My Father's Son - Chapter 32

Author's Note: I finally get to introduce one of my favourite characters!

─────

 [Previous]

Izuku wasn't sure that the boys entirely understood what was going on, when they pulled up to the model homes. They both seemed excited to look around, but he suspected that was feeding off the excitement of the adults around them, more than being their own.

There were three houses side-by-side on the street, showing off different room sizes and configurations, where they could wander through and choose their favourites. According to Katsuki, the company would just note down their preferences and present them with a blueprint for their new house – seemed too easy to Izuku, but what did he know?

"Can I choose my bedroom?" Hiroki asked, as he knocked on the front door. "It won't be here though, right?"

"Right. And the furniture won't be the same, we'll bring your stuff or maybe buy some new stuff," Katsuki agreed. "But you can choose the shape and wardrobe and windows and stuff from the ones they show us."

"Can I have a big wardrobe again?"

"Probably. We'll take a look and see."

"And me and Yuuto will have two rooms?"

"Yeah, but you can still have sleepovers when you want, if you get lonely and stuff."

"Okay! What kind of room do you want, Yuuto?"

Yuuto opened his mouth to answer, but froze when the door swung open, a smiling lady in a suit greeting them warmly.

"You must be Mr. Bakugou," she smiled, bowing politely. "It's great to finally meet you."

"Thanks for having us," he grunted, waving toward the little crowd behind him. "This is the family. We're looking for something big, if you couldn't guess."

"Absolutely! We need room to grow!" She bent down to smile at the boys, raising one hand in a little wave. "My name is Uriko, it's nice to meet you!"

"I'm Bakugou Hiroki," he spoke up brightly, grinning as he reached for Yuuto's hand. "This is my brother, Midoriya Yuuto! Thank you for having us!"

"It's my pleasure! Would you like to come take a look around the house? I'll show you the nicest bedrooms first."

"Yes please!"

Izuku couldn't help but smile at how genuinely friendly she seemed – it wasn't the fake niceness of most employees around kids, she seemed so real about it.

"Midoriya Izuku," he offered awkwardly, as he followed Katsuki and the boys inside. "This is my mother, Inko."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both! Come on in, we'll find you the perfect new home!"

As usual, Izuku had come to notice, Hiroki ended up taking the lead. He was constantly amazed by the amount of confidence and natural leadership in the kid – he supposed it was thanks to Katsuki's parenting, because it certainly wasn't genetic. He clutched Yuuto's hand and dragged him along behind Uriko as they explored the houses, looking at the different bedrooms and bathrooms and balconies on offer, but when he stepped into the third bedroom he fell in love instantly.

"Look, Yuuchan!" he beamed, stepping into the huge closet. "It's even bigger than mine!"

"Super big," Yuuto nodded, eyes wide. "I don't have enough stuff for a closet this big."

"We'll have to buy more stuff!"

Izuku smiled fondly, ruffling the short curls when Hiroki hurried by him again and getting a beaming smile in return.

"Miss Uriko, can I have this room?" he asked, eyes shining. "I can put my bed over there, and my heroes over here, and all my toys will fit in the closet so it's nice and tidy!"

"I think that's for your fathers to decide, rather than me," she laughed, sucked in by Hiroki's brightness all the same. "But I'll make sure I write down that this one is your favourite."

"Yeah! Oh, and, um," he leaned in closer, whispering, and Izuku couldn't help but stop to listen. "At our house we have a roof where we can sit, and Daddy likes it lots, so do you think we could have a sitting roof at our new house too?"

"I'm sure we can do that," Uriko smiled. "Like a terrace?"

"Yeah!"

"I'll write that down, too."

When Katsuki returned from checking out a bathroom across the hall, Hiroki held a finger to his lips with a smile, and Uriko returned the gesture, keeping their little secret. Izuku could only watch on fondly as the boys ran off to look at another pretty balcony, and Katsuki shot him a questioning look, waiting for some kind of an opinion to come out.

"It's all really pretty," he said, smiling faintly. "I'd be happy with any of it, honestly."

