My Father's Son - Chapter 28

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"What do you think of this place?"

Izuku looked up in surprise when Katsuki shoved a tablet in his face, eyes crossing as he tried to focus on the image.

"For who?" he asked, when he finally got a clear view of the house on the screen.

"Us, obviously. Why else would I ask, nerd?"

"Are we moving?"

"Was thinking about it," Katsuki shrugged. "Might need more space, you know? As the boys get older especially."

"Oh. I guess so? I just... Figured we'd make it work."

"Seems silly to 'make it work' when we could find something more suitable. So what do you think?"

He took the tablet from Katsuki's hand to look properly, swiping between photos, and as he flicked further he became more and more nauseous.

"It's really pretty. Beautiful."

"Yeah, I thought so."

"Um, w-what about... What about the roof?"

Katsuki raised an eyebrow at him, and Izuku blushed, looking away awkwardly.

"You like the roof," he elaborated. "I just... Hiroki said you spend time up there alone sometimes, I thought maybe it helped with your a-anxiety?"

"It does," Katsuki shrugged. "But I have my blanket now."

The room fell silent around them, neither of them willing to push the subject any further, and Izuku quickly went back to searching through the listing to distract himself.

"It's closer to the school," Katsuki added. "A bit further from your work, but you can use the car if you want, it won't be as bad for traffic as this area is. They're still constructing it – a few of them in the same street - so there's a few different layouts to choose from. I was thinking this one here, so we'd have all the main area on the first floor with a bedroom for Inko, and then four rooms upstairs here. It doesn't have a second bathroom though, just two toilets, so I'd probably ask if they could put another bathroom in here instead of the storage closets. I'm sure they'd make it happen for us."

"For you, you mean."

"Does it matter?"

"I guess not."

"This one is right at the end of the road attached to the local park, I thought it was kind of like having a big backyard for the boys to play in."

"Yeah, that would be really nice."

"You don't seem convinced."

"It's a lot of money."

"Relax, my part of the settlement will cover the deposit, and the bank will give me a mortgage for whatever else we need."

"Can I give you my part of the settlement too?"

"We've talked about this, nerd. I don't need it and you don't cost me a fortune like you seem to think you do."

"For the house, I mean. If we're gonna do this long term, and I hope we are, then instead of being your house that we're living in, it would belong to both of us. We can go halves on the deposit from our settlement money, then I'll pay half the mortgage payment each month. You just need to use your name and stuff to get the approval."

"Would that make you more comfortable? Make you stress less about being in the way or whatever?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Then sure, nerd. So tell me what you think for real, do you like the house?"

"I do, but I agree that we need a second bathroom. And maybe a playroom or something for the boys? And a guest room for friends and family? Also, what about Eri? Where's she gonna live? Should we have a bedroom for Eri?"

"So you want bigger," Katsuki snickered. "Okay, let's look at bigger. Eri is gonna live with Aizawa, but if we had a guest room she could come visit. If he's working or anything, you know?"

"Yeah!"

"What if we got one built just for us? The initial costs are a little more, but it would be perfect, and if we use the right companies we could have it done before the boys start school."

"That quickly?"

"Yeah, I looked into it a bit. They build all the rooms in a factory and just take them out and piece them together. They can assemble it in a day instead of hoping for weeks of fine weather."

"That's super cool!"

"I thought so. We could go look through their model homes and talk about it. Maybe take the boys with us and see what they ask for."

"Yeah! I bet Mom would love to come too."

"Yeah, I assumed she would be coming no matter what we went for. Let me make some calls and we'll see if it's practical."

"Let me know if I can help out, okay?"

"Yeah, of course."

Soon the house was stirring around him, and Izuku smiled when both his boys dove at him for morning hugs, beaming as they snuggled in tight.

"Happy New Year, Papa!" Hiroki beamed, rubbing his cheek on Izuku's chest. "Good morning!"

"Happy New Year," Izuku parroted, giving them both a quick squeeze. "You guys ready to go to the shrine after breakfast?"

"Yeah!"

