes sparkled at the formal wear the demon had created and then beamed when he saw himself in it. He felt beautiful and powerful in something so soft and feminine. The jewelry that still set in velvet lined boxes were things Izuku thought he would never be allowed to touch and yet it was all placed on him with reverence by Katsuki.

Midnight decided to keep the formal wear in her shop until the day of the gala and told Izuku his next several visits would be for dancing lessons. He had looked between the pair of demons perplexed, until the succubus had explained it was a rite of passage in their realm and she thought he should be a part. He had grinned ear to ear at the thought, not being allowed to take part in such things within his clan.

They returned to the academy by lunch, walking through one of the hearths in the dining hall only to be ambushed by the golden, multi-tailed Denki. Kirishima soon joined him, the pair wanting to know if the demon and nymph wanted to go to town with them to pick up the kitsune’s newest jewelry after they ate. Izuku nodded excitedly while holding his demon’s clawed hand as they walked to the nearest empty seats. Katsuki and his promised told of their time in the dark realm, omitting a few events, as they feasted.

The trip to the town had been something so freeing. Izuku never had felt so lighthearted in his life. He didn’t quite understand it but didn’t care to. He was enjoying being close to his mate and his friends and refused to analyze such a simple thing. Katsuki spoiled him yet again, buying him things he thought he had admired in secret, and holding him close whenever possible. This was what life was meant to be, not something full of fear and worry.

***

Ochaco watched as the group of four returned from the village with her eyes narrowed. Izuku was sporting more new jewelry like last time, some chains and gems even hanging from his antlers in the same style as the demon. That foul creature was smiling as the nymph bounced around excitedly, the kitsune doing much the same.

The white mage couldn’t understand it. They were supposed to be against dark magic, not entertain it. Izuku had the very magic of creation, things grew for him with a touch, why would he become so enamored by another so destructive? She sputtered as the person who used to be her friend wrapped his arms around the demon’s waist. He looked up to the horned thing like one would a lover.

Izuku grinned, “Can Kacchan pierce my ears again?”

A clawed thumb stroked a freckled cheek, “’Course, which fucking earrings are you wanting to wear?”

The nymph hid his face against the demon’s chest, “The bars with the vines on them.”

“They’ll look fucking beautiful on you,” the dark being spoke as he kissed green curls, being so careful of large, bright blooms.

Ochaco wanted to gag, such deception that monster was weaving. There was no possibility the thing actually cared, heartless creature that he was. He probably just enjoyed having free reign in their realm and having such an innocent being at his beck and call. That other nymph had been right about one thing, flowers do burn, and Izuku was a precious, spring flower dancing around an open flame. Maybe she should wait and let him get burned so she could be the one to cool his wounds.

All she really wanted was her Deku back, back to the way he had been, a friend that supported her growth as a mage. Was that such a horrible thing? Ochaco barely recognized who this other person was, suddenly against all norms she knew of, holding hands and tangling tails with one meant to be kept at a distance. Iida’s older brother was almost killed by one for goodness’ sake!

“Ochaco? Are you ready to practice your levitation spells? You said you wanted to become a master of your craft,” came her classmate and familiar’s voice from behind her.

She turned and nodded, “Sorry I kept you waiting, I just …”

“You’re worried about Midoriya with the demon,” Iida stated with his jaw tense.

The female white mage swallowed and looked back at the group now heading deeper into the school. They had planned to do something soon, she just hoped it worked. Master Aizawa was a reasonable and strict man and if he knew Izuku was sneaking out of school at night to go who knows where, he would put a stop to it. Iida and she knew it was the demon’s influence. If Izuku kept felling into temptation this quickly, his grades and performance would suffer. He would suffer. Plus, she’d probably win him back when his mind was again clear.

***

Izuku had learned early in his life to be observant. He had not missed Uraraka watching them or the expressions that crossed her face. She was the one to dismiss him as a friend the morning she met Katsuki so, he did not understand her current need to observe him like a potion one is waiting to simmer. His demon had also noticed he was sure. Used to fast paced battles with threats coming from all sides, he was not one anyone could surprise in most cases.

Kirishima and Denki ended up following the nymph and demon back to their room. Not only did Izuku want his ears pierced yet again, the werewolf and kitsune were also interested in a piercing or two so they could wear their own new jewelry. Katsuki grumbled but got everything ready and began his work. Needles were brought out and sterilized in flame, along with the jewelry. Izuku also retrieved a numbing cream to make the process painless.

Refusing to do anyone else before his nymph, fawn ears had four new piercings, one on each side of their pointed tips within moments. The demon carefully threaded the end of each bar so they set perfectly and capped them with round pieces of jade. Izuku grinned viewing them in the mirror, moving his ears this way and that with a giggle. Kirishima and Denki were just as happy with their newly pierced ears.

When they made it back to the dining hall for dinner, Izuku had changed into new clothing his mate had bought him. They were a little flashier than his norm with embroidery and sparkles here and there and so very warm and soft. The nymph had also switched out his other jewelry, beside the bars, to match the golds, green, and reds he now donned. Denki whined until he allowed into new robes of blacks, golds, and touches of white.

Having all just sat down to eat among the noisy students filling the dining hall, it was surprising the loud smack of someone’s hands jolted Izuku’s eyes forward. There, leaning against her palms planted on the table, was a very angry looking Uraraka with Iida behind her, his arms crossed. The nymph raised an eyebrow as he pushed a grape tomato into his mouth with a finger and then titled his head in question.

“When did you become so vain, Deku?!” Uraraka practically snarled. “Look at you! All covered in jewelry and ridiculous clothing like you are someone so special. The demon couldn’t handle you looking plain!?”

Emerald eyes going wide and his mouth falling open, the nymph sat there in shock for a moment before anger swirled in his gut. How dare she? HOW DARE SHE INSULT KATSUKI THAT WAY! His demon was growling behind him as he stood up from his lap, Denki also rising and stroking his tense back with a slender hand.

The rest of the dining hall had taken notice and were backing away. Most knew of the power wielded among the group and worried about the possible outcomes. It was then that a feathered being took off from the rafters to fetch one who could stop this, before anything to horrible came to be. As he exited the hall, Hizashi grinned.

Ears forward and eyes narrowed, Izuku replied, “I’m sorry, who can’t handle whom looking what?”

“That thing,” the white mage sneered and she pointed to the demon, “can’t handle you looking plain so he has you dress up like a vain mistress!”

“HEY!” Denki suddenly snarls. “’Zuku has never looked plain!”

“And vain, are you serious?” Kirishima questioned with his nose scrunched. “We have to push him to get anything that isn’t the cheapest available.”

“Yes vain,” Ochaco said with her chin held high, “he looks like a girl trying to impress a guy and it isn’t flattering.”

“Or,” Denki mused, his ears flat as he showed his sharp teeth, “you’re jealous he looks better than you.”

“What!?” the white mage hissed furious.

“That’s not true,” Iida also declared in his familiar’s defense.

“I think foxface is fucking right,” Katsuki smirked evilly. “A demon can spot jealously and the little witch is soaked in it.”

“At least I am not drowning in lies like you! You’re going to break him as soon as he bores you,” Ochaco screamed right before vines wrapped themselves around her and Iida as Izuku jumped the table.

Face itches away from his former friend’s, Izuku grits out, “Don’t say another word about Kacchan, do you understand? He has done nothing to any of you, nothing to me, and you have no right to say those things to him!”

“Midoriya!” Master Aizawa bellowed, entering the dining hall, “What is going on here?”

Uraraka smiled in victory as the warlock strode closer, Hizashi flying over the man only to land on one of Izuku’s blooming antlers as the nymph turned his head. The siren was careful not to disturb any petals, especially with a large, winged demon scowling at him. A wobbly smile crossed a freckled face as vines withdrew and slowly disappeared.

“Well?” the instructor questioned.

“Ochaco and I were confronting Midoriya with our concern,” Iida quickly begins. “We’ve been noticing his changing habits and are aware he’s been leaving school grounds at night.”

“Are you now? How would you know he is leaving school grounds at night? Have you seen him leave?” Master Aizawa inquired as Bakugo moved to wrap an arm around Midoriya. “And what habits concern you?”

“I have been trying to rekindle our friendship,” Uraraka stated, “so I have been doing my best to speak with him. Last night when I went to his door and no one answered, I waited there until midnight or so then went to bed. The first time I saw him since was when he walked out of the hearth here at lunch, with the demon, which means he was in the dark realm.”

“And his habits?”

“Just look at him, Master Aizawa. I thought nymphs were supposed to be modest, humble beings and he has grown vain. I believe it’s the demon’s doing,” the mage said with finality.

Aizawa turned and looked at his nymph student but only raised an eyebrow, “Midoriya, how did the fitting go? Is your formal wear close to being done?”

“Ah, yes. Midnight is keeping it until the gala. Did you need to see it, Sir?” Izuku answered as he played with his volcanic glass necklace.

The warlock nodded and Ochaco just looked on in shock, “Because of the particular circumstances surrounding your formal wear, I do need to approve it. Do you happen to have a sketch?”

“I can fucking get one,” Katsuki grunted and snapped his fingers causing a small spark. An imp came jumping from the hearth a moment later, “Retrieve a fucking sketch from Midnight of Izuku’s formal attire.”

The imp nodded and sprinted away, but not before Uraraka demanded, “Aren’t you going to do anything?”

Turning to the irate mage and her familiar, Master Aizawa rubbed his temples, “Midoriya has done nothing I didn’t know about. He has been leaving school grounds for the dark realm later in the day, or in the evening, because no one in this realm knows how to make him proper formal wear for the gala. What he is wearing is not a show of vanity, he is just actually wearing new, suitable clothing because one is willing to purchase it for him. I am quite annoyed with you Uraraka, judging a nymph like you know more about his kind than he does. I suggest you keep to yourself from now on.”

“But, I, he, Master Aizawa?” the girl mumbles as she deflates.

“Uraraka, I have been watching you as much as Midoriya. You really do need to consider what drives you. If anyone is falling into bad habits, it’s you.”

As the young mages walked away, speaking to one another, the imp returned with a small portfolio. He handed it to Izuku first who carefully opened it and smiled at the sketch inside. It was a new one of him in the finished product. He wondered if Midnight had started working on it right after he left. Denki and Kirishima looked over his shoulder, and the kitsune practically squealed his delight causing the nymph to laugh.

“You look like a goddess!”

“He fucking is, you fuzzball,” Katsuki grumbled into jade curls.

“Can I have it?” Master Aizawa asked with hand outstretched.

“Sorry, I just hadn’t seen this sketch before,” Izuku murmured as he handed it over.

The warlock’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline, “This is quite a change, Midoriya.” A sharp grin then split his face, “I don’t think your clan will approve which is perfect.”

***

The next day, Izuku had his first dancing lesson with Midnight and it had been nothing like the structured arrangements many nymphs took part in. The music had been a mixture of percussion instruments and he was just supposed to move his body to the beat, his hips and core doing most of the work. He had to admit, it felt erotic but freeing following Midnight’s example as Katsuki smiled sharply and licked his lips from a corner of the room they had used to practice in her boutique. The battle demon made Izuku feel like he was a succubus himself.

When they returned to their room from that lesson, Katsuki hadn’t been able to keep his hands off his nymph. He praised him with touches and kisses, told him how perfect he was, how no one would ever compare, and then took him again as gently as the first time. Izuku knew Katsuki had activated magic in his room that kept things from leaving the space as much as entering, but he also knew he had been loud with every thrust, chanting his mate’s name like a mantra, begging for more. The demon didn’t disappoint, groaning and cursing his worship, until his knot locked and they both shook and gasped as they climaxed.

Every lesson led to such events and the Chimera knew things were changing, morphing into something new. The dark and light magic within him were no longer separate entities, but things that ebbed and flowed with every breath, every heartbeat, every movement. His body had never felt more like his own, his to enjoy or allow someone else to adore. Then one night, lying atop Katsuki as they calmed from pleasing each other in bed, he was no longer just a Chimera, but Protogonus. Large golden wings spread out behind him, setting the room aglow.

Izuku slowly sat up on his demon’s groin, staring as the wings curled forward so he could touch them while Katsuki lay still with awe, “They’re so fucking beautiful.”

The new Protogonus swallowed, “Am I supposed to tell someone or something? Should Master Aizawa know?”

The battle demon carefully pushed himself up, Izuku whimpering at the knot shifting within him, before Katsuki moved to hug his amazing mate to his chest, “Tell whoever the fuck you want but my parents and Midnight should be informed. Things will need to be arranged in the dark realm.”

The jade-haired deity nodded and then quietly asked, “What kinds of things?”

“We have to celebrate your rebirth, precious, your manifestation. The dark realm has been waiting for you for a very, very long time.”

***

Mitsuki stood within the shadows the fires of the village cast into the forest. The nymphs went about their nightly activities cautiously but still unaware of the horrible fate that awaited them. She wanted to go after the Sacred One’s dam and sire herself, but she would let her son carry out his plan. The other demons securing the perimeter were biting at the bit to demolish the village as soon as the Winter Solstice began. She didn’t blame them.

The clan looked like a rich one. The nymphs the female battle demon had witnessed walking around were wearing things she knew took time and expensive resources to create. The anointed one had been wearing things bought or made by her offspring, she knew his handiwork and that the green-eyed being was too humble to ask for anything without prompting. These people had no reasons whatsoever to neglect him.

The abuse, well, that was a different situation entirely. It was disgusting. It was something nothing or no one could ever explain away even if they believed they had reason. She didn’t come hoping to remove judgement but wondered if maybe they were too isolated to care, thinking the dark curse would never find them. They weren’t, even hidden deep in the forests as they were, with the number of large fires they lit a horde of demons could enter the place quickly and easily. She was curious if her son would mind a few of her own subordinates joining in the mayhem.

Suddenly another presence was next to Mistuki. Her mate, Masaru, stood beside her and tilted his head at the scene, inspecting every soul that passed his vision. The plain looking demon could see many things others could not.

“They are all so guilty of so much. Such a proud, ill minded people, like ants that think they are lions.”

“You never told me what you saw in the Sacred One, Masaru,” the female demon replied.

A quiet laugh left his lips, “His heart is made of gold and his mind of silver, he doesn’t know the gem he is. All these other nymphs would die trying to hold up his worth.”

Chapter Text

It was a week before the Winter Solstice and Izuku had yet to tell anyone, other then those he knew in the dark realm, about his transformation. It was not out of fear, rather, he was enjoying having this secret between Katsuki and himself within this realm. He usually only allowed his feathered wings to unfurl when they were alone in their shared room, enjoying each other’s company. Katsuki had also sneaked him out by the hearth to practice with them and experiencing that first short flight had left him giggling for hours.

Of course, his battle demon had also been carefully tailoring his new clothing for them, adding slits in the back of his tops, hidden as seams, that allowed them to spout without tearing anything. Midnight had done a few small changes to Izuku’s formal wear as well and had the new Protogonus dance with his wings so he could learn his new center of gravity. It also taught him how flexible and responsive they were to his thoughts. It was an odd thing having two extra limbs.

Izuku walked beside his demon, his tail tangling with Katsuki’s, and grinning at whatever was said between him and Kirishima while Denki added to the werewolf’s story. There was also a large, warm hand on nymph’s back, guiding him along and he smiled wider at that. They entered their classroom to find all the tables had been moved to either side to face the center. Master Aizawa stood waiting for them.

