My Father's Son - Chapter 29

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With the boys bathed and bundled up in their fluffy pyjamas, and their last goodnight hugs and kisses goodbye given, Izuku followed Katsuki toward the train station. They'd decided against taking the car since they planned on having a few drinks, just in case things got out of hand and definitely not because Katsuki was a lightweight with his alcohol.

It had taken a good ten minutes for Izuku to pick out an outfit that Katsuki approved of, since apparently his baggy t-shirts were "too gross" but his work shirts were "too nerdy". He'd finally gotten approval on a t-shirt Katsuki had bought him one day while they were shopping for the boys, simple black and white stripes, but a lot more fitted than his usual choices. At least it was fairly comfortable, he supposed. With dark jeans and his warm woolen coat added in, he looked like he'd made a lot less effort than he really had, with just a hint of "smart" thrown into his casual.

Katsuki, on the other hand, was as effortless as always. He'd thrown on his usual baggy pants, a grey sweater that looked enviably warm and cozy, and a leather jacket that immediately overwrote the comfy image with one of authority and power. He had a way of balancing out his appearance without even seeming to try, mixing his stern glare and unruly spikes with his love for anything soft and warm.

Then again, with his hero body, he could probably wear anything and make it look good.

Or nothing, for that matter.

It was a short train ride to reach the bar, and they rode in near-silence. Izuku usually felt a little awkward to sit with someone just quietly squirming in his seat, but with Katsuki it was actually kind of comfortable. Katsuki was only loud when he got riled up, wasn't one for idle chat and small talk, so to just sit next to him with their phones out or staring out the windows was potentially more comfortable than watching him try to force a conversation he wasn't even interested in.

"So, um, who's coming tonight?" he asked quietly, rubbing his hands together nervously as they stepped off the train. "They, um, know I'm coming, right?"

"Obviously. They're the ones who demanded I bring you along."

"O-Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get in the way of your night."

"Hah? I don't give a shit, I wouldn't even be going otherwise."

"Why not? You don't want to hang out with your friends sometimes?"

"Rather hang out with my kids."

"They're sleeping."

"Still."

"You're a very dedicated father," he smiled fondly, stretching wider when Katsuki pouted. "It's amazing. You're amazing."

"You gonna spend the night hitting on me or are we gonna go drink?"

"I'm not flirting!!"

"Sure, nerd."

Katsuki stepped through the open doors of a little bar, and Izuku was surprised to find that it was a far cry from the noisy, drunken mess he had expected. Instead, it was a much more intimate space, with a few tables laid out around the room as well as the usual stools at the bar, and with a flash of his hero license Katsuki was being led out the back to an even more private room.

The room lit up with cheers and excitement when they arrived, and Izuku blushed bright red with every eye staring their way – even though he knew it was Katsuki they cared about, it was still awkward to be standing in the doorway when everyone erupted with excitement.

"Midoriya!" Eijirou grinned, throwing an arm around him to drag him into the fray. "It's good to see you again, man! Hope Blasty is being nice to you."

"Y-Yeah, of course! Um, it's good to see you too! Thank you for having me!"

"Any time, dude! We're glad you made it!"

He left Katsuki to hang out under his own steam, dragging Izuku over to their table and into a seat. He found himself seated with Eijirou on one side, an empty chair on the other that Katsuki was slowly trudging over to fill. It was oddly sweet that they'd stuck him between the only two people in the room that he'd met before – though he was loathe to admit that he knew who every single one of them was.

Pinky, the Acid Hero. Rescue extraordinaire, with the way she dissolved through rubble to reach people in need of help, as well as being a skilled climber with the way she created hand and foot holds. Izuku had seen her working with Katsuki on the news pretty regularly, her speed with her acid rivalling Katsuki's bursts through the air, the pair similarly skilled at creating traps and the like with the environment. Ranked number six in the charts, and rightfully so.

Cellophane, the Taping Hero. Excellent support hero with incredible skills in mobility and maneuverability, with enough strength to not only restrain villains but also to catch heroes and civilians without thinking twice. Izuku had seen him catch Katsuki one handed, pulling him out of the air to safety after a particularly hard blow or to avoid a large scale attack. Rank? Twenty-seven, though Izuku personally thought he should be higher. Sidekicks never got enough credit, it was about time Cellophane broke out on his own.

The Stun Gun Hero: Chargebolt. Another close friend of Katsuki's, if Hiroki was to be believed. Then again, Izuku suspected the room was full of Katsuki's close friends. Ranked ninth, and another frequent teammate of Katsuki's, one of his go-to guys when he needed someone with a widespread and powerful quirk to compliment his explosions.

Uravity was a bit of a surprise. Small and cute, with pink cheeks and a huge smile, and seemed genuinely ecstatic to be there. Ranked somewhere in the forties, being another sidekick who frankly deserved better, but packed a good punch when she ended up close to a villain unexpectedly.