"We were looking at a property out uhhh... Shit. Two train stops from U.A. but I can't remember the name of the area," Katsuki offered, getting a little nod from Uriko. "There were three plots that backed onto a park, but one was sold?"

"Oh yes, I know the ones! Lovely area, lots of young families like yourselves, and convenient for some of the best schools!"

"Yeah, our boys are going to the private elementary school out that way. What sort of size can we get on one of those? They're not as big as this plot, obviously."

"You'd be looking at three floors, with two bedrooms on each if you want the larger rooms. We can go four floors if you prefer, for the extra space."

"Mom and I could have rooms on the ground floor," Izuku suggested. "And a bathroom and the garage? Then the boys could have a floor to themselves and we don't need to worry about them being near the door."

"Yeah, that could work. Living area and kitchen on the second floor with my room, and the boys up above?"

"You mentioned the possibility of a spare room?" Uriko pointed out. "What if we did a second living space that could be separated off when needed to act as a guest room, and have a final bedroom up top with a little roof terrace for yourself?"

Katsuki narrowed his eyes at Izuku, and Izuku threw his hands up with a laugh.

"I didn't say anything!"

"I promised your son I'd keep it a secret," Uriko smiled wryly. "I recommend a toilet on each floor as well, for convenience, and you probably want two full bathrooms for a family your size."

"Let's go all out and make it three," Katsuki shrugged, peeking out the door to check on the boys. "One for the nerd, one for Inko, then one on the boys' floor that I'll use too. With a big bathtub."

Uriko noted it all down dutifully, nodding, and Katsuki glanced at Inko and Izuku for confirmation.

"I can share a bathroom with Mom, it's no big deal."

"Nah, when the boys get older we'll be glad for the extra, I'm sure. When they're not having their baths so early, I mean."

"I guess that's true. All the bedrooms are beautiful, too. I'd be happy with any of them."

"Me too," Inko nodded. "Lots of closets would be nice, I like all the storage space at our house."

"Hiroki liked this room the best," Izuku added, smiling again. "He wants the massive closet."

"Yeah, that's fine. He has a lot of stuff, may as well have room to store it. Yuuto probably needs a pretty big one too. Maybe not as big, he doesn't hoard things like Hiroki. But yeah, is that everything you need to know?"

"Unless you have anything else that matters to you!"

"Maybe a little garden space where I can grow vegetables?" Katsuki suggested weakly, cheeks flushed. "It's not a necessity or whatever, but I guess it'd be nice?"

"I'll make a note!"

She flipped through a few pages on her clipboard, producing a little glossy brochure and offering it to Katsuki.

"This is the area you were looking at. One is sold, as you mentioned – in fact they've been working on the construction this week! And another has a temporary hold for a family who are interested. I'd be happy to put a hold on the third one for you, if you'd like to go take a look and see what you think?"

"Yeah, that'd be cool."

"You'd be most welcome to go and take a look at the newly constructed one, if you wish."

"Yeah?" he tilted his head to look at Izuku and Inko, getting nods from them both before he added one of his own. "Yeah, that'd be cool. Today?"

"I'll give them a call right away and check! Feel free to take another look around!"

"Thanks."

Katsuki stuffed his hands in his pockets as she left, sighing faintly and leaning back to rest against a wall. Inko patted his arm lightly as she passed, heading out to check on the boys again as they giggled on the balcony, and Izuku smiled as he shifted a little closer awkwardly.

"It's a lot to take in, huh?"

"Yeah. These people are supposed to be really good, though. They'll just take all the shit we told them and put together a plan."

"You know people who've used them?"

"Mirio," he sighed again, giving Izuku a tired look. "He's the one who told me about the land, it's like a street over from his place."

"Oh! That's exciting! It must be a nice area!"

"Mm-hm. Hiro will be stoked, but I dread putting up with Mirio that much more."

"You seem like good friends, from what I've heard."

"Shut up."

Izuku laughed, and Katsuki cracked a tiny smile of his own, shrugging it off.

"Just be prepared, that's all."