Once all the students and the familiars arrived, he spoke, “With the Winter Solstice arriving in a week, it is time to learn more about each other’s cultures so you are not surprised by anything from fellow classmates at the gala. Each of you will just give a quick summary of where you grew up, the magic in which your race specializes, and if there is anything one should be aware of when meeting your guests that have been invited. You can also allow other students to ask questions. Pick any seat and I will pull names out of a hat for who will go.”

Izuku swallowed, this assignment would be more complicated for him than for others. His teacher didn’t even know the full extent yet. Katsuki nudged him a little and when the nymph turned his eyes to him, he tapped his bag.

“I have the dark realm’s book right here if you feel you need to fucking tell him now,” the demon murmured. “Been carrying it around just in case something shitty like this came up.”

Izuku gave a nod and called out before the warlock went to his desk, “Master Aizawa, I need to discuss something with you first.”

Raising an eyebrow, the warlock motioned him to follow and stopped on the other side of his desk, “Only say what you must.”

“No, Master Aizawa, there is new information I need to share with you,” the nymph murmured as the demon pulled out a book and handed it to him. Izuku opened it and Katsuki leaned over him, helping him flip through pages to find something, “This is it, right Kacchan?” With a nod from a horned head, the book was held out for the Instructor to take, “I have achieved metamorphosis.”

Aizawa narrowed his eyes, taking the book and then observing the text, “It’s in Enochian, this is a demonic book?”

“Yes, um, I am something very different to them and they offer more insight.”

The warlock nodded and began reading, his eyebrows rising with every sentence. When he reached the end of the page, he closed the book and folded his arms. He studied Izuku then, and the nymph fidgeted where he stood.

“You have achieved metamorphosis, you say, so the wings?” Aizawa whispered.

The Protogonus swallowed and quietly answered, “I can call them forth at will. How much do you think I should tell the class?”

“Well, would you rather them think you a deity, a slave, or learn that there is a bridge between the two realms?”

Izuku turned to looked at his mate, “I think I need some time to decide. Each option has it’s complications.”

The warlock nodded in understanding, “I’ll take your name out of the hat and you can go last. Go take a seat.”

“Thank you, Master Aizawa. Just one more question. Can I join Katsuki in the rafters with the trees, please?”

The instructor smirked before returning the book and retrieving the old hat he had on his desk, “You do tend to do better when you are near those trees in the winter. Go ahead, just try to stay awake.”

Katsuki had already jumped up into the rafters but held his arms out waiting. Izuku did not dolly as he scurried up the support beam and launched himself into them for the demon to chuckle as he caught him to pull him into his lap. Wrapping himself in his thick cloak, the nymph made sure not to get too comfortable as Todoroki’s name was called.

The bi-colored male walked into the center of the long isle created by the divided groups of tables, “I come from the north, high within the mountains. My mother holds the magic of cold, she can create ice and snow,” he said this while demonstrating with left hand raised, ice spreading down to his elbow. “My old man is a demon of hellfire which is pretty self-explanatory,” he continued with a bit of annoyance as his right hand flickered with a few small flames. “My father will likely be the only one you will see at the Gala. He is proud of his heritage and I hate him for what he has done but he is my father none-the-less.”

The class was silent as Todoroki moved to sit back down, until someone quickly questioned, “You have dark and light magic then?”

Before taking his seat, the male simply answered, “Yes, as he designed.”

That seemed to silence the class even more, if possible, and then Iida’s name was called. Izuku stayed as attentive as he could, every now and then feeling himself dozing off during one presentation or another. Katsuki would murmur in his ear to wake him and he would again try to focus on whichever student was presenting. Some students kept it short and sweet while others never seemed to share enough. Before long, Katsuki was adding in his own comments causing the Protogonus to have to muffle his laughter.

Thankfully, some students decided to make their presentations a little more interesting as time passed, showing spells of their people or even dances they practiced during ceremonies.  These included Uraraka’s levitation, Jiro’s music, and Sero’s binding curses. Izuku ended up grabbing his notebook to write down anything he found useful.

Too soon, even if it had been almost two hours, it was Izuku’s turn. Katsuki jumped from the rafters, setting his promised down from his hold, before moving to lean against a far wall. The nymph stood and wrung his hands in thought. He then decided to begin with the obvious.

“I grew up with a mixed clan of elemental nymphs in a dense forest far from here. My element involves things that grow from the ground, such as flowers or trees,” Izuku spoke as flowery vines grew up one arm. “I am what the nymph race calls a Janus. Usually, Janus are killed at birth being considered a curse among my race,” the nymph explained causing some to gasp. “Since my parents allowed me to live, I am but a slave in all ways to my clan when living within it.”

“Midoriya, what makes you so different that they would decide this fate for you?” Todoroki questioned as he watched him closely.

Izuku nervously chuckled, “Well, I am intersex.”

Todoroki’s eyes grew wide at the same time that another asked, “You’re a boy and a girl?”

Izuku nodded as he wrapped his cloak closer to himself, “I am.”

“So, your formal wear isn’t formal at all. Why did you have to go to the dark realm to get it?” Ochaco almost demanded.

Izuku genuinely smiled at that, “Because the dark realm views me as something quite the opposite, as something akin to royalty.”

“A Chimera or a Protogonus, depending on your stage in the metamorphosis,” Todoroki murmured.

Izuku blushed, “Ah well, I reached the last stage recently.”

“Then you are not royalty, but a goddess,” Todoroki stated matter-of-factually.

“A goddess?” Ochaco mockingly laughed.

“According to the dark realm I am just that, Uraraka. Todoroki speaks the truth,” Izuku replied. “An intersex nymph is not really a nymph at all. According to my research and what I have been told, we are the seedlings of Dryads and have to go through trials to achieve our final state. The dark realm calls these stages by different names but they are one in the same.”

Izuku then unfastened his cloak and held it out for Katsuki to take, “I realize I should probably show all of you what I mean so as not to shock any of you at the gala, my parents will already be hard enough to handle.”

The demon took the dark red piece of clothing from Izuku’s hands only to grab one and kiss the back of it. Izuku blushed and his glowing, golden pinions unfurled from his shoulder blades of their own accord. He flapped them a few times, feeling the need to stretch and warm the muscles within them before letting them settle folded against his back. Katsuki smirked as he let go of his familiar’s hand and the nymph giggled as he felt his wings' comforting weight along his spine.

The class was as silent as when Todoroki had finished his presentation. Izuku grabbed his own tail to wring in his nervousness while his demon’s glided along one of his legs in comfort. Then there were murmurs, looks of confusion, awe, and one of betrayal from a certain individual, before a familiar voice rang out.

“Midoriya, those are amazing!” Kirishima exclaimed as he leaned closer. “Have you used them yet?”

“Oh, yeah, just a few times. Still getting the hang of them.”

“Probably like getting the hang of an extra tail,” Denki said from the rafters above. “They are very shiny. I wish I had a pair.”

“Congratulations Midoriya,” Todoroki offered with a small smile.

“How long have you had them, Deku? Can’t even share such a transformation with your new friends?” Uraraka declared from her seat, eyes hard and with her arms crossed. “And what trials could you have possibly gone through for you to be so valued by the dark realm, hm? I doubt they are anything our realm would consider noble, so I don’t understand how one could take you being some form of deity seriously.”

Izuku stood with his eyes wide, shocked at her obvious hatred showing so fully, but Katsuki moved to stand in front of him and snarled, “I am getting really damn tired of you opening your mouth. What do you know about being fucking noble, you shitty witch? Ever since you found out he was chosen to be the familiar of a demon you have judged him for fucking sins you have only imaged. If anyone else from my home realm knew of the insults you have thrown his way, you’d no longer live. That is how seriously we take his existence and how seriously the nymphs of his clan should have. The curse of the dark realm hangs over them like a guillotine longing for blood and I am sure it wouldn’t mind tasting yours.”

“Bakugo, that’s enough,” Aizawa announced as he suddenly appeared in front of them from his desk. “Uraraka, whether you think so or not, Midoriya is as his says. I will ban you from the gala if you do not heed this second warning, darkness is consuming you, not the one you accuse.”

“Midoriya,” Todoroki suddenly spoke, “when is the dark realm celebrating your rebirth or have they already?”

“It’s tonight!” Izuku grinned and then looked around. “Um, if no one has any other questions, I have nothing else to share.”

***

Todoroki watched the newly reborn Protogonus leave the classroom, huddled in his wings and cloak, while his eyes narrowed at the thought of their follow classmate. He knew that they at least used to be friends but she seemed to have abandoned the Sacred One when he was given the battle demon. He understood hatred, his father was easy to hate, but this battle demon, Bakugo, had done nothing particularly demonic. If she only knew what they had most likely done together to achieve the transformation.

He also worried more about his father attending the gala. Once the old man saw such a rare treasure of power, he’d try his best to take it. He doubted he’d be able to, the blonde demon would surely fight to the death to protect his mate and he knew Midoriya was far from weak. Todoroki would have to stay close though, a Protogonus should never be burned by hell fire. This was even more true after being told how the goddess had already been treated, he would not allow anymore misfortune to taint his existence.

The half-blood was supposed to be as close a copy of a Chimera, if not a Protogonus, as his father could create. A being with two opposing magics in one body. Of course, he is only male, holds the magic of flames and ice, and would not suddenly become a deity. His mother had only been a means to an end and he despised his father for it.

The cambion wondered if he should attend the rebirth celebration. As long as he could pass the flames with pure intentions, he would be permitted to join the festivities. It would probably make his old man insanely angry that he had attended without informing him such a being existed. Maybe he would kidnap one of their many hellhounds to gift Midoriya. They were handy creatures, intelligent, loyal, and they also all hated his father.

A couple hours later he entered the dining hall to see the Protogonus, wings still out, giggling on the battle demon’s lap as Kirishima’s kitsune spoke of something very excitedly. There were other students murmuring around him, pointing at the new glowing, golden additions to his form as they shifted with his movements. Their female classmate was a few tables over, glaring at the scene like it was a declaration of war. Rolling his eyes as he found a free spot, Todoroki wondered if she would try for another verbal attack.

***

Bouncing on the balls of his feet in his room, his wings hidden for now, Izuku barely held his excitement at bay. Katsuki had said Kirishima and Denki could come to the celebration in the dark realm and they had gone to change into some nicer clothing. The event wasn’t exactly formal, but one should be dressed to impress. Midnight had sent an imp a few moments ago to inform him she had an outfit waiting for the occasion.

Katsuki chuckled, “That eager to see what Midnight has for you or eager to be back in my fucking realm?”

“Both!” Izuku exclaimed with a bright smile. “You said there would be a feast, gifts, and I get to meet other demons, right? Can I take parchment to write things down?”

“No one is going to fucking stop you,” Katsuki smirked, “they will probably be honored the Anointed One is that damn interested in them.”

Suddenly there was knocking on Izuku’s door and he hurried to open it. He was immediately tackled by the kitsune, his three tails waving wildly. Kirishima followed, snickering as the nymph tried to push his familiar off.

“’Zuku! Let’s go, let’s go!”

“Get off him, Foxface! He is the fucking Guest of Honor, you furry ass!” the battle demon growled as he grabbed the back of the fancy robes the big-eared spirit wore.

Izuku was giggling as Denki tried to swat at Katsuki while he hung in the air, drowning in shimmering black fabric, “Kacchan! Put him down!”

“HAH!? Why!? The little fucker…” the horned blonde snorted into his prey’s face.

“Come on Bakugo, put him down. He is just excited! I mean, we’ve never gone to the dark realm before! Do we look okay?” Kirishima said as he moved around the two to help Izuku up.

Katsuki looked at the black, ornate bracers covering the werewolf’s arms, the leather pants on his lower half and the jewelry on his neck and ears with nothing else and grunted, “I guess you’ll do.” He then raised an eyebrow at the still dangling kitsune who was limp and grumbling in his dark robes with golden, lightning-like embroidery over light blue under robes, donning cuffs on his tails and dangling earrings that nearly touched his chin, “He looks fucking ridiculous but not much can be done about that.”

“Why are you so mean!?” Denki whined as his feet finally touched the ground. “I look amazing!”

“No, Izuku will look fucking amazing. Now let’s go so he can get changed.”

Going through the flames into Midnight’s cavern of crystals was a welcomed experience for Izuku. His new friends, on the other hand, were checking themselves for burns as soon as they exited. When they deemed themselves fine, they then stood in awe at the glittering walls. The succubus again seemed to appear from the flickering shadows causing Denki’s tails to fluff to three times their normal size in fright and Kirishima to partially transform.

Katsuki had smirked at the reaction, but he and Midnight led the way into the boutique. Izuku tried to calm his friends on the way but soon the kitsune needed to be held back by the shapeshifter when he laid eyes on the expensive fabrics, sparkling jewels, and shiny metals. The demoness had laughed with a sharp smile and warned what would come of him if he dared ruin any of her pieces.

“I do regularly use skulls on the armor I build, little one. One of a kitsune would be an interesting decoration to some …”

Izuku had never seen Denki go so pale and he quickly turned in Kirishima’s arms to cling to him, “WHY ARE DEMONS SO MEAN!?”

“We are demons, dumbass,” Katsuki drawled as he followed Izuku to the dressing screen that hid the nymph’s new outfit.

“You are so nice to ‘Zuku though!”

“Denki, he is a goddess to them, of course, they are gonna treat him with respect and he is Bakugo’s mate,” Kirishima tried to explain as he pet the Kitsune’s head to calm him. “I mean, I am a lot nicer to you than anyone else, yeah?”

“That’s true, WAIT! Did you say mates!?” Denki exclaimed.

“Can’t you smell it? Maybe that’s just a werewolf thing …”

“It’s a demon thing too,” Midnight hummed as she waited. “Do you like it, Sacred One?”

Izuku's voice came out watery, “Yes, yes, I do. I’m still not used to this.”

“To what, precious? Looking beautiful?” Katsuki murmured as he got on his knees and seemed to be helping dress the one behind the divider.

“At feeling good about myself, I guess,” the Protogonus mumbled and slowly emerged into the sight of the others in the room wiping tears from his face.

“Oh wow, you look wonderful, Izuku!” Kirishima grins.

“He really does!” Denki agreed.

Emerald eyes looked to the floor as freckled arms wrapped around the freshly dressed being, his tail joining them around his legs, “Thanks.”

A dark, shimmery, somewhat sheer top that held a V of sliver chainmail covered Izuku’s front, but the back was mainly open with two leather strips extending from the thick collar of the same material, laced together in the back and tied with a bow, to his waist and were connected with swooping silver chains. Trousers that had a flattering fit with see-through floral lace down the sides covered his legs and comfortable, soft slippers were on his feet. Midnight had also provided matching silver jewelry with red gems that mimicked Katsuki’s eyes. Izuku only felt this good in this realm, and his wings showed themselves in his silent joy causing Midnight to gasp.

“I still need to change, but do you feel ready, little nymph?” the battle demon murmured.

“Yes, yes I do,” was whimpered softly back.

***

After stopping by Katsuki’s bedchambers so he could change, Izuku blushing at the memories that filled his head, the battle demon led the way to the main hall. Conversation, laughter, and some music could be heard as they got closer but when they entered everything went silent. Backing up a few steps in sudden fear at the wide eyes staring his direction, Izuku felt warm arms wrap around him and large, leathery, black, deep green, and fiery orange wings hide him from view.

He heard Kirishima quickly say, “He’s shy, give him a moment.”