And of course, the Sturdy Hero: Red Riot. Uncle Eijirou, more commonly in Izuku's life. Number four hero, close combat expert, constantly jumping in to take a blow with his quirk and protect his friends, colleagues, and various civilians. And apparently, nicest dude in the world.

It was a small cast, but a stupidly famous one, and Izuku was trembling a little in his seat, failing to make eye contact with any of them. Even though they were all so bright and happy and welcoming, he couldn't help but stare at his clasped hands nervously.

"Yeah, they look alike," Katsuki shrugged, eyes shooting across at Izuku. "It's kind of weird sometimes."

"W-What?" Izuku stuttered, wide-eyed as he realised he had been paying zero attention.

"I mean, I'm assuming he'll be a little more athletic when he grows up, but other than that it's like he suddenly grew up."

"Ouch."

"You know what I mean, asshole, don't start this shit."

"I'm not starting anything!"

"Be nice, Blasty! He's such a cutie, Hiroki definitely takes after him. Midoriya, right? Blasty, be nice and introduce us!"

"You think I know your names?"

"I know you know our names, stop being an ass!"

"That's Mina," Eijirou laughed, pointing at her for him. "And Hanta, Denki, and Ochako. And you can call me Eijirou, by the way! You don't need to be polite with us!"

"Oh, th-thank you. Um, it's nice to meet you all! I've heard a lot! I mean, a little from Kacch- Katsuki, I guess, but on TV and things? You're all so amazing! I'm so honoured to meet you! Oh and um, thank you for the posters, too! And-"

Katsuki clapped a hand over his mouth to silence him, and Izuku flooded bright red, ducking his head in shame.

"Right, sorry," he mumbled, Katsuki slowly taking his hand away again. "Um, I'm Midoriya Izuku! Izuku is good!"

"It's nice to meet you, Izuku!" Ochako said brightly, her smile so painfully genuine. "We've heard so many stories, it's about time he finally let us meet you!"

"I'm sorry, he must say the worst things about me."

"Nah, Blasty is smitten," Mina grinned, slinging an arm around Katsuki's shoulders and leaning in with her teasing smile. "He just tells us how good you are with the boys."

"Huh?"

"Shut the hell up," Katsuki growled, shoving her off with a hint of pink in his cheeks. "Stop bleating this nonsense."

"I'm serious! He's such a cutie when it comes to you and the boys!"

"Yeah, he's a really good Dad," Izuku smiled warmly. "He hates when I say it, too, but he's really sweet with them."

"Well yeah, but he's also super-"

Katsuki wrapped an arm around her mouth to shut her up, muffling her laughters and protests, but Izuku just sighed fondly. Even when he was being rough it was so easy to see the affection in his touch – he really did love his friends.

"He's a big hero fanboy, he knows who you are, stop embarrassing yourselves."

"If he's gonna be part of our family, he's gotta get used to us being idiots!"

"We are not a fuckin' family."

"Yes we are! Hiroki says so!" Denki laughed from across the table, hitting a button to call for more beer. "He would be so disappointed in you, Boom Boy!"

"Shut the hell up."

"Tell us about Yuuto, Izuku!" Ochako pushed, leaning in a little to hear him better. "We've seen a couple of photos, but that's about it. He's such a little cutie, like a sweeter Katsuki!"

"Yeah, he loves it," Izuku smiled much more genuinely, relaxing a little. "He's always been a huge Downfall fan, so he loves that they look alike."

"Aww, that's so sweet! Is he a hero fanboy?"

"Yeah, he wants to be a hero too so he's always watching you guys work. He collects the little figures too, that was how he and Hiro first bonded. Hiro went through listing off his Aunts and Uncles on the shelf and Yuuto was dumbfounded."

"Awww, how cute! I've gotta come meet him but Katsuki never invites us over. You will, right? Here, I'll give you my number and you can invite us over next time he goes out."

"Goes out?" Hanta scoffed. "Like he ever leaves his house when it's not for work."

"Hmm... Maybe when he's working night shift, then."

"S-Sure," Izuku stuttered, watching Ochako write her number on a napkin and slide it over. "I'll talk him into it. I'm sure Hiroki would love a visit too, he's good at making Katsuki do what he wants."

"Aww, are you letting the little guy manipulate you into stuff again, Katsuki?"

"Shut up. It's not my fault he's cute."

"Yeah, I guess that's Izuku's fault," Ochako giggled. "You did a good job with him, Izuku!"

"Thank you?" he squeaked. "He's a good kid, I'm just glad to have him in my life."

"Awww! You're like Katsuki's opposite, I love it."