─────

"Ryou!"

"Hiro!"

Hiroki fought his way inside first, barely stopping to kick his shoes off before he was diving at the boy, the pair of them giggling as they fell to the floor in a heap.

"Hi Uncle Number Two!" Hiroki called back toward the door, grinning. "I missed you! And you, Ryou!"

"Missed you!" the boy parroted, his voice muffled by Hiroki's body flopped over him. "Been ages!"

"Yeah!"

"Is that Yuuto?"

"Uh-huh! And Papa and Nana!"

"I wanna meet them, lemme up!"

"No!"

They giggled again, but then Hiroki was whining, watching as the boy stepped away from him like he weighed nothing at all.

"No fair!" he complained, pouting as he climbed to his feet. "No quirks allowed!"

"You would use yours if it helped!" he argued, poking his tongue out before he turned to the crowd in the entryway, stepping out of their shoes neatly. "I'm Ryouji, it's nice to meet you!"

Ryouji stood barely an inch taller than Hiroki, with hair of a familiar shade of deep purple, spiky at the back even before Hiroki began ruffling at it fondly – which took all of ten seconds.

"Are you two good friends?" Inko asked fondly, as she stepped into a pair of fluffy slippers waiting near the door. "You must have known each other a long time."

"They're best buds," Mirio laughed, closing the door as the last of the procession made it inside. "Katsuki hates it. How you doin', my man?"

"Please stop," Katsuki sighed, the moment Mirio slung an arm around his shoulders. "I'm too tired for your nonsense today."

"Ouch, you cut me deep!" Mirio laughed, clapping a hand over his chest.

Ryouji pouted, throwing his arm around Hiroki in a mirror image of his father's gesture. "We're not buds, we're boyfriends. I told you, Dad!"

Hiroki burned bright red, maybe a first for Izuku to see, and Mirio laughed brightly.

"Of course, my mistake! Anyway, come on in! Tamaki is upstairs putting the baby to bed!"

He waved them all through to the stairs, stopping to assist Inko before Izuku could offer himself, and she giggled as she gripped his thick bicep.

"You heroes are such gentlemen," she smiled. "Katsuki did the same thing when we met! I assure you I'm fine on my own, but I can hardly say no to a strapping young hero offering me his arm!"

"How could I not offer my arm to such a fine young lady?" Mirio shot right back, smiling widely and making Inko giggle again.

Ryouji started to follow them, dragging Hiroki along, but froze when Hiroki's whines began, his arm flailing desperately back toward the door.

"Yuuto too," Hiroki insisted, holding out his hand. "I can't reach!"

Nervously, Yuuto stepped forward, letting their fingers link together, and Ryouji grinned at him.

"It's nice to meet you! Hiro told me all about you!"

"N-Nice to m-meet you t-too," he stumbled, letting himself be dragged up the stairs with the others.

"Yuuchan is shy," Hiroki whispered, making Yuuto blush brighter. "Be nice, okay?"

"I'm always nice!"

"What have you eaten today?"

"Hm? Umm, carrots and celery and rice aaaand... Eggs! We had omelette!"

"No seafood?" Hiroki pouted.

"Nuh-uh, how come?"

"Yuuchan likes the octopuses!"

"Oh! I don't eat them much, they're yuck. Besides, I already used the other one! Dad probably did though, he had work before."

Reality came crashing down on Yuuto like a ton of bricks, eyes wide as saucers when he saw the tall man greeting his parents quietly. His hand turned weak, slipping out of Hiroki's grip, and Hiroki looked back at him in surprise.

"C'mere buddy," Katsuki said fondly, scooping Yuuto up before Hiroki could reach for him again. "Sorry, I should have warned you. You wanna say hi?"

Yuuto hid his face in Katsuki's shoulder, blushing when he heard Mirio's bright laugh again, and even though he couldn't see, he knew Hiroki and Ryouji were staring at him.

"Sorry," Izuku offered awkwardly. "He's a little shy."

"Dad, did you have takoyaki?" Ryouji butted in. "Can you show him?"