“He really is, he’s not used to this yet,” Denki said in support while rumbling shook the Protogonus’ frame.

Izuku hadn’t realized tears had escaped his eyes until a crawled thumb gently wiped them away and Katsuki loving whispered, “Why are you crying? They are fucking amazed by you.”

“They’re, they’re staring and it’s, it’s a lot. I’m sorry.”

“Take your time, they’ll wait for you.”

Izuku nodded and turned in his mate’s arms, his wings folded close to his back as he tried to calm himself. The demon waited patiently and soon, the nymph heard music playing, a rhythm and sound he felt familiar with. He smiled and intuitively began swaying to the beat, his wings and tail adding to his moments as Katsuki slowly drew away.

With his eyes closed, his hips moved and his abdomen twisted and shifted with the joy that was filling him. He spun and giggled as the drums sped up and then slowed, his body flowing through it all. A welcomed large, scaled hand grabbed his own and then Katsuki was dancing with him. The music began speeding up again and Izuku opened his eyes to smile at his demon as he began spinning around him faster and faster until it all ended with one loud, final boom of the bass drum. Izuku fell to a kneeling position, his face to the floor and hands outstretched, palms up like Midnight had taught.

“You’re offering your joy to others,” she had said and he felt it.

When he lifted his face from the floor, he was laughing so hard he was crying for a new reason and he heard Midnight announce happily, “Izuku Midoriya, the Scared One!”

Clapping followed and Katsuki then appeared in front of him, a proud grin on his face. Izuku held his arms up as giggles still racked his body and was picked up by his mate. He hid his face in the demon’s neck as Denki asked him to teach him to dance and Kirishima was telling him that it was amazing. Soon Katsuki was sitting down, Izuku on his lap, and the Protogonus finally turned, blushing at all the faces again watching him.

“H-Hello! Thank you all for coming!”

The hall burst into cheering before Katsuki’s fist slammed onto the tabletop, “Okay fuckers, let’s celebrate! The Anointed One has finally shown themselves! Bring on the FEAST!”

Kirishima and Denki had no issues fitting in as food was passed around and conversation broke out. Mitsuki and Masaru sat nearby, badgering their son about being so possessive of the Protogonus. Demons and demonesses came up to Izuku bowing, asking for his blessing and offering gifts big and small, jewelry, clothing, books, and even plants. The jade-haired nymph had whined when we realized he’d forgotten extra parchment and quills, but an imp quickly supplied them and he asked each being he met questions, them happily offering answers.

Izuku was holding a beautiful, onyx pendulum up to the light when a figure he recognized appeared in front of him, “Midoriya, I would like to also give you a gift, if you are willing to accept it.”

Lowering the object back into its fur lined box, Izuku grinned at the bi-colored cambion, “Todoroki, you came!”

“Of course, you are worthy of celebration.”

“I am guessing your demon father didn’t come with you seeing as how you fucking loath him,” Katsuki growled before taking a bite of meat off a bone he held.

“I would never allow him to know such information as Midoriya’s existence,” the other said coldly back. “He is obsessed with having the best and I doubt you’d be willing to surrender the best thing to happen to this realm to him, Bakugo.”

“Fuck no!” the battle demon snarled, his arm wrapping around Izuku’s waist and his eyes aglow.

Todoroki gave a single nod of approval and then pulled on a chain Izuku hadn’t even noticed him holding, “My family breeds hellhounds of the darkest level of this realm. They are fiercely loyal creatures and will protect you from all that comes against you. This is Toshinori.” A large, feline-looking, scaled-covered, canine walked forward, lip up as he sniffed at Izuku while the nymph scooted back in Katsuki’s lap, “He is not the youngest we have, but the strongest. He will be a ferocious protector if you accept him.”

The creature’s scales glowed like the last ambers in a fireplace, and his irises were bright as a blue flame, sat in black sclera. His teeth were menacing, appearing metallic, and his tail was long and snapped like a whip when moved abruptly. Swallowing, Izuku extended a trembling hand and the animal’s surprisingly cold nose pressed against it as he sniffed. The hellhound moved closer to lay his head in the Protogonus’ lap and Katsuki reached out to pet him.

“Little nymph, they like their ears scratched,” the battle demon encouraged his mate and Izuku did so to smile as the hellhound’s eyelids drooped and its tail swayed on the floor.

“I like him, Todoroki. Thank you!”

The cambion bowed and held out the chain, “My pleasure.”

The rest of the night passed by with Izuku enjoying himself as Katsuki watched. The demon was amused when his mate fought several yawns before collapsing back onto his bare chest. The nymph’s eyelids drooped as he tried to keep his emerald eyes open but before long, with a hellhound’s head in his lap and a demon holding him, the Protogonus slipped off to sleep. Mitsuki announced that everyone was welcome to stay until morning but their guest of honor would be retiring for the night.

After being sure that Kirishima and Denki would be given some of the best rooms his home could offer, Katsuki carefully carried Izuku back to his own set of bed chambers with Toshinori following closely behind, dragging his chain. After removing his promised clothing slowly, so as not to wake him, the demon climbed into bed and padded the foot of it to signal the hellhound up, removing the plain, thick collar and chain once the creature settled. He’d have to ask Midnight to make a collar fitting for a hellhound of a Protogonus in the morning, before they left for the realm of light.

***

Izuku woke lying on his stomach moaning.  He felt so good. His voice grew louder when he realized why, a wet heat was licking between his thighs. When he shakily pushed himself up to look behind him, Katsuki was smirking around his sharp teeth. His tongue slid along his lips as one hand held the nymph’s tail out of the way, and the other pulled one ass cheek apart from the other. Those scarlet eyes stayed locked on the Izuku’s green as he dared to lick up his mate’s pussy yet again.

“Kacchan,” the Protogonus whimpered, “I still have school and where is Toshinori?”

“Your hellhound is guarding the fucking door,” the demon answered and Izuku trembled as his hot breath hit his sex, “and it’s still an hour before breakfast will be served. We have time.”

Izuku whined as Katsuki began kissing up his spine, moving himself between his legs and skimming his ribbed cock against his ass, “Bath? I need to take a bath.”

“I’ll fucking make sure you get a bath,” was breathed into his furry ear before the nymph lifted his tail and hips to allow the demon to take him.

The first time they had tried mating this way Izuku had been anxious, hazy memories of shame and pain plaguing his mind, but the demon had shown how good it could be to feel his mate all around him, just like now. Izuku gasped as Katsuki pushed into him, the blonde groaning at the slow slide. The demon picked up the pace with every plunge, the nymph feeling a strong arm wrap around his waist. With his building pleasure, his shining wings spread between them.

Lifting his hips to take more, Izuku cried out as the next thrust filled him just right, his own cock rubbing against the sheets below him with their movements. The nymph tried to give as good as he got and his mate cursed as the greenette’s body rocked to be sure the demon could never pull out too far. Izuku was gasping as Katsuki returned the extra pleasure by wrapping a scaled hand around his cock to pump it in sync with everything else.

He was panting against the sheets, his toes already curling when he felt his cunt being spread more. Oh spirits, he was about to be knotted and he couldn’t help his moans and whines from growing louder. Sharp teeth grazed his shoulder as his demon began grunting and babbling in Enochian, common speech curses littered in between. Izuku felt magic flow out of him without his permission and knew flowers were most likely blooming all over the place.

He came with a breathy whimper, his thighs shaking as Katsuki ground into him, praising him like the deity he believed he was. Collapsing a sated heap onto the bed, Izuku listened to the demon growl low as he found his own release with his knot fully tied. Then his shoulders, neck, and cheek were kissed softly as they both waited until they could bathe.

Izuku was wearing something left behind by Midnight, the succubus knowing he had left his other clothing at her boutique and that he would be spending the night before heading back to school. He fidgeted in it as he headed to the main parlor to meet Kirishima and Denki. It was casual for Midnight’s designs, but fancier than anything he had ever worn to class before. It consisted of a tunic top of dark green with a black lace overlay, bell sleeves, a semi open back, and a hem that was at his hips in the front but reached his knees in the back. Tight, dark, stretchy trousers covered his legs, with knee high leather boots.

Katsuki had practically purred when he saw Izuku in it. The demon dressed in something he felt matched it, a cropped jacket, like the ones he normally wore in the colder weather, except in black with orange embroidery and a dark trouser in the same shade at his mate's. He also switched out their jewelry for some he left in his room, dangling earrings and more necklaces that shimmered with movement along with sparkling chains woven among Izuku’s antlers and his horns.

Izuku spared a look at the unchained, uncollared hellhound that marched beside him. Supposedly, the chain was something that let them know they were being given to someone new and once it was established who, they no longer needed such a thing. The nymph still felt the hound looked naked without anything on his intimidating form and wanted Toshinori to feel special even if the hellhound didn’t care. The Protogonus set his hand on his new protector’s head and the hellhound moved closer, practically leaning against Izuku as they walked.

Reaching the parlor, Kirishima and Denki not only greeted them, but so did Midnight holding several thick collars. Smiling, Izuku was quick to look through the offerings as Katsuki thanked the succubus yet again for providing what his promised needed. The female demon laughed and shook her head, telling him it was always an honor to serve the Sacred One in whatever manner she could.

Izuku ended up picking out a thick, fur-lined, blue, dragon leather collar with agate amulets and brass runes. It was also edged in brass and had a strong, locking buckle. Toshinori came to him without being called, sat, and lifted his head up ready to be collared. When the nymph locked it, the thing looked too big for his hellhound until it slowly shifted and readjusted itself to fit perfectly. Toshinori stood and bounced around like a playful puppy, seemingly happy to have something given to him by his chosen owner.

Not much later, the group entered the bustling dining hall through a roaring hearth and quickly found seats. As Izuku grabbed food, he heard his new hound whine. He figured he was as hungry as they were, and like any other demonic entity enjoyed meat. Katsuki beat him to it, however, and grabbed a large piece of ham to offer to the beast, sharp, metallic fangs ripping it apart quickly as the nymph giggled. Kirishima then reached over, offering another piece that the hellhound gladly accepted, grinning with his own sharp teeth.

“I understand, man, meat is the best thing in the world! Maybe we can go hunting together sometime,” the werewolf spoke as he scratched the creature’s ears. Toshinori nodded his large head and Kirishima’s eyes went wide, “It’s like he understood me.”

“He fucking did, you furry idiot. A hellhound is not just some mutt, they are actually quite intelligent,” Katsuki snarled as Izuku listened. “He will probably spend the day learning Izuku’s routine, friends and enemies, and likes and dislikes. They are not shitty pets. They are chosen guardians.”

“Collecting more demons, I see,” a voice suddenly interrupted and there stood Ochaco yet again. “Not enough to pollute the school with one, you have to bring another.”

Katsuki was suddenly grabbing Toshinori’s collar as the hound leaped to place his front paws on the table, growling and snapping at the white mage, and the battle demon said low with narrowed eyes, “I will let him have you. He knows he was chosen for a unique purpose, to protect our Sacred One, and he will not allow ANYONE to insult Izuku in anyway.”

Ochaco only glared at the beast wanting to taste her blood, “Then it is stupid to think it is guarding anything but a useless nymph. I read about what you are Deku, and they say you are the great deceiver and I think you have been weaving lies this whole time. It would explain why the dark realm would align itself with you.”

Feeling no oncoming regrets, Katsuki let go and Toshinori was on top of the shrieking white mage in moments. He ripped at her clothes as Iida suddenly came running. The male mage sent every spell he knew at the hellhound to no avail. The creature climbed off Ochaco when her only modesty were a few scraps of fabric and her skin was littered in bites and scratches. Izuku only looked on with cold eyes as his guardian returned to his side.

“I’ve been waiting for that to happen,” Denki hummed around a roll. “Izuku has given you so many chances and Kacchan has warned you so many times. I am surprised you aren’t dead.”

“Toshinori knew Izuku didn’t want the bitch dead, only for her to pay. Next time though, I fucking doubt the hellhound will hold himself back,” Katsuki hummed as Izuku picked up a strawberry.

Aizawa appeared a moment later and watched Ochaco being gently lifted from the floor by Iida as he demanded harshly from the girl, “What did you do?” Ochaco refused to speak and the warlock declared, “You are expelled from this place. If a hellhound willingly attacks you it is because darkness has taken over your heart. I suggest you find one to cleanse your soul.”

Chapter Text

When Izuku entered the classroom after the scene that happened in the dining hall, one hand laced with his demon’s and the other settled on Toshinori’s shoulder blades that were higher than his own waist, people stared. Katsuki kissed him on his forehead all the same and launched himself up into the rafters, with Denki following. Izuku readied himself for class, Kirishima already sitting beside him and his hellhound watching him with those intelligent, eerie eyes. When he finally sat in his chair, Toshinori moved to sit right next to him on the floor, his long, whip-like tail wrapped around his paws.

Aizawa walked by a moment later, his hand giving the hellhound a scratch behind the ear for a moment before coming to a stop at the front of the room, “I know I am not usually here this early in the day but most of you were witness to what happened during breakfast. Ochaco Uraraka has been expelled from the Academy for her repeated behavior towards Izuku Midoriya. Tenya Iida has chosen to leave with her as she is his familiar and because he states the school’s beliefs no longer align with his own.”

A student’s hand shot up and the warlock motioned for the student to speak, “Master Aizawa, is it is truly safe to have two clearly violent creatures in the school?”

The long-haired man glared, “Number one, neither are violent unless they are protecting their companion. Two, Bakugo is Midoriya’s familiar, and the hellhound, Toshinori I believe I heard him called, is his guardian. Hellhounds are unbelievably intelligent, loyal creatures. Don’t think he just some dog or cat.” He then looked towards his Protogonus of a student, “Midoriya, do you mind if I borrow him for a moment?”

Shaking his head, Izuku pet the hellhound’s head, “Please go up front Toshinori. Let the class see you.”

With a light growl of agreement, the creature stood, bumped his head against Izuku’s thigh and then trotted up to the front. He sat just as straight next to Aizawa as he had beside his master and looked at the students that made up the room, cataloging them with the opportunity. A hand was respectively placed on the top of his head as the warlock next to him spoke.

“This is Toshinori and he is to be treated with as much respect as anyone in this classroom. His existence is to keep Midoriya safe and content and he will do anything in his power to do so without any care for the one that threatens that. Don’t think he would be an easy adversary either, Hellhounds are known to be extremely hardy,” the instructor advised as the creature of darkness rumbled in agreement. Turning to the new guardian he then sent him back with a simple, “You are done here.”

Izuku smiled when his companion rejoined him, petting him as he laid his large head on his lap. Kirishima leaned over to do the same, then their regular morning teacher entered the classroom and the school day began. It went by quickly, Toshinori behaving better than some of the students, and by dinner Izuku felt the anxiety he had been holding back begin to come to the surface. In just several, short days his parents would be there.

Pecking at his food, Izuku’s mind swam through “what ifs” and his growing mountain of worry. Katsuki’s arm was a welcomed, warm weight around his middle as he sat on the demon’s lap and Toshinori leaned against him trying to offer more comfort. He knew he had changed, that he was stronger and happier than ever before, but they were something he never wished to face ever again. They represented a past he had no want to ever revisit.

“Hey,” was gently rumbled into his ear, “everything will be fine. You have me, Toshinori, Furball and Foxface, plus, I know Midnight nor my sire or dam would let any fucking thing happen to you.”

“You also have me.”