He nudged them both toward the kitchen, letting them set out plates while Katsuki reheated the dishes they'd been cooking the day prior.

"Tonight me and Deku are gonna go out for a bit, okay? We have family time all day, and then when you guys are getting ready for bed we're gonna go out with some friends for a while."

"Adult time!" Yuuto nodded happily. "Oh, not adult time. Date night?"

"Not date night," Katsuki said firmly. "Just visiting friends."

"But it's not dinner so it can't be monthly dinner."

"Correct. It's just like when you guys go visit your friends after school, it's not a big thing."

"Hmmm... I'm happy though!"

"Good, I'm glad. Now eat up so we can get dressed and go visit the shrine."

When two pairs of footsteps came up the stairs, Katsuki set down two plates to match, smirking when they both blushed.

"Come join us for breakfast, Toshi-sensei. Are you joining us for the shrine today?"

"It's kind of you to ask, but no, that's quite alright. I promised to go with Mirio and Tamaki, I'd better head off shortly."

"Not until after you've eaten."

"Of course. Thank you."

Yuuto got a little shy when All Might sat down opposite him, but he just got a bright smile in return, understanding and comforting. It didn't matter too much that he didn't speak up, since Hiroki talked more than enough for the both of them – and, honestly, for everyone else at the table too. He was a little chatterbox from the moment he woke up until the moment he fell asleep, and while it could be a exhausting at times, it was also stupidly endearing. Izuku constantly found himself wanting to drag the kid into a big hug, and thankfully, Hiroki didn't seem to mind when he did.

"Is it the one Dad went to as a kid?" Yuuto asked shyly, when the topic of shrines came up.

"Yeah! And you know, when he applied to U.A., he got an amulet there for good luck! He says he didnt need luck but sometimes it doesn't hurt to have it anyway. And every year he gets me one too, so I can do good – oh, um, do well – in school and get to be a big famous hero like Daddy!"

"You're gonna be a great hero," All Might assured him. "Both of you are, I've heard some amazing stories about Yuuto's quirk. You might have to show me one day."

Yuuto blushed bright red, but nodded all the same, stumbling over his words as he struggled to string them together coherently.

"It's still little," he managed to choke out. "I need to grow more and p-practice more. My t-teachers said it would be good for other jobs, but I just wanna be a h-hero."

"Then be a hero," All Might said simply. "Your teachers have to help you see all the possible ways you can use it, but you get to choose which one you aim for."

"Me and Yuuchan are gonna be even better heroes than you," Hiroki teased, poking out his tongue. "I'm gonna save a million people in my first ever fight!"

"Me too," Yuuto nodded quickly. "A million and one people!"

"Then I'll save a million and two people!"

"Do we focus on numbers?" Katsuki asked, a hint of warning in his tone. "Hiroki, how many people are you gonna save?"

"All of them!" he answered with a grin. "It doesn't matter how many, I'm gonna save them all!"

"Good boy."

"Someone didn't like Lemillion's goals?" Izuku couldn't help but smirk, watching Katsuki roll his eyes. "What's wrong, his numbers were higher than yours?"

All Might nearly choked on his omelette at that, but Katsuki's expression didn't even change.

"Katsuki is the bane of Lemillion's existence," All Might laughed brightly. "No matter how many people he saves, Katsuki always saves more. That's why he's number one, after all."

"And this old man hates it just as much," Katsuki cracked a smirk, but still didn't look up. "Chose the wrong shitty successor, huh?"

"Are you still holding this grudge, Katsuki? You know it wasn't that simple."

"I'll never stop holding this grudge."

He stood up to clear away empty plates, the boys scrambling to help, and Izuku couldn't help but give All Might a questioning look.

"He was kind of a jerk when he was younger," All Might whispered. "I didn't have time to wait for him to grow up. If I were making the decision now it would be incredibly difficult, but back then? Not a chance."

"I heard that, you washed-up has-been!" Katsuki yelled from the kitchen, angrily rinsing plates. "Yeah, I was an ass! And I still beat every record that you and your shitty successor ever set!"

"He and Mirio are good friends, really, it's all friendly competition."