"Huh? I did."

Yuuto turned his head just enough to peek out, curiosity outweighing his fear, and watched in awe as a perfectly normal hand turned into long, red tentacles.

"So cool," Yuuto whispered.

"Thank you."

"This is Yuuto, he's my brother!" Hiroki spoke up for him, back to his usual confident self, his blush from earlier all but forgotten. "Suneater is his favourite!"

"Downfall is his favourite," Katsuki objected, getting a little smile from Yuuto in his arms. "Suneater is his second favourite."

"Hear that, Tamaki?" Mirio grinned, nudging his blushing husband fondly. "We all know Downfall doesn't count, so you're his favourite!"

"I have a figure," Yuuto squeaked, still not lifting his head fully. "He has different arms."

"Oh, I love that one!" Mirio grinned. "Which ones did you put on first? The octopus?"

Yuuto nodded, and Mirio gave him a big thumbs-up.

"They're the coolest! The clams are awesome when he uses them in battle, but they don't look as exciting on the figure."

"I like the wings too," Yuuto murmured. "And the claws."

"Oh, from chicken? Yeah! You know, one time we had duck breast for dinner at a restaurant, and the moment we get home I looked up and found a massive duck bill staring me in the face. I couldn't stop laughing for a week!"

Yuuto cracked a smile, and Katsuki rubbed his back lightly, trying to offer him some comfort.

"Crabs are funny too."

"Oh yeah, I forgot the crabs! I mean, he uses crab armour a lot, but when he manifests the actual pincer? It's hilarious. No offense sweetie, you know I think your quirk is amazing, but sometimes it's funny too."

"The coolest quirk," Yuuto nodded. "Dad's is super strong but Suneater's is cooler."

"Oi!" Katsuki objected, grinning all the same when Yuuto looked up. "I'm meant to be your favourite for everything!"

"You are," Yuuto pouted. "But Suneater's quirk is coolest. And he's..."

He trailed off, pausing for a moment as he glanced back, then leaning in to whisper in Katsuki's ear.

"He's quiet like me," he whispered. "I don't have to be loud to be a hero, right?"

"Of course not," Katsuki assured him. "You're gonna be an amazing hero just the way you are."

"Come play, Yuuchan," Hiroki tugged at his arm lightly. "You can be brave later."

Yuuto nodded, sliding down from Katsuki's arms and letting Hiroki drag him away, but pausing in the doorway with a shaky little smile on his face.

"It was n-nice to m-meet you," he squeaked. "Th-thank you for h-having me."

"Any time, Yuuto!" Mirio assured him. "We'll chat again later, yeah?"

"I'm glad you're here," Tamaki added quietly. "Thank you for your support."

Yuuto nodded, blushing bright red again, and then they were gone to somewhere deeper in the house.

"Sorry," Izuku offered awkwardly. "He really is a huge fan, he's not good at handling it yet."

"Tamaki's shy too," Mirio grinned, clapping his husband on the shoulder lightly. "But he's better than he used to be."

"Enough," Tamaki sighed, pushing his hand off. "I'll make drinks."

"Thanks, babe! You want a beer or something, Katsuki? Or are you still recovering from last night?"

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I heard someone had a little too much at the reunion."

"Bullshit! Who told you that shit?!"

Behind them, Izuku blushed bright red as he talked to Tamaki, and Katsuki's eyes narrowed.

"You been talking shit, nerd?"

"No!" Izuku squeaked, throwing his arms up as a barrier just in case Katsuki moved in. "I didn't say anything to anyone!"

"I have friends in high places," Mirio teased, grabbing Katsuki in a little hug again and laughing when he was shoved away just as quickly. "Somebody got fun, I heard."

"Haaaah?!"

"You were fine, Kacchan!" Izuku insisted. "You were actually really nice! You told all your friends how you were really happy that they were safe!"

"I did what?!" Katsuki demanded, face flooding with warmth. "When the fuck?!"

"Um, around midnight maybe? After you and Shouto had a bunch of drinks? Do you not remember?"