Izuku startled at the new voice just to see Todoroki sliding in across from him, next to Kirishima. The werewolf smiled and nodded in greeting as he shoved chicken into his mouth. The cambion had with him a half-eaten plate of food and took a bite of it once he settled.

Izuku allowed a wobbly smile, “Thank you.”

Todoroki shrugged, swallowed his food, and said, “My father wanted me to be as powerful as one of you, kidnapping my mother to try his luck at creating the perfect ‘masterpiece.’ I know all about shitty parents. I am here and will be available during the gala.”

Izuku nodded as his eyes fell to his full plate and he whispered, “My father can control fire, used to burn me with it often. I have never had full antlers before being here, never had new clothes or a safe place to sleep really. And my mom, she let him, let them, do as they pleased because it was ‘the natural order of things.’ Soon, they will walk through these doors, see that I have flourished, and hate me for it. What kind of parents do that, despise their child for becoming something amazing?”

“Parents that aren’t really parents,” Todoroki answered simply, “and your father will have to deal with a few people who are quite fire resistant so, I don’t see you ever getting burned again.”

Izuku nodded a second time and slowly began to truly eat. He had friends. He had a mate. He had a guardian. He would get through this.

***

It was the weekend before the gala. Izuku and Katsuki had slept in late after having a little too much fun the night before while Toshinori had left to hunt while wandering the school grounds. As they made their ways to the baths, the hellhound trotted up to them, rumbling and growling out like he was trying to have a conversation. He seemed agitated, Izuku wondered if something had gotten away from him.

The battle demon kneeled down and listened to the noises the creature made, narrowing his scarlet eyes, “Guests are already arriving?” The hellhound nodded and then jumped up so his front paws were on Izuku’s shoulders and Katsuki chuckled, “He wants to make sure you know he is here for you.”

Grinning, the Protogonus was quick to assure Toshinori, “I know you are here, trust me. You’re hard not to miss.”

With a satisfied huff, the hound fell back to all four feet and followed as they continued their way to the baths. When they arrived, they were more crowded than Izuku was used to with their late arrival, but the nymph knew he was safe. Most understood what he was now, so them seeing him nude wasn’t something he had to fear any longer although he’d rather his privacy. Finding an empty bathing area, Toshinori was the first into the churning water and Izuku was always amazed to see his scales lift so the water could slosh underneath them onto soft skin that felt like velvet. Katsuki waded in next and then extends out a hand to help Izuku enter.

It was a calming routine for them, golden wings regularly showing themselves with Izuku’s happiness. Toshinori would swim around while the Protogonus was cleansed by his demon and exit to nap when the Sacred One started washing the battle demon’s pinions. Once his promised was finished with his second large wing, Katsuki turned to allow his upper body to be attended to, loving the blush that still rose to his nymph’s cheeks.

They had to move to the shallower end, so Izuku can sit on the edge to clean him. The nymph reached out and wiped down his arms first, taking a little more time with the left, kissing his mark climbing along it. Katsuki chuffed his pleasure, happy his mate was so content with him and couldn’t help but guide Izuku’s chin up to lightly kiss his lips. Cheeks rosy, green eyes turned their attention to the battle demon’s chest, blushing all the more when they landed on his pierced nipples. It was in that very moment, as a scented rag caressed the mark on his sternum branding their connection, when something, or rather, someone tumbled through the heavy drapes.

“Oh shit,” Mineta squealed while Katsuki roared as he scooped up Izuku and Toshinori leaped up to begin snarling.

With his wings wrapped somewhat around his Protogonus, uncaring of his exposed nudity but deeply concerned for his promised’s, the battle demon threatened, “IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT HIM, I’LL RIP OUT YOUR THROAT!”

“Oh FUCK!” the purple-haired, short nymph screamed as the hellhound went charging after him. “I just wanted to see if he really had a pussy!”

Katsuki saw red. He snarled and growled, holding Izuku close. How dare he, how fucking dare he! The little bastard was nothing but an oversized rodent the world needed to be rid of. Even with a growl still rumbling in his throat, he kissed his promised gently on the forehead before lowering him carefully back into the water. That was the moment a head of blonde hair with huge, triangular ears popped through the drapes, a hand covering his eyes.

“Kacchan? Everything okay in there? Did I hear the little pervert say what I think he said?”

“Yes,” Katsuki hissed. “Can you guard Izuku while I go after the fucker?”

Nodding his head, the kitsune smiled wide, “I always love a little chaos before breakfast.”

Denki lowered his hand and didn’t except the battle demon to go bounding through the drapes in the nude as Kirishima walked up. The werewolf’s eyes were wide as he watched the demon screaming profanities, chasing after the ruckus of an angry hellhound and their fleeing prey. He then looked at his familiar with a wicked grin, ripping off the clothing he had just put on, before shifting as he joined the hunt.

“I think Mineta is about to die,” Denki murmured as he walked through the drapes.

“Kacchan won’t let him die, but I do fear him no longer having a penis,” Izuku answered back as he hung off the edge of the bathing pool enjoying the warm water. “Why would he even risk it? He’s seen Kacchan in class. He knows if he was caught horrible things would come of him.”

Denki shrugged as he walked over to grab a towel, “He doesn’t seem like the smartest person. I do wonder where his treefrog spirit familiar is?”

“Would you bathe anywhere near him if you were female?” Izuku asked with a raised brow.

The kitsune shivered, “No, definitely not.”

Then a voice was heard calling into the bathing area, “Has anyone seen my familiar, Mineta?”

Meanwhile, Mineta was running for his life. Toshinori had already ripped off most of his clothes before he had created twisting grape vines to get the hellish thing off him. It lasted long enough for the small nymph scurry away. Now there was a hellhound, werewolf, and that battle demon after him. Holy shit! He was going to be blood spatter soon, just a dead mess on the stone floors.

Sliding around a corner, he went sprinting by his warlock of a teacher whimpering as the man loudly demanded, “Mineta! What did you do!?” He then watched the three that were chasing after him pass and rubbed him temples, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Aizawa began to leisurely walk after them until he noticed the group was heading back his direction. He stopped and waited. The hellhound and werewolf were yipping and playing with each other while the very naked battle demon dragged a bloody, shaking Mineta behind him, his heavy tail whipping into his head at random which caused the boy to shriek. The instructor fell into step beside the Bakugo who was still snarling under his breath.

“He let his curiosity get the best of him and peeped on Midoriya, I assume,” the warlock mumbled. An angry grunt is all he got to the positive and he squeezed the bridge of his nose, “Is Midoriya all right?”

The demon nodded, “Yeah, hid him from the view of the bastard then left Denki with him to hunt the little fucker after Toshinori went after him.”

“And why is Kirishima with the two of you?”

A sharp toothed smirk spread across Bakugo’s face, “Furballs like to hunt too.”

The group walked back to the baths and were greeted by the sight of Izuku and Denki in the common area speaking with Tsuyu Asui. Mineta shrieked again as a scaled tail whipped his side and the group of three turned, shaking their heads. The amphibian-like girl even looked up towards the glass dome as her tongue flicked out in exasperation.

After Katsuki was offered his clothes by his mate, he dropped Mineta to the tile floor. Trying to escape a third time, the purple-haired pervert was quickly caught and wrapped in the treefrog spirit’s tongue. Reluctantly waving her departure, Tsuyu began dragging the nymph again while somehow lecturing him by speaking around her tongue. The warlock trailed behind the pair so he could get a word in when she was finished.

Thankfully, after both Kirishima and Katsuki were dressed, the group of five headed to the dining hall for a calm breakfast. With his friends murmurs a comfortable white noise as he ate, Izuku had even managed to fall asleep in his demon’s lap as snow came down heavily outside. Neither the werewolf, kitsune, hellhound, or Katsuki were offended by the event. Toshinori laid his head on his sleeping master and the others only spoke more quietly to let him continue to doze.

The rest of the day was uneventful, but the next day brought a buzzing excitement to the academy. With the Winter Solstice Gala the following night, most students were running around making sure every piece of their formal wear was impeccable for the occasion. Katsuki and Izuku visited the dark realm for a final fitting just to be sure and the nymph was finally allowed to witness his mate’s own formal attire. Midnight was just finishing placing all the beautiful jewelry she had made him when the demon walked in after changing in another room.

Izuku gasped before smiling wide at Katsuki’s smug grin. Layered, dragon leather pauldrons covered his shoulders that were attached to his body only with crisscrossed, buckled, leather straps across his chest. He had foregone his collection of necklaces, however, but a large headdress of vibrant, phoenix feathers sat between his curling horns along with a small skull of some unknown being. His pants looked thicker than usual, scales decorating the knees of them. Looking like the battle demon he was, Izuku still felt there was something missing.

The Protogonus walked over to his mate carefully, still unused to the delicate, beautiful clothing he wore and lifted his jeweled hands, “Can I add something in with the feathers, Kacchan?”

“Of fucking course,” the blonde declared as he got down on his knees so his promised could reach more easily.

Then Izuku turned to Midnight, “You don’t mind, do you? I don’t want you to think I am insulting your work. It’s lovely, I just …”

“Sacred one, I would be delighted with you adding something beautiful. Go on, let me see when you choose,” the succubus replied and she walked over to watched.

Rubbing his fingertips together for a moment, the nymph made a decision. He gently set his hands on either side of the small skull and orange lilies sprouted. Their blooms opened wide, the slightly redder tips complimenting his love’s eyes. Izuku nodded. Maybe it was a possessive part of him or something else entirely, but he liked seeing something marking Katsuki as his even if the demon already wore his mark.

“Oh, oh I like that. Now he has something nymph while you wear things of ours. Perfect!” Midnight almost cooed as Toshinori made a sound of encouragement.

Katsuki smirked and stood to look in one of the many mirrors around them and when he saw the blooms declared, “I will wear them damn proudly!”

Returning to the academy for lunch after enjoying his time in dark realm, it seemed it was a sort of a given that something might go wrong in Izuku’s improving life. Walking through the flames of the hearth in the dining hall, he immediately began searching for Kirishima and Denki. His eyes instead fell on a pair of certain someones, a curly-haired man standing by one of the entrances speaking to a short, chubby woman with dark green hair that had small flowers dotted throughout it. Fear he had hoped he had forgotten chilled his gut and had Izuku quietly whimpering.

He knew he was shaking as he felt his hellhound lean against him. Katsuki quickly moved to wrap his arms around his waist in the same moment, looking in the direction his emerald eyes stared unblinking. He heard the demon curse under his breath and Denki and Kirishima appeared a few moments later concerned.

“They’re here. Oh gods, they’re here,” Izuku whined. “I’m not ready.”

Katsuki shifted until he stood in front of his promised, holding him close with his arms as well as his wings much like he had during the rebirth dinner, “I am here. Your friends are here. Your teacher is here. You even have a hellhound with you. You are safe, I promise you.”

Izuku nodded against the demon’s chest, “You’re right. I’m sorry. They just, they just bring back so much …”

“Turn your fear into anger, Izuku. You are fucking allowed to. They neglected and abused you, for nothing you had done. They are not worth your fear but are worthy of all your damn anger.”

“My anger?”

“The anger of a deity imprisoned by their small minds and black hearts. Show them who you are, not who they want you to be.”

“What if I fail?” the new goddess whimpered.

“You could never fail. You have power in you that you have yet to fucking touch. You have an entire realm that would conquer any other plane if you only asked. You are not who you once were, do you understand?”

“Yes,” the nymph said and the after a moment added, “I am not a Janas the great deceiver. I am a Protogonus and hold the keys to all creation.”

“Exactly.”

Izuku nodded against the demon’s chest again, took a few deep breaths, and then whispered, “I think I am ready to eat now.”

Katsuki ruffled his wings back into place on his back while Izuku meekly pulled away and looked to Kirishima and Denki who stood with Toshi, calmly waiting. The nymph gave a wobbly smile as he headed to the table furthest from his parents, his friends following. The battle demon stayed where he stood, studying the disgusting couple as they spoke with each other observing the crowded dining hall.

“Are those his mother and father?” Todoroki questioned as stepped up beside him.

The demon nodded his horned head, “They are and I can’t fucking wait until they understand the fate they have woven for their damn selves come tomorrow night.”

The cambion hummed in understanding, “I wonder what they will say when they see you and Toshinori if they thought Midoriya was an eyesore.”

A dark chuckle left Katsuki’s lips, “Oh, they can say all they damn want about us but if they dare blink wrong in his direction, they may die sooner than I fucking planned.”

Suddenly a shriek was heard and it came from the woman that had birthed his promised. She was pointing his direction looking terrified. The man next to her glared at him then like he is a pile a shit in the middle of the pristine floor. Katsuki stood up straighter, looking down at the fire nymph like the worm he was, and the idiot started to march his direction.

An evil smirk formed on his mouth once the man stood in front of him, Todoroki watching with a straight face, and demanded, “What is a foul thing like you doing in this school?! Leave! You’re scaring my wife!”

Smiling wider, the demon leaned down to be eye level with the nymph, “No. I live here, with my fucking familiar. If your wife has a fucking issue, she is damn welcome to speak with him.”

“Who is he!? Tell me!” The fire nymph then looked to Todoroki, “Are you his familiar?”

“No,” the cambion answered simply as he held out his fingers and a black and white spider hung from them, “Sero is.”

“A Jorōgumo is your familiar!? Their full of darkness!”

“Actually no. They are as much an animal spirit as any other, just misunderstood because most people have an unnatural fear of them.”

“Then who is this cursed thing’s familiar!” the man growled out as he angrily pointed to Katsuki.

“Kacchan?” Katsuki turned to see Izuku standing behind him with Toshinori leaned against his side, “Are you coming to eat?”

“Of course, little nymph. This man was just fucking demanding I leave because I scared his wife with my shitty existence.”

Turning to his father with cold eyes, the nymph declared, “He holds no power here and I see no reason why he has a right to ask such things.”

“May I join you, Midoriya?”

Izuku smiled as he looked to his bi-colored classmate, “Of course, Todoroki.”

The Protogonus then turned to walk back the table where Kirishima and Denki sat, his whole body trembling. He heard Katsuki and Todoroki on either side of him and felt Toshinori’s weight against him. Izuku had to stay focused until he reached the table where he allowed himself to finally grab its surface for support. That had taken every bit of strength in him but he refused to let his father demand things of Katsuki or Todoroki.

Izuku was soon pulled into his familiar’s lap and relaxed against him until he noticed the little spider spirit crawling along the cambion’s fingers. Leaning forward, he watched him, seeing the shining pieces of silk he left behind every now and then. He was so very interesting and the nymph slowly extended his hand.

“Is that Sero?” he asked of Todoroki. “I have never really gotten to see him. Does he mind if I hold him?”

The cambion shook his head and the spider spirit swung himself onto the nymph’s outstretched hand, “I think he’d enjoy exploring your antlers if that is okay. He won’t hurt the flowers, I promise.”

***

Hisashi watched as the group left, flabbergasted at what he had just witnessed. It was the familiar of a battle demon and somehow walked alongside a hellhound without any sort of disgust showing on its features. The thing was truly cursed! They should have killed it as a babe! Only a deceiver would be comfortable in such company! His wife joined him with a hand over her mouth showing her horrified surprise as much as his own.

As they quickly made their way out of the dining hall back to room the questionable school provided, a warlock blocked their path, “You are the parents of Izuku Midoriya?”

With narrowed eyes, Hisashi answered the impolite greeting through his clenched teeth, “I am Hisashi Midoriya and this is my wife, Inko Midoriya. You are?”