"Like hell it is!"

Izuku hid his laughter behind his hand, trying to look apologetic when Katsuki glared at him but failing miserably. The fiery eyes remained narrowed at him for a moment longer before he gave up, turning back to the half-loaded dishwasher.

"I'd better get going," All Might smiled, as he stood up from his chair. "Thank you all for your hospitality, both last night and this morning!"

"Come back soon, Grampa Toshi!" Hiroki insisted, hugging him tight. "I miss you when you're gone!"

"I miss you too, Little Prince Explosion Murder. I'll be back very soon, I promise."

"And say hi to Uncle Suneater and Uncle Number Two for me!"

"I will."

"Suneater?" Yuuto squeaked, eyes wide. "You know S-Suneater?"

"Yeah!" Hiroki beamed. "You wanna meet him? Daddy, can we invite Uncle Suneater for dinner soon?"

"Sure, but Number Two has to stay home."

"That's mean!"

"Fine, but you have to entertain him so that I don't have to."

"Okay!"

Izuku was a little envious of the way Hiroki interacted so easily with so many amazing heroes, even though he knew it was purely from growing up surrounded by them – if he'd spent that much time around other heroes he'd surely be more confident about it too. As it stood, though, he and Yuuto were constantly starstruck, not just by all the Uncles and Aunts and Grampas, but regularly by Katsuki too. He wasn't sure they would ever get used to it, honestly.

"I'll take you home," Katsuki said sternly, drying his hands as All Might began to excuse himself. "Don't start. Oi Deku, get them all ready while I'm gone, yeah? I'll be back for you."

"Got it!" Izuku grinned. "I'll take care of it!"

"Yeah, I know you will."

─────

"What are you gonna wish for?"

"It's a secret!" Hiroki grinned, curling his arm around his little wooden tablet as he wrote. "The best wish ever!"

He giggled the entire time he wrote it, and Katsuki couldn't help but sigh at him, wondering exactly what nonsense the kid was getting up to. At least he couldn't do much harm with writing on a piece of wood, he supposed.

"I'm gonna wish for school to be good," Yuuto informed him, unaffected by Hiroki's secrets. "I wanna make lots of friends in my class."

"You will!" Hiroki assured him. "Yuuchan is amazing! Everyone will love you!"

Izuku smiled softly when Katsuki handed him a little wooden slab of his own, nodding his thanks, and together they found a spot to sit and write. Katsuki didn't seem to care too much about his writing, jotting down his wish in his usual slightly-messy handwriting, but Izuku took his time, making careful strokes with the soft-tipped pen.

"What about Nana?" Yuuto asked, tilting his head back to look up at her. "Do you have a good wish too?"

"I wished for us all to be happy and healthy this year. Is that a good wish, do you think?"

"Yeah! A great wish!"

Izuku watched as they all took turns hanging up their wishes, waiting until the end before he slipped his own into the collection unseen.

Keep bringing Katsuki home safe.

"Fortune time!" Hiroki announced, grabbing at the nearest hands to drag them along – Masaru and Yuuto, this time, who both just smiled at him fondly. Izuku couldn't help but be grateful he hadn't been standing next to a stranger. "I hope I get a good fortune!"

No one complained or questioned Hiroki's decision to take charge, just followed along happily, and Izuku suspected it was a pretty common occurrence. He hadn't spent many holidays with the kid yet, but each of them so far had involved Hiroki leading the charge, even when Izuku knew Katsuki and Mitsuki would rather be the ones holding the reins.

"You tired, bud?" Katsuki asked, scooping Yuuto up when he rubbed at his eyes. "I know we didn't sleep much last night. But the countdown was cool, right? And the first sunrise too."

"Super cool," Yuuto agreed. "But I want to nap."

"Yeah, I could do with one too. We're just gonna get our fortunes, buy our omamori, and then we'll be going home, okay?"

"Uh-huh."

"You want me to hold you?"

"Uh-huh."