"Fucking no, asshole, I don't. You think I would say that shit willingly?"

"Oh," Izuku pouted a little, gaze dropping. "I thought it was really nice, hearing you appreciate them. They all love you so much, it must be nice to hear that you like them too."

"Shut the hell up!"

He stomped into the kitchen to help with the drinks a little too violently, and Mirio gave Izuku a big grin when he was safely out of sight.

"He means everything he said," Mirio assured him. "He's just a big baby who can't admit it."

"He was very sweet."

"I heard. Make the most of it whenever you get the chance, that's what the rest of us do!"

He nodded once, and when Mirio waved for him to follow, he joined the others in a little dining room. Katsuki pointedly pulled out the chair beside him, already occupying his own, and Izuku sat in it obediently, managing the tiniest of smiles.

"Don't tell a damn soul," Katsuki insisted, still pink in the cheeks. "They'll think I'm a sappy asshole."

"Okay, Kacchan, I won't tell anyone."

Katsuki narrowed his eyes a little, but didn't bother to voice the scepticism, instead accepting a tall glass of beer from Tamaki and taking a long drink. Izuku accepted one too, smiling gratefully, and swallowed his words along with his first sip.

He wouldn't tell anyone, they all knew already.

─────

When Mirio called the boys for dinner, Yuuto looked a little more like himself – less pale and squirmy, more kid-having-fun. Izuku smiled when he saw, watching them peek over the table to look at the buffet of food on offer, and Tamaki nudged a little stack of plates toward them silently.

“Eat the bacon one!” Hiroki giggled, dragging a plate of pizza over and offering it to Ryouji. “I wanna see your tail!”

“I told you, I used the other one already!” Ryouji huffed. “Besides, bacon is gross.”

“Nuh-uh, bacon is the best,” Hiroki poked his tongue out, carefully taking a slice of pizza from the huge plate. “What are you gonna do, turn into a carrot?”

“Turn into a broccoli and we can match.”

“Rude!”

Ryouji grinned, leaning in to plant a kiss on Hiroki's curls.

“Not my fault you need a haircut,” he teased. “You look cute though.”

“Shut up,” Hiroki whined, blushing bright red. “Don't be embarrassing.”

He nudged his way past to get more food, cheeks still burning, and Ryouji grinned when he saw Yuuto staring after him.

“He's fine! Come get food!”

With a little nod, Yuuto followed, exploring the various plates Mirio and Tamaki laid out and blushing every time Mirio smiled at him.

“What would you like to drink, Yuuto?” he asked, his voice surprisingly soft compared to his boisterous tones from earlier. “Do you like juice? Or milk, like Hiroki?”

“Juice is nice,” Yuuto nodded, fingers clutching a little tighter at his plate.

“Ryouji likes apple, do you like apple?”

He nodded again, opening his mouth but finding no words.

“Okay! How about I bring you an apple juice? Does that sound good?”

“Y-Yes p-please.”

“Alright! You go find a seat, I'll be right back!”

He squeezed in beside Hiroki at a little table, relieved to get a warm smile from him when their eyes met. Soon Mirio was back, and Yuuto managed a wobbly smile as he set juice down in front of him, whispering a quiet 'thank you'.

“Look what I found!” he beamed, setting down a glass of pale brown liquid. “Just for you!”

“Chocolate milk!” Hiroki beamed, picking it up with both hands to take a big gulp. “So good! Thank you!”

“Any time, little man! You boys eat up, gotta stay fueled if you're gonna be the best heroes!”

Hiroki stuffed a piece of pizza in his mouth happily, but Yuuto tore off a smaller chunk of his own, glancing over at Ryouji's plate of rainbow colours.

“You don't eat pizza?” he asked, a little bolder after their time playing together.

“I don't like meat.”

“Any meat?”

“Nope. I eat a little sometimes, but I don't like it much.”

“What's your favourite food?”

“Spinach! And the other green ones too, like kale and broccoli. Oh, and nuts!”

“Oh,” Yuuto said softly, staring at his plate of bacon pizza and tasty meatballs. “You... Um... W-What's your qu-quirk?”