“Master Shota Aizawa. I am your son’s homeroom instructor. I wanted to welcome you to the Academy myself. Have been able to visit with him?”

“He has a demon as a familiar!” Inko suddenly voiced in fear. “Why would you allow that!?”

“The Great Spirits chose Bakugo for him and I have no power to question their choices, even a God would respect their decision,” the warlock answered almost sounding bored.

“And the hellhound, what of that!?” Hisashi angrily inquired. “Is he that cursed?!”

“Ah, Toshinori was a gift given to him by one of my other students a week or so ago,” the dark-haired man answered with a lazy wave of his hand, totally ignoring he second question. “The student’s family breeds them and he thought your son might enjoy one as company. Toshinori has already protected Midoriya from two people who tried things against him. He is very loyal guardian.”

“Loyal? Why would anything want to be loyal to Deku?” the fire nymph sneered in annoyance.

A smile that looked fit for the dark realm spread across the warlock’s face, “Oh, dear sir, there are many reasons for many things to be loyal to such a being as Midoriya. He holds the entirety of the dark realm in the palm of his hand. What do you hold but revolting misconceptions and ill-founded superiority?”  

“Excuse me!?” Hisashi snarled. “What in the spirit’s are you talking about!?”

Aizawa then leaned in close, so only Hisashi and Inko could possibly hear, “Dryads aren’t dead and have taken back their rightful name.”

Hisashi took a step back and stared, “You’re insane! That is nonsensical! You speak blasphemies!”

“That’s impossible! How could you say that with a smile?” Inko harshly whispered as she looked around paranoid.

The warlock only shrugged as that crazed smile turned into a small smirk, “Enjoy your time here, Sir and Lady Midoriya. The gala starts promptly at sunset tomorrow. I truly hope to see you there.”

The two nymphs could only stand frozen as the man walked away. If what he said held any truth, that dryads were back in their realm, it meant that dark magic would again taint their perfect society. Janas had been the only stain that had been left behind, such as their own living embarrassment, and now the real thing was back because of said embarrassment. What had it done? Had it dared spread its legs for that demon, welcoming curses back into their kind like the whore it was? Did it expect them to give kind reception to demons entering back into their number like old friends?

No, they would not, Hisashi would make sure of it. That disgusting history of being one with darkness as well with light, of living side by side with those disgusting creatures would stay behind them. Demons were made to be under their feet with their immorality, lust, greed, deception, envy, pride, and destruction. Dryads had forced them to live side by side, creation and destruction, life and death, peace and wrath, like it made them stronger but only made them have to entertain the idea of being equals with things so below them.

It would need to be destroyed once and for all. Deku would breathe its last breath dressed as a sex slave and watch as that demon of his didn’t care less about the loss. It would know how entirely worthless it was as not only its antlers burned, but as every part of its being turned to ash to only to dirty a ballroom floor. It was nothing, nothing but a plaything that had outlived its only purpose.

***

Managing to avoid his parents the rest of the day, other than a few exchanged, less than friendly, glances, Izuku collapsed into Katsuki’s bed for the night. He couldn’t sleep within the realm of light, so close to them even if they were on the other side of the academy grounds. He could practically taste their filth in his mouth and feel their coming death in his veins. His demon, his mate, had not kept from him all he wished for them and theirs when it came to the clan. He knew their fate and felt no fear or remorse for their upcoming deaths. They were probably wishing for his this very same moment.

Tomorrow he would be pampered properly as Midnight put it. She promised to make him feel like the Deity he was and look like a Goddess he was meant to be. Smirking, she had even commented that he would make more heads turn than a fresh pack of succubi and incubi. When he entered the ballroom, no one would question his or his mate’s presence or power.

Izuku let his eyes fall closed as Katsuki climbed over him, hot lips trailing up his naked chest and bare throat. He gave into the pleasure his demon offered so easily, knowing no pain would ever come of it. His clawed fingers touched him so gently, those sharp teeth never drew his blood, and the being of destruction gave him something the furthest from pain, shame, and torture. It grew until there were tears in his eyes and every movement stole his breath, him begging, begging, begging until he cried out in ecstasy as his mate cursed his own fulfillment.

Every night after they came together, Izuku asked the spirits that guarded him for the demon’s seed to take, to allow him to bless Katsuki with an impling or two. The blonde may not think he owed him anything, but he wanted to give him that. The Protogonus wanted to bless the demon with a gift from himself, from the womb his own clan had thought they had forever cursed and a demon had helped heal. Just once, he’d be happy if it happened just once.

***

Toshinori was the one to wake Izuku in the morning, bouncing up and down while spinning in the air and yipping in excitement.  The nymph stretched and then sat up giggling at the hellhound’s antics. The doors to the bed chamber opened only to reveal Katsuki, topless, with a tray full of food and a smug smirk across his face. He sat down on the bed, held the tray in his lap, and picked up slice of apple in offering.

“Let this fucking day of pampering begin,” he playfully growled. “Your fucking bastards of parents won’t know what hit them when we arrive at sunset!”

After a very filling breakfast served in bed, Izuku was led not to Katsuki’s personal bath, but to one within the depths on his family’s mansion, large enough to be a swimming hole. Luminous moss and ferns grew around it that only added to the warm glow of the candles lit throughout the space. Midnight was waiting with special oils and body scrubs, entering the pool with him only after being sure she was permitted. The succubus and battle demon cleansed him and massaged him like he was a precious gem being readied for a king while Toshinori was happy to observe it all.

Once he had climbed out and donned the softest robe he had ever felt against his skin, the pair of demons and hellhound led him to another area of the large manor. It was a the most lavish dressing room Izuku had ever experienced. Within it waited Kirishima, Denki, and Todoroki already snacking on food laid out on a circular table in the middle of the hexagonal space. They wore robes similar to his own and their formal wear hung on three of six dressing screens placed in each of the corners of the room.

Dark imps joined them, doing their hair if they wished, or adding color to their faces if they desired. There was a small part of Izuku that felt guilty, like he didn’t deserve such spoiling, but Katsuki would see the look on his face and rumble how he deserved it and more. When it came time for the five of them to dress, Midnight and Katsuki joined him behind his screen and slipped on each piece like he was delicate crystal that could shatter if they breathed harshly. As the succubus was locked the jeweled, chained collar around his neck, Katsuki left to dress himself. She then moved to slide the jeweled claws onto his fingertips, guiding the connecting chains across the backs of his hands only to clasp the adjoining bracelets around his wrists.

 Midnight smiled as she stepped back, and then led him out into the main part of the room and onto the center pedestal where a pair of imps held a tall, large mirror, “I always add the finishing touches while my clients watch. It’s fulfilling to see their reactions.”

Izuku knew his friends were there staring, but it didn’t feel threatening, but like they were in awe. He saw himself in the dark, sheer, floral robe lined in fur, body hugged by the black and gold body harness of thorned swirls, curving triangles, and metallic blooms and covered in glittering, garden-like jewelry he never knew he could ever wear. Then Midnight came forward with a velvet-lined, walnut box that Izuku knew well and Katsuki emerged in his battle ensemble, looking threatening and intimidating, only to carefully lift the halo crown from its fabric to gently place it in his green-haired head, sliding its charmed chains around his antlers.

Swallowing and looking at the picture he represented, shoeless with rings and anklets adorning his feet to the jeweled, god-like headdress on his head, surrounded in luxuries from the tip of his nose, to the fluff at the end of his tail that he had never dreamed of witnessing let alone wearing, Izuku cried. The tears were bittersweet. This is what the dark realm deemed him worthy of his whole life while the realm he was born into had deemed only worth abuse, neglect and torture. Soon there were words of encouragement spoken from the ones that gathered around him and he was so thankful that he had this opportunity to show the ones who loathed him what he truly was worth.

***

Aizawa waited within the great ball room, with the grand hearth burning brightly and refreshments readied to be served. He watched the family members of students file in first. They were all dressed as distinguished as their children and their familiars would be, some more so than others. The Midoriyas sat at their table with this annoyingly ridiculous air of arrogance about them. He then felt a quiet presence come to stand beside him.

“The village is already burning,” he gently murmured. “My mate is enjoying the chaos.”

Aizawa kept his eyes on the ones still filling the space, “Bakugo’s sire I presume.”

“I am. My name is Masaru and you are the Master the Anointed One speaks of. Am I allowed to join in these festivities?”

“You can. I am sure young Midoriya will enjoy your presence unlike those of his own sire and dam.”

“Yes, I agree with you.” Aizawa finally turned to see an unassuming, brunette demon, dressed in fine robes and understated jewels, and the man turned to him and grinned, “If you could only see how truly ugly they are.”

Students started entering moments later using the two wide staircases. Parents cheered when some did spells and showed off their new partners, others clapped when their son or daughter finally made it to the ballroom floor only to twirl and exaggeratedly bow. It was a happy time although Aizawa kept his eyes on the ones he had longed to destroy for so long. They seemed confused as to why their son had not yet appeared. Denki, Kirishima, and Todoroki’s parents also showed a little concern.

Popping and hissing suddenly came from the large, grand hearth set between the curves of the double staircases. Todoroki emerged first, dressed in robes of royal blue with touches of red and white, bowing only a moment before retreating to the bottom of the right one. Next an exuberant Kirishima and bouncing Denki bound through the flames. Whooping and hollering was heard from the table of weres that had awaited his arrival before they moved to stand at the bottom of the left staircase.

Moments passed and the crowd seemed to think all had arrived until the flames grew overly bright and Bakugo and Toshinori walked through. The demon wore a headdress and armor built for battle, wings spread and tail swinging, before turning and holding out his hand to the roaring fire. Pale fingers, covered in jewels and gold, reached through then, and Izuku Midoriya glided out like a reverent spirit and looking like the goddess of all things fantastical. He stood for moment in front of his demon, the blonde holding either hand, placing a kiss on his temple, before those glorious golden wings of light spread between them.

There were gasps of awe, others offered words of prayer to the spirits, and even some bowed, before a furious, raging voice broke the moment, “HOW DARE YOU DEFY WHAT YOU ARE! A LAIR! A WALKING CURSE! A WHORE! NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT YOU ARE A DISGUSTING JANAS!”

Then Izuku’s voice rang through the hall like a bell, “Oh, but father, I am none of those things. I am a Protogonus, the manifestation of a true Dryad, and the dark realm longs for your and mother’s blood.”

Chapter Text

Scattering like little insects when you pick up a rock and allow light in, the village of nymphs had erupted into chaos when the first platoon of demons charged from the flames of the large fires burning during the cold, winter evening. Mitsuki was grinning ear to ear as some found the courage to actually fight back, but being creatures of peace, they weren’t well practiced in battle. As these disgusting people screamed their agonies and demanded answers, Mitsuki hunted the very water nymphs that had abused the Sacred One. 

Masaru had pointed out the house awash in sin and deviance the night he joined her in observing this cursed piece of forest. Reaching the structure, she heard the family murmuring in hushed tones, thinking hiding would save them. It was curious to think that possibly the only woman of the household didn’t know of the sins in which her sons and mate had taken part. Blasting the door off its hinges, Mitsuki smirked at the family huddled inside.

“I am going to have so much fucking fun killing you.”

“What have we done to deserve this?!” the woman wailed as the battle demon pulled out her jagged dagger. “Why are you monsters here!?”

Mitsuki laughed and then smiled wide as she quietly chanted, “Death, torture, and poverty will meet all who participate in or allow such actions that would try to stain a Chimera, that is the curse of the dark realm.” She then twirled the dagger in her hand and happily announced, “The bastard men of this house participated first hand in such damned events, so they will burn at the fucking stake after I remove their cocks and balls. I’ll let you watch before you die.”

Nothing was spared as the demons fulfilled the curse. Animals ran from the permanent plague falling over the area as the screams of torment only grew. The three male, fully castrated, water nymphs were dragged through the blood-soaked dirt to the epicenter of the violent madness while the wife and mother of them plead for mercy as she tried to keep Mitsuki from her goal. A newly erected, towering, crackling, black and purple flame pyre greeted the cursed family along with furious snarls, growls, and roars filling the space.  No care was taken by the demons tying the men to the stakes made for them, or those throwing flammable pieces of debris at their feet including the bodies of their brethren. 

They stared in horror and the father bellowed through his pain, “What is a Chimera!? How did we stain it!? I don’t understand!”

Mitsuki’s clawed hand slapped the man and she sneered, “Do not say that title. You are not worthy of that word to ever leave your lips. You neglected him, abused him, raped him and you dare act like you deserve a fucking explanation.”

“My husband would never hurt or rape anyone!” the woman cried as she fell to Mitsuki’s feet. “You have the wrong people!”

“Izuku Midoriya,” Mitsuki said with narrowed eyes, “your husband and sons did do such things to him.”

“That was payment! He is a Janus!” the woman screamed in fury before her breath was cut off by the female battle demon grabbing and squeezing her throat.

“I think we need another fucking stake,” was growled out as she threw the female nymph to the ones readying the other three for their deaths.

The screams of anguish from the family that had abused the great deity was music of celebration to the ears of the dark realm. The smell of their burning flesh and the dying clan a potpourri of prophecy accomplished. Only two others still needed to meet their fate whether it was tonight or when they tried to come back to their home. Midnight appeared as the doomed took their last breaths.

“The Anointed One and young Bakugo have left with their friends for the Gala,” the creature of lust informed the demoness as she watched the bodies burn. “I will be joining them shortly, do you wish to come along?”

“I am damn well planning on it, my mate is already there,” Mitsuki responded as she turned to face the succubus.

Midnight grinned.

***

Hisashi was furious. Rage boiled inside of him like a geyser ready to erupt. How dare the wretch show up looking so revoltingly gaudy, like it was some form of royalty. It was nothing, absolutely NOTHING! One could polish a useless stone to make it look like a gem but it would still be worth shit. Deku was a used, disgusting thing no matter how many impressive materials covered it.

Like the fire nymph cared whether the dark realm wanted his blood or not, they would never have it. Demons were dumb, instinct driven creatures. Hisashi knew he was intelligent and they had weaknesses, even to fire if used right. He watched them, the ugly hellhound and the uglier battle demon, as they snarled in his direction. He lifted his lip in repulsion, they were so primitive. 

Leaving their assigned table, Hisashi kissed the still seated Inko on her head, and smirked as he spoke, “Deceiving people is something your kind are so good at, Deku. Although, thinking you can make others believe such nonsense is still quite comical. Tell me, how many demons did you fuck to earn such faux reverence?”

“HOW DARE YOU!” a voice boomed from behind him and the fire nymph turned to see a mountain of a man, with ice cold, blue eyes and flames curling off his shoulders and face, sneering at him. “He IS the deity he speaks of. Nothing can create or grow wings like that, and then you dare insult him repeatedly! I have been waiting for a Sacred One to rise up and here, you call him such disgusting things!”

Hisashi grinned mockingly, “I am sure it’ll spread its legs for you too. It’s not like it isn’t used to it.”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” the battle demon from before roared. “You call us demons when you do things we wouldn’t even dare to dream of doing to such a being. The only reason you are not yet a shitty blood stain on the floor is because I have no want to ruin this fucking gala for everyone else. You and your dumb wife will meet your fates soon enough.”

Turning back, he witnessed the furious, blonde demon holding back the hellhound by its collar as it kept rearing up. Hisashi grinned wider at the dumb display until his thing , walked forward, beautiful, sheer, fur lined robe dragging behind with shining wings folded. 