Yuuto leaned in comfortably against Katsuki's shoulder, sighing contentedly, and Izuku found himself once again envying the ease they shared. He was happy they got along so well, of course – he and Hiroki did too, after all – but the way Katsuki could carry them around forever and a day like it was no big deal made Izuku infuriatingly jealous.

"You get a good one?" Mitsuki asked, leaning over Hiroki to draw a fortune of her own.

"Mmm... A little bit good! I'm okay with a little bit good!"

"Oh look, me too," she smiled, holding it up next to Hiroki's. "We match!"

"Yay! Two little bit goods makes a bigger good!"

"Very true!"

Izuku smiled when Hiroki dragged him over, nodding along, and dropped his coin into the slot. Hiroki helped him shake up the box of sticks, then he was drawing out his number, a little surprised to see the words at the top.

"Wow! Amazing luck! Papa is gonna be so lucky this year!"

"I'm already lucky," Izuku grinned, planting a big kiss on his head. "I have you."

"Did you have good luck last year too?"

"I did, actually. Just normal luck, not amazing luck though."

"So you're gonna be even luckier than meeting me and Daddy? Wow! It's gonna be the best year!"

"I guess it is," he agreed. "I'd better keep this with me."

Katsuki smirked as he waved his own matching one in Izuku's face, Hiroki's face lighting up all over again.

"You tryin' to steal my luck, nerd?"

"I'm pretty sure we can share the luck, Kacchan."

With everyone done, they moved away to let the next group up, pleasantly surprised to find that not a single one of them had drawn a bad luck fortune. 

Their last stop was the stand of little colourful amulets, each designed to provide the holder with a different form of luck and fortune, and Izuku paid for two "happiness" ones without even stopping to think.

"I always get Yuuto one," he explained, kneeling down next to Hiroki to tuck it in his hand. "But I want you to be happy and healthy too."

"Thank you Papa!" he beamed, hugging Izuku as tight as his little arms would allow. "I love you!"

"I love you too, Hiro."

He handed the second one up to Yuuto, getting a little tired smile of his own in return, and both boys fixed them to the outside of their little bags to carry with them.

It was Katsuki's turn next, reaching over with his free hand to make his own purchases, and Izuku almost laughed when he saw the "education" amulets return in his hand.

"Gotta keep working hard this year, yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Hiroki fixed it to his bag with the first, and Katsuki helped Yuuto to do the same, their matching sets of good luck swaying prettily from their zips, their little paper slips of good fortune tucked away in the pockets beneath.

"You guys ready to head home?" Katsuki asked, after their parents made a few donations and purchases of their own. "I think we could all use a nap."

The walk back took a little longer than it should have, with every other family stopping to catch up with the Bakugous, praising Hiroki for how big he was getting and greeting Yuuto sweetly, even thanking Katsuki for keeping them all safe. But finally, with Yuuto half-asleep in Katsuki's arms, they made it back to the Bakugou house and the car that would take them home for a rest.

"Thank you for having us," Izuku smiled, as they all bid their farewells. "It was nice to spend it with you!"

"Thank you again for the Otoshidama!" Hiroki beamed, touching his bag where the little envelope was held for safety. "I promise I'll use it for something good!"

"Thank you," Yuuto parroted, rubbing his eye again sleepily. "It was super nice of you."

"Our pleasure! Have a good rest!"

They loaded back into the car, and Yuuto was asleep before Izuku had even finished buckling him in, mouth hanging open a little as he slumbered against the side of his carseat.

"You tired too, Hiro?" Izuku grinned, watching the boy giggle at Yuuto's cute little sleepy position. "I'm tired."

"A little," he nodded. "Do you think Daddy will let me cuddle again since it's a holiday?"

"I bet you could convince him," Izuku laughed, when Katsuki snorted from the front seat. "He'll say 'just this once' and then do it a dozen times."

"Shhhh, if you say that he'll stop doing it," Hiroki whispered. "You gotta let him forget that he said it last time!"

"Of course, silly me."

"It's okay, I don't think he heard us."

"Yeah, I'm sure he didn't," Izuku grinned, watching Katsuki crack a smile in the driver's seat. "We're good whisperers."

"The best!"

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