The waitress returned with plenty of drinks to go around, and Izuku took a long gulp from his cold glass. He wasn't the biggest beer fan, wasn't much for alcohol in general, but he had a feeling he was going to need it.

─────

"Kacchan, look!" Izuku giggled, face blushed bright pink. "Look at my- my- look at my pull ups!"

He held himself on the top of the door frame by his fingertips, easily pulling himself up and down, and Ochako giggled behind him when Katsuki turned. He huffed a little sigh as he watched, a little amused by Izuku's gleeful, drunken enthusiasm, even though he would never let anyone know it.

"Wow, great job."

"Kacchan I can feel the sarcasm," Izuku pouted. "You're such a meanie-pants!"

"Yeah Kacchan," Denki laughed brightly, a little unsteady on his feet as he flung himself at Katsuki and draped himself across broad shoulders. Katsuki took his weight easily, Izuku noticed, even through his hazy vision. "Why are you such a meanie-pants, Kacchan?"

"This is why I don't hang out with you."

"Wow, rude!"

"Come on nerd, we need to go home. Put him down, Round Face."

"But I'm having fuuuuun," Izuku pouted. "Kacchaaaaan."

"The bar closes in like twenty minutes."

"We can't stay for twenty more minutes?"

Katsuki sighed, running a hand down his tired face, and with Izuku gave Ochako a reluctant nod to let him down. Still pouting, he moved to Katsuki's side, holding out his arms.

"We can go now if you give me a hug."

"Haaah?"

"Huge biceps are for hugging! Let me have hugs!"

The entire room giggled around them, but Izuku didn't even seem to notice. Finally Katsuki conceded a nod, accepting his clutches, and he rolled his eyes when the group cooed at them.

"Kacchan gives the best hugs," Izuku hummed, rubbing his cheek on Katsuki's chest. "Thank you Kacchan."

Whether it was his hero instincts, his paternal instincts, or just the fact that it was exactly the sort of thing Yuuto and Hiroki did to him, Katsuki wasn't sure, but he found himself smiling faintly, petting messy green curls.

"Alright, time for bed," he said firmly. "Say goodbye, nerd."

"Wait, I need to get photos!"

"You already did, idiot," Katsuki grunted, taking the phone from Izuku's pocket to show him. "See?"

He flicked through the gallery with his thumb, showing him the slightly awkward selfies with each of his friends, still a little shy at the time, the beer not yet taken over.

"Ooooh!" he fawned, leaning in so close that his nose almost touched the phone. "You have such cool friends, Kacchan! I'm so jealous!"

"We'll invite them over another day, right now it's time for bed."

"You promise, Kacchan?" Mina teased.

"Shut up, he won't remember."

"I'll remember!" Izuku pouted, holding up one shaky hand. "Pinky promise, Kacchan."

"Whatever."

He linked fingers obediently, giving it a little shake, and finally Izuku was satisfied.

"Okay! Home time, everyone! Byebye, thank you for having me!"

"Sorry about him," Katsuki offered quietly. "I didn't know he was so bad with beer."

"He was great! And so were you!"

"Yeah, it was great seeing you!" Ochako added brightly. "We'll see you at your place, next time!"

"Whatever. G'night."

He dragged Izuku out, supporting half his weight as he stumbled along, but eventually they managed to get to the station. They made it in time for the last train home, so they weren't stuck taking a taxi, but the number of equally-drunk people around them was horrifying. It reminded Katsuki exactly why he hated working night shifts, watching drunken idiots get themselves in trouble and trying to seek out the villains among them.

"Thank you, Kacchan," Izuku said fondly, leaning against his shoulder, eyes sinking closed. "I had so much fun, your friends are the best."

"Our friends," Katsuki corrected him. "They like you, you'll never get away now. I got stuck with them in first year and they're still hounding me."

"You loooove them," Izuku giggled. "You say you don't, but it's obvious, Kacchan!"

"Shut up."

"Make meeeee."

Katsuki stared down at the pathetic face for a long moment, at the shiny eyes that barely focussed on him, the pink tint that spread perpetually across his freckled cheeks.

"Dumb nerd," he said finally, taking a handful of his hair and shaking him lightly. "Take a nap or some shit, I'll wake you up when we get to the station."

"Nap here?"

"Yeah."

"Okay," Izuku smiled, snuggling in against Katsuki's shoulder. "Kacchan is comfy."

"Yeah, so I've been told."

He was out like a light within seconds, and a small part of Katsuki was tempted to join him. He'd only had a couple of beers, but it was late and he was exhausted, he could go for a good, long sleep. Instead, though, he kept his eyes open, watching the train car for trouble more out of habit than anything else, and waited patiently beneath the drooling, snoring mess for them to pull into the station.

"Dumb nerd," he repeated softly. "Such an idiot."


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