Then it spoke, “Father, silence yourself. You are only embarrassing your people or are you blind to the faces of everyone around you?”

“You have no authority over me!”

“ I do in this setting, and I swear, if you don’t shut up, I will kick you and your wife out into the blizzard that began a short while ago,” the warlock warned as his hair lifted and eyes glowed with his magic. 

Hisashi forced his mouth to stay shut but lifted his chin in silent defiance. Deku then passed by him without a single glance in his direction. Its head wasn’t bowed in shame, nor was it shaking in any way. No, it walked with grace and purpose, heading for what seemed to be another demon in attendance with brunette hair and copper eyes and that damned warlock.

“Sire Masaru,” it said with a smile, “may we sit with you? Those people are not my blood any longer.”

The demon’s smile was so soft it made Hisashi want to vomit, “Of course, Anointed One. Mitsuki will also be attending with Midnight.” The demon turned to the warlock, “Do you happen to have an extra table?”

Hisashi glared as this new demon waited with his head bowed until Deku started moving towards the empty table offered and followed behind like the wretch deserved worship. It was disgusting. Then he suddenly jumped to the side as sharp teeth grabbed his robes and tugged, ripping off chunks of fabric, and covering them in acidic drool. The Hellhound sounded like it chuckled while being kept from repeating the action by the battle demon who smirked at the fire nymph’s ruined formal wear on their way to join the revolting Janus. 

“What in the winds of the Spirits is happening?” Hisashi murmured in angry annoyance as he watched them sit, Deku being adored like a fucking goddess of beauty. 

More loud pops came from the hearth, and he turned to see a female battle demon enter with a headdress and battle gear just as overstated as the other of her kind and a Succubus with her, dressed similar to the thing but more simply. They both walked past him without so much as acknowledging him as he stood tall. He growled under his breath, wondering when the realm had become so utterly backwards.

***

Katsuki was beyond amused watching that bastard of nymph look like he had entered another plane of existence with how confused, furious, and downright childish he looked mumbling to himself as he turned to walk back to rejoin his wife. He knew this calm was one that came before a deadly storm, doubting the man could handle not being the center of attention, especially when he noticed Kirishima’s and Todorki’s family moving to meet Izuku. A flaming fist met his table and even his mink, little, nymph of a wife glared as the werewolves touched their foreheads to the back of his promised’s hand in respect and Todoroki’s demon father bowed so low before him.

Toshinori had to snap at his former master when the hellfire demon tried to get too close to the Protogonus. His cambion son quickly stood between his father and Izuku, glaring at the man. He narrowed his eyes at them, stood, and left but Katsuki also knew that wouldn’t be the last of him either. The man seemed set on figuring out if there was a way to claim the Goddess of Creation as his.

His dam, his sire, and Midnight, although seeming to enjoy being around Izuku and the ones he valued, were studying the room like a battlefield. He saw it in the way they discussed different races occupying different tables. They all were aware of the fragile atmosphere this ballroom now held.  Being observant of all of these things was easy, figuring out when this cobweb-thin calm would rip was the hard part.

The headmaster of the school then announced dinner would be served. Imps of the light realm came filing in through the side doors of the ballroom pushing carts that held enough plates of food for each table. Thankfully, all ate peacefully, enjoying conversation with those around them. Mitsuki was quick to inform her son of the village's doom, providing any details he asked for. Izuku listened silently as he ate and freeing relief filled his heart. 

He would never have to return there to fear that publicly outing himself would allow the clan to use him like the town whore. He wouldn’t ever have to see the family that raped him for a year ever again. No other being would face abuse by any of them in the name of disgusting cultural practices. They were gone, all evidence of them wiped from the earth to be only a cursed patch in a forest. He felt like he could finally, truly breathe. 

Feeling a hand softly squeeze his shoulder, Izuku turned to see Masaru studying him with a small smile, “Is all well? You have been very quiet.”

Izuku blinked and then turned to look at where his mother and Father sat, “Just thinking is all.”

The demon hummed and followed the Sacred One’s line of sight, “That is understandable. They will also pay for their crimes soon.”

“Yes, Kacchan has told me. It is sad to know even as they face their fate, they will still feel justified in all they did and allowed to happen. I am an embarrassment to my father and the thing that took away my mother’s chance for a true child,” the Protogonus responded. “Will death even be a fitting punishment for them? They were supposed to be the two people I could trust the most and they threw me away when the opportunity presented itself.”

“If you could see their hearts, Sacred One, you would see how clouded they are with unearned pride and unwavering greed. You dressed the way you are is also causing both to envy,”  the male demon explained. “There is no light within them, only darkness.”

“And yet, they call Toshi, Kacchan, Mitsuki, and you beings of darkness,” Izuku mumbled as he turned back to his plate to have another bite.

Masaru chuckled, “Yes, well, we do live in that realm, but our environment does not define our hearts.”

As the guests finished their meals, music began to fill the room and Aizawa stood in front of the staircases, “This is the time where the students and their familiars are welcome to demonstrate anything they wish. The floor is open.”

Within a few moments beautiful spells were being performed by a girl and her female siren, the familair’s song making the fiery butterflies glide in jaw-dropping patterns.  When her act was done and the applause ended, next Tetsutetsu and Kirishima took to the floor. Their familiars stood off to the side cheering them on as they play fought in their were forms. Another pair made beautiful illusions, and yet another manipulated water. When Todoroki took the floor, a lanky boy his age stood at his side and a huge web of silk extended from the floor to the high painted ceiling that responded to the cambion’s ice or fire.

The moment Izuku made the decision to perform, all three demons and his hellhound followed. He carefully shrugged off his robe and handed it to Midnight while Masaru and Mitsuki walked through the hearth only to return with a group of dark imps carrying three types of drums, a woodwind, and a stringed instrument that looked similar to a guitar. Izuku smiled as he spread his wings and the imps settled to begin playing.

The music started slow, just one drum holding the beat, and only the nymph’s hips moving to the rhythm. As more instruments were added, it picked up tempo and more of his body became involved. The chains on Izuku’s ankles and feet jingled merrily and the jewelry he wore glittered and shined with his movements. His wings glowed more brightly with his joy.

Feeling his parents glares on him, most likely for dancing in a way they perceived immodest, his grin widened. He stopped his twirling, having his hips keep the fast rhythm, and motioned with his gold-tipped fingers for Katsuki to join him. The battle demon’s moves were more about the undertones of the music, a background to Izuku’s melody and made the dance that much more sensual. It wasn’t perverse, just suggestive. 

As Izuku lifted his jeweled hands over his head, he kept his eyes on his parents. With his demon behind him and his wings down, Katsuki’s clawed fingers glided up his sides and nose was tucked against the Protogonus’ neck as they swayed. Emerald eyes watched as a flaming hand clenched atop his parent’s table, and his mother looked scandalized. The dance ended with him spinning to face Katsuki, only to bend back so far, his mate’s hold was the only thing keeping him from toppling over when all the drums were struck one final time.

It seemed as though all were holding their breaths until Kirishima and Denki screamed and clapped. Then the hall exploded with applause and Katsuki lifted Izuku up so the nymph could bow before Midnight helped his back into his robe. The Protogonus smiled as a blush covered his cheeks and made his way back to his table. Halfway there, Toshinori suddenly jumped on top of a table beside him, snarling at the same time leathery wings wrapped around him. Then he felt it through the thin membrane of Katsuki’s wings, burning heat. 

The sound of dishes falling and breaking as claws jumped from table to table filled Izuku’s ears, at the same time screams echoed through the hall. Mitsuki was cursing and Masaru was suddenly with him, under Katsuki’s wings, shielding him even more. As Izuku clung to his mate, the brunette demon was speaking to his battle demon son in Enochian, the blonde answering with angry growls and snarls. One of Katsuki swords, ready to be set aflame, appeared within his clawed hand at the same moment the Protogonus was yanked from safety by his ankles.

Screaming, he looked down to see vines tangled around his feet. They were gray and ashy, as if they should be deteriorating in seconds. The very idea of plant life looking tainted in such a way and yet surviving made Izuku’s fear rise. He tried grabbing anything he passed to stop or, at least, slow his momentum. Ice suddenly froze, then shattered the vines. Denki was there in moments, helping him up while a huge, black werewolf and Katsuki were a living wall in front of him. 

“I didn’t know your parents were so powerful!” the kitsune exclaimed as he pulled Izuku back to where Masaru stood, watching the battle that was taking place with sharp eyes.

With his own eyes on the chaos that was erupting, the new deity was amazed with all who were fighting. Not only Kirishima, but werewolves from both Tetsutetsu and his own pack were doing their best to avoid black flames and ashy, violent vegetation. Shouto and his familiar were within the fray, trying to capture the enemy with fiery nets of magic silk or frozen webbing. Denki had also joined, grabbing a twisting branch, sparks flying down its bark, to try his chance at ending this insane calamity.  Katsuki, his mother, Toshinori, and Midnight were on the frontlines, their attacks stunning and injuring his parents enough to create openings. Even the hellfire demon that was Shouto’s father was defending him.

It was a sight to see and seemed absolutely nonsensical. Denki's statement rang in Izuku’s head like a warning bell, how were his parents that powerful? He knew his father’s flames could grow hot, exceeding so, and his mother’s control of flowering plant life had spoken of how well she communicated with it so long ago, but this? He had never experienced his father being able to throw flames darker than the night or his mother’s creations being anything other than green with health. What was happening?

Then, for a split second, he saw them clearly amongst it all, standing back to back, expensive, formal robes ripped, shredded, and covered in something that looked like liquid pitch as they fought. He barely recognized them. Both their eyes were as black as tar, their fingers just as dark, and the veins underneath their skin appeared the same. When his father smiled as someone screamed, his teeth appeared to be stained with ink. It was as if some sort of blight was consuming them while, at the same time, making them hemorrhage the deepest, blackest of magic from darkened blood.

As the violent conflict went on, werewolves were getting burned, others choked with vines without mercy, and the rest tried their best to fight off the two nymphs who were causing it. Shouto and his father’s flames withstood the onslaught but Izuku could see them tiring. When the cambion used ice, it was to shield any that were about to be in harm’s way but only lasted moments before black flames consumed it. Denki was nimble and quick, but the fur on his tails had been burned off and Izuku could see him slow with every attack he threw. Sero was doing his best to help from above, quickly pulling those too injured to continue to safety. The ones built for battle or distraction were the ones still holding their own, but how long would that last?

“What the in the spirits have they done!?” Aizawa yelled as he finished setting up a barrier with Masaru for those that had no reason or want to join the fight. “They are insane!”

Izuku turned to him, ears straight up and alert as he cried back, “Their magic has never been like this! I don’t understand!”

The warlock turned towards his student, teeth gritted with hair floating and eyes alight, “They have sold their souls to true darkness, the Skotos, magic even demons don’t dare touch. It may make them powerful, and promises glory and victory, but with it comes consequences not even The Great Spirits can save one from, only a god.”

There was a scream of agony and then Denki was flying back between them only to slam against the back wall. His tails were nothing but smoking stumps as he slumped and then fell to the floor. Kirishima was limping after him, covered in burns and cuts, whining at the sight, Toshinori doing his best to help hold him up. More werewolves followed, Midnight joining them, crawling with one of her arms hanging lifelessly.  A bloodied Shouto, with the spider form of injured Sero in his hands, and his father came to stand with the Protogonus and warlock as Mitsuki and Katsuki continued to fight, both watching the battle carry on terrified.

“They have chosen a fate worse than death,” the cambion’s father whispered.

“They have given themselves over to the Skotos,” Shouto murmured. “Their souls are gone. Even if they win this, they will be fed on for all eternity below even the dark realm.”

Katsuki suddenly bellowed. Not a curse, a taunt, or a threat, but a sound so pained Izuku's head whipped back to the scene to see multiple thorny vines piercing through him. His mother was in the same state, blood dripping from both their mouths as they still snarled and growled at the new, revolting forms of his parents. Izuku had never seen his mother look so downright evil in his life, and his father was what he pictured in his darkest nightmares. Seeing them face off against his mate and a mother truer than his own, Izuku felt something inside him manifest and blossom.

“YOU ARE DONE HERE,” came from his vocal cords as an eerie echo, as if every tone of his voice from the time he could talk until that very moment were speaking at once. He rose up from the floor without a single downsweep of his wings even as he spread them, shining like the full moon on a clear night, “YOU HAVE SIGNED YOUR CONTRACT WITH THOSE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DEALT WITH AND YOU WILL PAY MORE THAN THE PRICE THEY HAVE ASKED FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE TO MY FRIENDS AND TO ME IN PAST. FIRST, HOWEVER, I WILL OFFER THOSE I LOVE MY HELP.”

Izuku watched the fire nymph with eyes steadfast and uncaring as the man sneered in his direction. Those inky, stained teeth clenched together like some rapid dog before his lips spread into a wide smile and he sent an explosion of burning, black flames towards him. With a wave of the deity’s jeweled hand, the flames died like they were but the weak tongue of fire of a single candlestick. Following quickly behind, thick, woody, tainted vines came from all sides to entrap him. The glaring female nymph commanded them with forceful words but they were wrestled down by his own, blooming, vines that came to his aid without a thought in his mind or a word leaving his mouth. He only snapped his fingers and the ballroom floor exploded into blooms so bright and fragrant one would not believe it was winter.

The two nymphs below him expected it to be an attack, but instead all the damage caused to the people who had fought for him healed to perfection and then some. The werewolves all now had thicker fur coats of new shades, Denki had gained another tail, and Midnight now sported feathered, jetblack wings. The moment Mistuki was freed and healed was the same in which she felt the magic that fueled her grow into something even more fierce than before. When she turned to her son she had to step back a few strides at the sight.

He stood beside her, horns more menacing than before with a flaming crown floating around them. His tail was longer, with spines that looked ready to pierce any hide, and every one of his claws looked like metallic blades. The sword he held was blazing, burning with fire that was an unnatural shade of orange, sparking with wild magic. Though, it was his eyes that were the most unsettling. They were still a fierce, deadly scarlet but looking at them made one feel a fury, rage, and vengeance that would devour one whole.

Masaru came to stand between them with a delighted grin on his face, “The goddess has shown his true self and he is glorious!”

“He truly is,” Katsuki agreed as he looked up to his mate whose wings lazily flapped while he stared down on the two that used to be his parents. “I wonder what he has in store for the damned.”

“HISASHI AND INKO MIDORIYA, NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE DEVOURED FOR ALL ETERNITY BY YOUR OWN DESIRE FOR POWER AND PRIDE, BUT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR, SEE, OR SPEAK TO EACH OTHER AGAIN, NOR BE ABLE TO SCREAM YOUR AGONIES AND BE AWARE OF THOSE THAT TORTURE YOU. THE ONLY THING THAT I WILL ALLOW YOU IS TO SMELL THE SCENT OF DEATH,” Izuku announced from overhead, a finality to his words that could not be argued. “I, IZUKU, DEITY OF LIGHT, GOODNESS, PROCREATION, AND NEW LIFE, TRUSTED HOLDER OF THE KEYS OF CREATION AND RULER OF THE REALM OF GODS, DECREE THIS UNTIL THE END OF TIME.”

Suddenly, the syrupy blackness that was now the two damned nymphs’ blood, consumed their eyes, ate away their tongues, and flowed from their ears as they tried to voice their pain, but only gurgling to managed to escape their throats. Writhing in their own filth, their very bodies betrayed them, limbs twisting and contorting to fit tightly against their frames before terrifying shadows began darting across the ballroom, only to converge on their forms with menacing laughter. They were dragged below within a few breaths, through portals of shadows and despair, never to be heard from or seen again.