“Oh,” Ryouji grinned. “It's pretty much like Dad's.”

“W-Which D-Dad?”

“Both!”

“O-Oh.”

“I can make stuff like Dad does with clams and octopus, but I don't wanna eat those they're icky. And I can go through stuff a little like Dad does with Permeation. But not as good as him.”

“He's big.”

“Yeah, I'll learn!”

“They sound cool.”

“I'll show you! You gotta show me yours too! You make little explosions?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Super cool!”

“Th-Thank you.”

Izuku shot him a quick little smile when their eyes met across the room, reassuring him even without words, and Yuuto relaxed a little as he sank into his cushion, watching Ryouji tease Hiroki for what had to be the fiftieth time since they arrived. Hiroki pouted a little in return, cheeks flushed pink, but Ryouji didn't seem nearly as surprised as Yuuto was.

“They're weirdos,” Katsuki huffed, from the table where the adults sat. “If it was one picture I'd understand, but seven?”

“We need to have them ready for the wedding!” Mirio laughed brightly. “Besides, they're adorable. Look at our cute boys!”

Yuuto glanced up to where the adults were staring, eyes widening when he saw the collection of framed prints hanging above the television. Two little babies smiled out from each one, snuggling together and playing with toys and even watching familiar hero cartoons. The shock of bright green curls couldn't have belonged to anyone else – well, maybe Izuku – and Yuuto finally understood the teasing the adults had been doing.

“You're gonna get married?” he asked, listening to the adults laugh behind him.

“That's what they tell us,” Mirio grinned, when both the boys blushed a little. “I believe it!”

“Like hell they are,” Katsuki snorted. “I don't wanna put up with your ass any more than entirely necessary.”

“We'll be family, Katsuki!”

“Shut the hell up. Your tentacle-monster boyfriend spent forever cooking us dinner, don't make me puke it back up.”

“Husband,” Mirio corrected. “Tentacle-monster husband.”

“Whatever.”

Tamaki smiled faintly, not bothering to get involved with the argument, and Izuku elected to do the same. It wasn't worth it, not when Mirio didn't seem at all phased by it – besides, he'd spent a lot more time dealing with Katsuki than Izuku had.

It was kind of a weird thought, actually. Despite living together, sharing so many little moments of their lives, even occasionally bonding or sharing their secrets, there were still so many people who knew him better than Izuku did. He wondered what Mirio might know that Izuku didn't, what all the people they'd had drinks with the night prior knew, that Izuku didn't. Hell, what his parents knew, that Izuku didn't.

For some reason it made his stomach sink, glancing over as he barked at Mirio about something new, and Mirio just playfully spurred him on.

“He's an odd guy,” Tamaki said softly, Izuku's head darting over to see a faint smile on the man's lips. “I'm sure you've learned that, by now.”

“He is,” Izuku agreed, smiling all the same. “But he's so sweet underneath all the yelling and arguing. I don't even see this side of him until his friends are around.”

“He doesn't yell at you at home?”

“No, I think he tries to be nice in front of the boys. But...”

He trailed off, and Tamaki looked straight at him for the first time, considering him carefully.

“You think you're not his friend?”

“Maybe,” Izuku confessed. “Maybe we just aren't close enough for him to be comfortable yelling at me?”

“I don't think that's true.”

“O-Oh.”

“I can't speak for him,” Tamaki shrugged. “But I think he likes you a lot.”

“Wha-? No!” Izuku blushed bright red, covering his face with his hands. “He puts up with me because of the boys, but he doesn't like having me around!”

“He lets you call him Kacchan,” Tamaki pointed out. “I still call him Bakugou. Most of us do.”

“I didn't exactly give him a choice.”

“You think he wouldn't tell you to knock it off if he hated it?”

“I don't know.”

Tamaki sighed faintly, shaking his head, and Izuku finally felt his blush begin to fade.

“You're friends,” Tamaki assured him, glancing up as Mirio and Katsuki began to wrap up their debate. “Don't worry about it.”

[Next]