The ballroom that had been covered in flowers, was abruptly smooth and spotless with no evidence of what had transpired before the deity floating above fell from the air. Katsuki moved quickly to catch him, gently brushing curls from the beautiful beings face, only to see he slept. He leaned down to kiss a freckled cheek and murmur words of adoration as others ventured close to come see him. Their eyes were wide, truly understanding they were looking at the face of someone not of this realm, or the one below, but a place where most others couldn’t touch. The Winter Solstice Gala had served a greater purpose, it had been Izuku's true awakening.

***

After three days, Izuku awoke in Katsuki’s chambers of the Bakugo manor.  As he stared at the familiar ceiling, his mind reviewed the events of the Gala in shattered pieces. Understanding flooded his mind in a way he had never experienced before, like others within another realm were guiding him through every little detail, explaining the rhyme and reason for all that took place. The Skotos had played a major role in his parents demise but somehow, also his existence.

He allowed his head to roll to one side only to see Katsuki resting in a high backed chair with a large book in his lap. Emerald eyes watched as the crown of flames burned lazily around those spiraling horns, seeming to give hints to the demon’s dreams. It was oddly calming to know that if that were real, then so were his parents’ fates. With a smile, he sighed as he watched his lover sleep.

“You’re awake,” was whispered softly from the other side of the bed.

Izuku rolled his head the other direction to be met by Shouto, in a second chair, watching him closely and so he murmured, “I am.”

The cambion moved from the chair to kneel beside the bed, his cupped hands releasing the noticeably larger, Jorōgumo Sero who creeped across the blanket to get comfortable on Izuku’s chest. Freeing a hand from where it was tucked into warmth, Izuku ran a finger gently down the back of the black, yellow, and white spider. 

“He wanted to thank you for healing him and making him a stronger protector,” Shouto spoke as he watched them. “I also wanted to thank you for what you did for me. I have noticed my ice and fire can reach even greater extremes but, you didn’t have to free my mother from her own mind.”

“I have parents now that love me for who I am and I thought you deserved at least one who did too,” the Protogonus replied with a grin as Sero began his trek into his antlers. “It’s the least I could do but what happened with your father? I am surprised he didn’t try to take more advantage of the situation once I was helpless.”

A quiet laugh left his bicolored friend’s lips, “After he witnessed what you did to your own parents, he didn’t dare try to touch you.”

“Even if he did, I would have fucking killed him,” a low, sleeply rumble added as Katsuki leaned over Izuku and kissed his forehead. “I am glad you are awake. Both furballs have been switching off with Half n’ Half here hoping to be the one to see you awake first and Toshinori has been pacing the manor because he is anxious with you resting so long. All three of them will probably make their way back here soon.”

“I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I am sorry.”

The battle demon smirked, “You apologizing for getting some fucking rest after you did what you did, that’s amusing. Don’t fret, little nymph, all is well.”

Suddenly, the sound of heavy paws sprinting down the outer corridor had everyone’s heads turning only to see Toshinori dart through the door to jump on the bed. He whined and whimpered as he low-crawled on top of Izuku with his whip-like tail wagging against the blankets and his ears lowered as he sniffed him in concern. Petting him and scratching him here and there, around heavier scales, the deity made sure the hellhound knew he was fine.

That lasted only a few moments before Denki and Kirishima tumbled through the door, panting for breath, “That damn hellhound is fast! Holy shit. I would have shifted but I really like these clothes.”

Izuku couldn’t help but laugh at the now red-haired werewolf and four-tailed Denki. They crowded around him, telling of all that had happened as he slept. The school was on a two week, winter break and the gossip mill was running full steam. Seemed students from other years didn’t believe what had transpired since no evidence was left in the ballroom and that timid, little Izuku had any part in it.

***

Once his friends left, and only Toshinori and Katsuki remained, Izuku climbed from the bed to bathe. His mate joined him, leaving the hellhound to make sure no one entered their room, to wash him carefully and whisper loving words into his skin. The Protogonus returned the favor, praising his demon and washing his hair until sweet kisses turned into more. He climbed into his lap, golden wings shaking with his want, and Katuki offered himself as his large hands wandered the length of his nymph’s body. Too soon they were panting into each other’s mouths.

Rocking his hips, Katsuki’s strong arms wrapped around him with one hand holding the back of his head while the other guided him, Izuku moaned as the demon’s wet mouth nipped and licked his neck. A surprised gasp left his lips when his mate thrust up into him with the next roll of their bodies, only to whimper when he withdrew again. With his fingers tangled in blonde hair, Izuku begged for more, so much more. It was delicious torture, feeling so good it almost hurt. By the time they both came, tears were falling from the Protogonus’ eyes as his body trembled and nails clung to broad shoulders. Katsuki was growling into his neck, holding him still as he knot was milked with every aftershock of his mate’s orgasm. 

They didn’t leave the demon’s chamber for another few hours, enjoying the intimate moments they shared with every worry now freed from their minds. There was no one left to come for Izuku in hatred and no one Katsuki felt threatened his mate’s existence. Everything was safe and all had been righted. The only thing that remained was for the nymph to find out his true origin.

***

Katsuki led Izuku to one of the smaller, more secluded dining halls of the manor where his parents were waiting. After much research and diligent cross referencing, they had found some information that they were certain the Sacred One needed to know. His disgusting parents had done something horrible by dealing with the Skotos but the greatest of things came from it.

Pulling out his mate’s chair, the battle demon could sense the tension in his promised. He knew something was different about this dinner than the others. Katsuki leaned down to kiss him softly to help calm him, before he sat down at his side. His dam and sire offered kind greetings and smiles as the food was brought in and Izuku murmured his own with a questioning lit. Taking the beautiful being’s hand in his own, Katsuki cleared his throat.

“Izuku, there is something we realized after everything that fucking happened and we thought you should know. It concerns your parents’ involvement with the Skotos.”

Izuku swallowed, “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, dear,” Mitsuki replied. “It just answers many damn questions we, in the dark realm, have had. You see, an Anointed One isn’t supposed to rise up without some sort of demonic entity nearby, hopefully one that will fucking guide it through it’s inverses or tests. You, sadly, had no such fortune.”

Marasu nodded, “A deal with a Skotos is an odd thing. It can be struck and then lay dormant for years, even decades, until those who asked for their power, call upon it. Some think they can trick the darkest of beings using this very fact against them, as Skotos will refuse to allow those they own to die before they can collect, thus if one can forever resist the temptation of immense power, one could be immortal.”

Then taking Izuku’s hands, Katsuki spoke, “Knowing all this damn shit means, your parents stuck a deal with something worse than the very things they fucking hated before your were even conceived and those beings were the demonic presence that brought about your creation. Your revolting mother, father, and village never had any hope of being good, because the presence of Skotos stains all it can touch, which was everything there, accept the soul of of fucking deity.”

“That is why all I saw was blackness there and in their hearts,” Marasu continues. “I thought it was just your former people’s immense pride and arrogance, but the underlying factor was indeed Skotos. You were marked for a life of pain and suffering before even leaving the womb.”

“Nothing, absolutely fucking nothing, was in anyway was your fucking fault,” Katsuki announed as his lips touched the back of one of his promised’s hands. “Your parents were literally the curse on your life and your village. You were the beacon that brought us there to deliver it. I am sorry you had to go through so fucking much but the Great spirits brought me to you and allowed you the opportunity to doom all that wronged you.”

Chapter Text

When Izuku strolled through one of the hearths into the dining hall with Toshinori and Katsuki at his side the following day, he hadn’t expected everyone’s eyes to suddenly be on him. He was wearing an outfit Midnight had put together that was warm and plush along with jewelry in his antlers and ears because his mate had insisted. When he looked back to the battle demon, that flaming crown was burning bright, like a proud bonfire on a winter’s night. 

Kirishima, Denki, and Shouto quickly walked up to them, welcoming them back to the school and showing them to the table they had saved. Izuku ate, offering meat every now and then to Toshi, while feeling the stares and hearing the whispers. It felt like deja vu except the things being said were in a totally different vein than the first time he had eaten among all the students sitting on Katsuki’s lap. He grinned as he chewed.

“They said his voice can echo like the most powerful of specters and he can heal the wounded.”

“I heard he can glow like the moon and make flowers bloom with a look.”

“Demons bow to him, they say, even the most powerful.”

“They said he’s a goddess! He doomed his own parents to the deepest darkness!”

“It’s all fucking true,” Katsuki replied as he observed the four who were discussing such things. “My flower has bloomed in the ashes of his enemies and he is glorious.”

Giggling at his demon’s statement, Izuku then turned to kiss him without shame. Denki and Kirishima whooped in celebration and Toshinori yipped while Shouto just smiled as he chewed. The atmosphere felt so different now, with much of the negative judgement turned to awe and friends that were more like family. The nymph had a feeling his last years at the school would be more fulfilling than any of the previous.

As they finished their meal, they received a summons from one of the academy imps to go see Master Aizawa. Izuku, Katsuki and their hellhound parted ways with their friends as they headed to the warlock’s office. When they entered, the man’s desk was piled high with books from his shelves while he held another six in his arms. He was looking over one opened on top of the pile end then he grinned when he noticed his student, the battle demon, and the guardian with them. 

“Bakugo mentioned that he thought you’d like to research more about the Skotos and how they most likely allowed you to exist. I also found more on what you are under many different titles and names,” the warlock began as he walked around his cluttered desk to drop the books he held into Katsuki’s claws. “These are the first six books with the most relevant information but all the books you see on my desk have something about you or Skotos.”

Izuku looked at all the books wide-eyed, “What do you mean different names and titles?”

“Every culture has a legend or folklore about you. Most believe your kind never truly existed, that you were just some fantastical being made up to give hope to this realm,” Master Aizawa answered. “So many have been praying and waiting for you to become reality.”

Swallowing, Izuku felt tears catch on his eyelashes, “But, that, it doesn’t make sense.”

Shifting the books to one arm, Katsuki pulled his nymph close, “How can you say that after all you have fucking done? You are truly a damn goddess, a being some only dream of seeing and yet a chosen few get the privilege of your companionship and friendship. You are fucking miraculous.”

Then he was crying, sobbing because he knew what his mate said was true but it still felt like the most out-of-reach dream. How could he, the most scorned person of his village, his culture, be something so great? They had literally cursed his body, gave him nothing but pain, and wished for his death. Yet, here he was in this very moment, a being that could rain down blessings or distribute curses with a loving mate and group of friends. It was overwhelming in the most wonderful ways.

After staying in Master Aizawa’s office for hours, Izuku trying to absorb as much information there as possible,  they headed back to their room taking as many books as they could carry. The excerpts of information from each book became the Protogonus’ bedtime stories, his demon reading them quietly, out loud as he fell asleep. The nymph read them with every meal, his friends taking interest in what they could learn including Toshinori, tilting his head this way and that with every sentence. Once the school’s winter break was over and classes began again, he always had at least one volume hidden away in his bag for any free time that might be available.

With the start of classes after the gala, Izuku realized much more about himself. As subject after subject that was taught, it was more like review than new information. Ancient languages came to him like he had spoken them his entire life, the understanding of once foreign words easily in reach within his mind. He had even called a demon imp to himself without thought, asking for one of the deep blue dragon fruits he had only eaten within Katsuki’s home, Enochian falling from his tongue like common language. Spells that used to be a challenge were mere child’s play and the knowledge of those and much more were stored within him.

Months passed and Izuku grew into what he had become, his wings more often out than hidden. As winter melted into spring, magic flowed from him at times without his knowledge, paths of wildflowers marking his path through the halls. His clothing changed with him, light fabrics and glittering jewelry covering him often, and when it grew warm enough, he rarely wore shoes. He felt less of a nymph and more of something else. He looked at those that used to be his kind and felt less connection with them than before. They were beautiful beings but he noticed their vices and downfalls all the more.

He learned that the Skotos existed to absorb the darkness of the realms so it never overtook the light. Izuku could not be touched because he was the opposite, made to absorb light and turn it into life. A Protogonus was considered the bridge between the two planes because, even with that ability, they could know both. With life came death and with creation came destruction. His parents had already allowed darkness to consume their hearts before making a deal with the deepest darkness, and the only thing to balance such a deal was for one of light to be born.

Spring turned into summer and the long break between school years began. Izuku spent the time traveling within the dark and light realms with Katsuki and Toshinori. He visited Kirishima’s pack who showered him with gifts and celebrations. He met Shouto’s mother and his siblings who treated him with utter reverence. Denki made sure the sacred being met his own family of kitsunes, all of them filled with excitement that a deity had finally come to walk among the different planes. He matured in ways he never expected and when the next school year started, he wasn’t just shy Izuku. He was the long lost Deity of Creation found.

Katsuki still sat among the rafters with Denki while Toshinori snoozed under the long desk the Protogonus shared with Kirishima. Those were the only things that were the same, however, many of the instructors began to ask Izuku if he had any more information on the subject being discussed. He would offer whatever insight the endless knowledge continually growing within him offered. It was an odd balance, still being a student when facts and events he never knew before or experienced were whispered within his spirit making him feel an eternity older.

When the newest students managed to see the deity, demon king, hellhound, blessed shapeshifter, four-tailed kitsune, and cambion all walking through the halls together, they gave a wide berth. The gossip of the Winter Solstice Gala had reached many towns and villages far and wide and to see those who had been very much a part of it was akin to witnessing creatures only known in legends and fairy tales. There were a few that dared to try to touch Izuku’s glowing feathers only to receive the ire of all that surrounded him so closely. A very few nymphs still looked at him with disdain but they kept most of their prejudice to themselves. 

The next two school years came and went, the newest students always curious about who Izuku and his close friends were and what they could do. By the time he  graduated at the age of twenty-one, he felt as old as Katsuki. Most of the beings his age seemed so ignorant of life, fretting over things that bore no true meaning to the threads being woven into the fabric of their lives. Kirishima, Denki, and Shouto were the exceptions, growing with him in an odd sort of way. Toshinori was his shadow always, learning what things the Protogonus needed when and keeping anyone who wished him harm in any way as far from his presence as possible.

Katsuki roamed the halls like a loud, vicious guardian on most days, being sure nothing malevolent ever entered the academy. He had become one of the first being visitors and students met as they entered the school at the beginning of the year and during special occasions, sitting above the entrance observing each and every one of them. Of course, Izuku usually sat among the trees, hidden from view, just quietly people watching as Toshi lounged under their branches. Seeing his mate so protective of the one place that offered him solace made the deity feel a peace deep within his spirit.

***

They had arrived only a week before, to settle into their rooms and learn the campus. Across Cultures was their first class of the day and was already odd. It was in its own little building, between the  Intermediate section and the Finishing school, and looked like a natural greenhouse that reeked of organic magic. It was two stories tall, the upper floor appearing to be someone’s quarters, and constructed of the same huge, magical trees of the sacred hallway. Gifts of all kinds hung from their branches such as mystic chimes, glowing volcanic glass, metallic griffin feathers, bright dragon scales, sharp werewolf claws, and burning lanterns. 

Opening the doors, it was like entering a hidden grove. There were no desks, but among the blooms and stained glass were areas to sit within soft grass as fruit dangled from the limbs that were within the structure. At the front was an ornate burning hearth, with large bookcases on either side filled to the brim with volumes, and a blanket and pillow filled cocoon of a chair that hung from a large bough that crossed the peaked ceiling. More gifts also hung above, as butterflies and exotic looking hummingbirds flew through the air. It was something that would fill one’s dreams but rarely became a reality.

The students carefully wandered in, sitting where they found room and waited. It appeared as if no one was there to teach until the flames of the hearth suddenly grew bright. With some hissing and crackling, a huge, terrifying, blonde demon stepped through with a burning crown, the same one that had watched them arrive, only to turn back and hold his hand within the fire. Soon, he pulled through another being, with wings aglow, blooming antlers growing from green hair, greener eyes, a playful, tufted tail, and a round stomach that was evidence of pregnancy. Both were dressed like fantastical royalty in lush fabrics and glittering jewelry.

The demon led the one heavy with child to the dangling chair and carefully helped them get comfortable within it, arranging the blankets and pillows just so. They thanked him, raising their arms to pull him in for a kiss. Softly smiling, the creature of darkness then kissed the other’s forehead before spreading his large, leathery wings and springing into the air to find a spot to lounge on the thick branch above. Some of the students were startled, suddenly noticing three others were among the branches, a shapeshifter, a kitsune, and one with white and red hair.

“Hello everyone,” a voice rang through the green house and all turned to the one comfortably seated as a hellhound walked around their chair before jumping into it with them. “I am Izuku Midoriya, a Protogonus and Deity of Balance. My mate is Katsuki, the great battle demon, and my friends are Kirishima, the Alpha of his pack, Denki, his Kitsune mate, and Shouto, the cambion, with his Jorōgumo familiar, Sero, you may get to see if you’re lucky. I am your instructor but we will all be helping you learn each other’s culture so you may know the truth of what you are within the fabric of history.”

The hellhound then yipped and gave a playful growl that had the instructor giggling, “Oh, and this is Toshinori. He is here to keep me as safe as possible since I am pregnant. Sometimes I forget to introduce him since he is almost always as near to me as possible, almost as much as Kacchan, um, Katsuki. Anyway, if you have any questions, you are welcome to ask them.”

A hand slowly rose into the air after a few moments, and Master Izuku nodded their head in permission, “If I can ask, what are you? I do not know what a Protogonus is and I have never heard of a Deity of Balance.”

A smile spread across their face, “Well, I am known by many names and titles, but I started off as an unusual nymph, something the light realm referred to as a Janus and the dark realm named a Chimera. I became what I am today through many trials and tests, which some call a Deity of Creation, The Holder of the Keys of the World, or simply an ancient Dryad.”

A student suddenly stood, eyes wide, as he held a picked apple in his hands, “My parents told me your kind was extinct.”

“We were, and that’s the history that will be shared during your first class so you may understand how one culture filled with a great darkness, such as arrogant pride, can wipe out another that so many adore.”

***

Aizawa smiled when he peeked into Izuku’s classroom on the first day of class for this school year. After graduating, the young goddess seemed reluctant to leave to the place that had offered him hope, so the warlock had asked if he ever thought of becoming an instructor. Having no idea what the new deity would teach, he still knew the Protogonus would thrive in such a position. He had something about him that drew people in and it wasn’t just his blooming antlers or glowing wings. People listened when he spoke and he had such important lessons to pass on to future generations.

The building of his own classroom and addition of his own curriculum had been a welcomed surprise. The school’s elders had needed no real convincing before Izuku began teaching incoming students more about the world around them. With the knowledge the deity shared, the young beings became more aware of what exactly they were studying. It wasn’t just magic and how it applied to their lives, it was living history. Kirishima, Denki, Shouto, and Sero also asking to stay to assist the deity in instructing was another thing unexpected but not denied.  They were a good team, especially now that Izuku was a little limited with his growing condition.

As Aizawa turned to walk away with a small smile on his face, Hizashi landed on his shoulder, “I still think the impling will be a girl! I know they will! I have a sense with these things!”

Rolling his eyes, the warlock replied, “Right. Because that is a talent so many sirens like yourself are known for, not the singing.”

Squawking in offence, the creature turned to Aizawa, “Are you calling me a liar?!”

“No. I just think you claim things you wish were true. Even if the brat is a girl, it’s a fifty-fifty chance. It wouldn’t be that impressive,” Aizawa smirked. “It’d be about as impressive as your voice.”

Hizashi couldn’t even speak for the next ten minutes as they made their way to their own classroom. Squawking at the warlock angrily,  he flitted around his familair’s head as the man laughed. The instructor enjoyed knowing that his once downtrodden student was flourishing so well and felt like he could enjoy himself more freely. Making fun of Hizashi was one of the best ways of doing so.

***

Lunch hour began and Katsuki was carefully carrying a half-dozing Izuku up the hidden set of stairs behind the bookcase. He would cook something once his promised got a proper nap. Having a longer lunch period than most with the pregnancy, he could sleep for a bit before he ate. Slowly pulling the blankets back with his tail, he gently laid his mate within the nest he had created in the corner of their quarters here in the realm of light, vines and flowers extending over him like a canopy.

Unable to stop himself, Katsuki knelt beside his beautiful deity of a beloved, just to lay a clawed hand ever so softly on where their impling grew. He was still in awe of being blessed so much, first with Izuku and now with the little life they had created. It had taken over a decade but it was worth the wait. The demon knew, even if the curse had been removed the first year they met, his promised’s womb needed time to recover. The day Izuku had realized he had conceived had been one of bittersweet joy.

Last school year, as all were eating dinner within the dining hall, the Protogonus had grabbed a pitcher of starfruit juice to pour himself a glass when it fell from his hands, to topple and spill all over the long tabletop. He sat there, eyes wide and still as a statue when tears began spilling silently down his cheeks. Worry had immediately filled Katsuki until he witnessed Izuku’s right hand shakily move to lay over his lower abdomen. The battle demon knew in that moment, his beloved was carrying a tiny life within him.

Although most would think it would be an event only filled with happiness, it was also a great reminder of the life violently and tortuously snuffed out as if it were a poisonous, disgusting parasite Izuku should have never allowed to grow. Katsuki had been sure to be there for every bout of anger, sorrow, or joy filled emotions that come over Izuku at random moments, knowing it would be something most others would never understand. Chiyo had also made sure to be available when the deity needed help working through his strong mixture of feelings the first few kicks stirred up or when horrible thoughts decided to surface.

This tiny life had been fought for in so many ways and would be guarded and protected with a fierceness none had ever seen. All of the dark realm had celebrated such a blessing with gusto and already given allegiance to the unborn babe. Master Aizawa and Midnight treated the situation as if they were the impling’s own grandparents, along with Kirishima, Denki, Shouto, and Sero declaring themselves their uncles. Katsuki couldn't wait to meet them, hold them, and watch them grow. He knew Izuku felt the same.

Claws echoed on the floor of the room when Toshinori finally came up the stairs, being sure all threats were well enough away from Izuku’s little piece of paradise. As Katsuki rose up to start making some food for their lunch, the hellhound took his place, curling around the deity like a living part of the nest. The soft clanking of dishes didn’t disturb either one and by the time half of their lunch hour was over, the savory smells of a meal filled their little space.

Izuku stirred and slowly pushed himself up, one arm supporting his weight and the other wrapped protectively around his middle, “Kacchan?”

“Right here, beloved. Are you ready to eat?” the demon questioned as he sat on the floor, in front of his waking mate.

The Protogonus nodded and hummed, “Yes, we’re hungry, Kacchan.”

As the pregnant nymph carefully rearranged himself into a stable sitting position, Toshinori moved so he could support Izuku’s back. Katsuki lovingly fed the deity and his mate purred his pleasure. It was a calm routine they had developed, the battle demon uncaring if one might think such an act too soft for his kind. The one of darkness only ate once the other was full.

When they began the next class, Izuku again settled in his suspended nest and their friends among the branches, the hearth crackled and sparked. They all turned to Midnight stepping through, carrying a bundle of fabrics. Toshinori jumped down to greet her, whip-like tail wagging and Katsuki moved to the side so she could kneel before the goddess.

“Sorry to bother you, Blessed One, but I have been working on some things for the coming impling, and I need your input,” the succubus voiced as she laid out different swatches across Izuku’s lap.

The students began to whisper excitedly as each piece of fabric was touched and examined before the Protogonus responded, “I like this red one. Does it come in blue and green also? And this silver one would be beautiful for accents.”

Midnight hummed, “I can certainly dye a few bolts those colors, and I agree with you, silver would make beautiful accents, although gold would work better with the red, no?”

Izuku’s head tilted, spade-shaped ears back against his scalp in thought, “You’re right, gold would look better with the red.” Then his head suddenly snapped up, “Do you have some flutter rabbit fur? Kacchan is making them a cloak like ours and I want it lined in the softest fur.”

The succubus grinned, “I do, Anointed One, but only in black. White fur is hard to find within the dark realm, as you know.”

“Black is perfect! Thank you, Mistress Midnight!” the deity smiled. “Is that all you need?”

“Yes, Goddess. Again, sorry for interrupting your class.”

After the winged-succubus left through the flames as easily as she arrived,  Izuku turned back to his class, “Sorry about that students. Many from the dark realm visit me at random to be sure certain things are taken care of. That was Mistress Midnight and she is a succubus. Perhaps you would like to learn more about the dark realm today with her visit?”

With that question, Todoroki dropped from the branches, with Sero in his hand,  to join the Katsuki, Toshinori, and the pregnant Protogonus, “We can definitely teach you many things about the other realm if you wish.”

Izuku spoke of his first time in the realm of darkness while stroking his stomach, Toshinori nosing at it and huffing when he would receive a kick or two in return. Katsuki spoke of life there, with his centuries of experience, and Shouto of what it was like when half your bloodline came from such a place. The students had many questions, thinking it was a place filled with only torture, pain, hatred, and violence. Sometime during the cambion’s explanation of hellhounds, Izuku dozed off.

The  Protogonus’ dreams were full of Spring, blooms, and dappled sunlight.  He could smell rain on the air as Katsuki held him close, humming and rocking them ever so slightly. The trees whispered of many things and the dragonflies and hummingbirds zoomed about. It was his idea of paradise. He wished to stay like this forever.

Then a gentle voice echoed through the air, “Precious, it’s time to wake up.”

Fluttering open, lavender eyelids revealed his big, green eyes and he grinned as his demon kissed his forehead. Izuku heard the students departing and pouted, angry at himself for sleeping through part of his own class. Katsuki chuckled and shook his horned head. 

“You’re are so close to giving birth, beloved, you are fucking allowed to rest.”

“I am supposed to be the main instructor for this class though.”

“And you are,” Shouto spoke just behind the demon. “We only took over one class. You deserve it.”

“It’s true,” Denki song-songed. “When my body finally decides to allow itself to be pupped, I can wait for all the naps!”

With a roll of his eyes, Kirishima reminded his mate, “You nap all the time already!”

“Well! I am trying to make sure I will get pupped soon. I want to be all nice and round too!”

Izuku giggled and then turned his head when the next class began to enter, “Ready for the next hour?”

***

A month later, the morning sunlight brought with it the day when he would meet the one he had been growing for so long. Izuku woke in Katsuki’s bed chambers, hissing at the pain in his abdomen which had his demon lover up immediately.  The blonde was out of bed in seconds, dressing himself and ordering Toshinori to round up his sire, dam, and Midnight, while he went to the realm of light to retrieve Shouto, Kirishima, Denki, Aizawa, and Chiyo. A couple of imps were also ordered to stay by his side and keep him as comfortable as possible. 

Unlike the first time a life left his body, this time he was surrounded by those who loved him. The long labor was strenuous but bearable with so many encouraging him through each contraction. To his surprise, it was Masaru who was best as assisting Mistress Chiyo, his gentle hands and soft spoken words balm at times when Izuku began to feel overwhelmed. It was late in the evening when it was decided it was truly time for him to meet the babe he had awaited for so long.

Chiyo and Masaru shooed the others out, other than Katsuki, telling Toshinori to guard the door from anyone who would dare to peek to be sure Izuku could concentrate on the task at hand. Trembling, the goddess clung to his mate’s large, clawed hand, fearful that somehow something might still go wrong. Readying herself for the babe, Chiyo insured him all was well as the brunette demon came to stand on Izuku’s other side, whispering reassurances and encouragement.

An hour of pushing and they came into the realm with a scream, Izuku sobbing at just the sound of their small voice. He was so very tired, but still begged to hold them. He had waited so long, thought he would never get the opportunity, and yet here was a small life that had grown inside him and was loved more than he ever thought possible. He shakily reached out, every part of his being needing to touch them, feel them, be absolutely sure of their existence.

“Please, I, I just want to hold them. Please … “ the Protogonus pleaded.

“Shhh, shhh,” Katsuki whispered. “She is right here, beloved.”

“She,” Izuku whimpered as he felt her weight gently laid into his arms. Pulling the bundle toward his chest, he witnessed her perfect, little face, chubby cheeks sprinkled with silver scales, tiny bumps that will surely grow into impressive horns showing themselves along her snow white hairline and whined , “She is absolutely gorgeous.”

“She is,” the battle demon rumbled. “Looks like her wings and tail will have some feathers too along with the scales. She is truly unique, like her dam.”

“So, she is a demon?” the goddess then questioned as he stared at those rosy, pouty lips, smacking a few times.

Katsuki’s horned head nodded and Masaru answered, “It appears so but I am sure she will take after you in many ways. Now, she will need the breast before we allow the others back in.”

She took to the breast well, Izuku crying more because watching her suckle made it all feel even more concrete. His baby was here, in his arms, alive, well, and so damn beautiful. When all the others were allowed back in to see her, he couldn’t stop thanking every single one of them. They befriended him, built him back up from the hole he had been imprisoned in, and then supported him through everything. Their friendships never wavered and their care never stopped, he was blessed beyond measure.

The first week passed with Izuku barely leaving his mate’s large bed, cuddling with his daughter nonstop. Katsuki joined him, wrapped around them both, rumbling his happiness. The following week they reentered the realm of light, introducing her to the other faculty and taking her through the forest that had been Izuku’s safe haven so often. Months flew by, Izuku teaching with her anchored to his, Katsuki’s, Aizawa’s, or one of his friend’s chests. She grew knowing nothing but love and care.

Eri became a beacon within the school, the soft light of her gentle personality filling the halls like candlelight on cold winter nights. Her pearl-colored hair grew in long waves, her scales glittered like freshly fallen snow, and her feathers were as soft as the flutter rabbit fur that lined her cloak. Her brother, born three years later, brought chaos, but Kota was full of an energy that was infectious. 

While Eri took after her dam when it came to her inner being, Kota obviously took after his sire. His dark hair and blue scales may nod towards Izuku’s genes, but his harsh words and demanding personality were battle demon through and through. Even so, he was loyal to his friends and courageous in his actions. He was loved and adored as much as his sister, never wanting of anything important in life.

Each child carved their own amazing paths, going out into the realms only to return often for visits. Izuku stayed at the school, serving generation after generation, ensuring that prejudice died within his classroom. His mate, his hellhound, his friends and his new family never left his side. He helped raise kits and pups and watched Shouto grow into both sides of his heritage. He was never regretful of the life he was living.

One night, when Katsuki returned after fulfilling his duties within the dark realm, Izuku smiled as he sat in his nest and rested his hand on his abdomen, “Kacchan, what do you think about having twins?”

-THE END-