My Father's Son - Chapter 20

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Izuku woke up bright and early Saturday morning to the sound of his bedroom door opening, two boys diving on his bed in a fit of giggles. He cracked a tired smile as they crawled on top of him, wrapping them up in his arms and covering them in kisses.

"How you feeling, Hiroki? All better?"

"Uh-huh! Been good since yesterday!"

"Just making sure. You both sleep okay?"

"Yeah!" Hiroki grinned. "But you gotta get up now!"

"Huh? How come? It's super early."

"Dad says we're going to the park!" Yuuto grinned, shaking Izuku gently. "We gotta do family hero training!"

"H-Huh? Wha-? Hero-? Wait, like, a workout? I thought he was kidding!"

"Up and at 'em, nerd," Katsuki smirked from the doorway, unfairly handsome as he leaned against the frame with his arms folded. "Too late to back out now, you agreed."

"I, um, okay, just- Let me find some clothes, I guess? And shoes."

Katsuki held out a canvas shopping bag, and Izuku gave him a pitiful look as he finally sat up.

"Are you buying me things again?" he whined. "Katsuki, stop spending money on me!"

"No."

The boys clambered back off the bed and with a sigh Izuku followed, accepting the bag with a little pout and getting a wider smirk in return.

"Thank you, Kacchan!" Katsuki prompted in an overly squeaky voice. "You're the best!"

"Thank you," Izuku grumbled, peeking inside and burning red when he saw the clingy running tights, a near-match for the ones Katsuki already wore. "Give me a minute, I guess."

Katsuki ushered the boys out, shutting the door behind them, and with a sigh Izuku tipped the contents of the bag onto his bed. Despite being neatly folded, he could tell they'd been washed and returned to the bag, set atop a cardboard box that housed an expensive pair of running shoes.

The leggings were plain black, thankfully, nothing outlandish like he'd seen people in the streets wearing. He grabbed his most supportive pair of underwear then pulled them on, pulling a face at the stretchy material. A small part of him had hoped that they wouldn't fit – as embarrassing as it would be to admit that Katsuki had underestimated his size, it would at least be an excuse to not wear them. But sure enough, they fit like a glove. They were actually surprisingly comfortable once he got them on, but he couldn't bring himself to look in the mirror.

He sighed when he unfolded the t-shirt, realising he really shouldn't be surprised anymore. He'd thought it was another plain black item, made of that slightly rough quick-dry material, but when he opened it up he found a bright orange X slashed across the front, a familiar autograph stamped on the bottom in the same shade.

"You're so conceited," he called through the door, hearing a low chuckle in response. "I'm buying my own shirt next time!"

"Sure you are, nerd. You love your merch collection, you're honoured to get it before anyone else and we both know it."

"You don't sell them yet?"

"You would have bought a dozen by now if I did."

"Rude."

He stepped out with his shoes in hand, shooting Katsuki a sarcastic look that he could barely hold in place with Katsuki grinning at him in his typical arrogant way. Hiroki beamed when he saw the shirt, and Katsuki stepped closer, plucking it between his fingers lightly and letting it ping back into place.

"Looking good," he teased. "Alright, let's go, time to run."

"R-Run?" Izuku squeaked.

"Uh-huh. Just down to the park, it's only five minutes."

"O-Okay."

"Relax, you get to set the pace."

Yuuto grinned as he took Izuku's hand, a surprisingly bright smile considering how much time he spent pouting or looking concerned, and Izuku couldn't even pretend to say no to that face.

"Alright, let's go for a run," he agreed, forcing a wobbly smile. "You gonna help me when I fall on my face?"

"I'll bring sticky plasters!"

"Thanks buddy."

He pulled on his new shoes at the door, lacing them up firmly, and then they were out the door and Katsuki was pointing up the street.

"All the way to the end of the road, then we turn left and it's not far from there."

"We're not going to the one where we played in the snow?"

"Nah, that one doesn't have a playground."

Izuku wasn't entirely sure why that mattered, but he didn't bother to ask, setting off at an awkward jog with the boys right behind. Katsuki brought up the rear, keeping an eye on them all, and Izuku felt weirdly self-conscious about it even though he knew it was for his own good – the idea that Katsuki could see every step he took, was scrutinising every twitch of his arms or tilt of his head, was somehow maddening to him. He'd never felt so self-conscious in his life.

When they rounded the corner and the park came into view, Katsuki nodded to the boys, and with a little whoop and a yell they ran off ahead toward the swings. Katsuki levelled out beside Izuku, keeping pace with him step for step, and gestured to his arms vaguely.

"Relax, nerd," he instructed. "Keep your head up and look where you're going, if there's something on the path you'll see it well in advance instead of right before you step on it."

"Y-Yeah," he nodded, swallowing hard. "Sorry."

"Haah? Why are you apologising? I'm trying to help, you damn idiot."

"O-Oh."

"Just try to relax, alright? Why are you so bent out of shape about this?"

"Because I'm terrible at anything athletic, you know that."

"And you think you'll get better by sitting on your ass and thinking about it?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" Izuku pouted. "You can't tell me it's not weird having someone watch your every move."

"Who the hell is watching you?" Katsuki frowned, gesturing toward the silent houses around them, their occupants sleeping past sunrise unlike the weirdos in the Bakugou-Midoriya household. "Everyone is asleep still."

"You?"

Izuku looked at Katsuki like he was an idiot, and Katsuki almost tripped over his own feet in his shock.

"You care what I think?" he asked in disbelief. "What the hell? You think I'm spending all my time what, perving at your ass? I was watching the kids this entire time. I'm a fuckin' hero, as far as I know every civilian in the world is just as fit or unfit as you are, how am I gonna judge if you're shit or not when I only ever see heroes?"

"Exactly, you're comparing me to heroes," Izuku pouted.

"Trust me, I'm not," Katsuki snorted. "You don't have to worry on that count."

"I'm not sure if I should be insulted or not."

"You're not a hero, why would I expect you to train like one?" he asked, as they reached the grass and slowed to a walk. "You're pretty much the only ordinary human I have any contact with, so if anything I'm judging everyone else based on you."

He wasn't sure why, but somehow Izuku actually found that comforting. He'd clearly been living with Katsuki too long, was starting to develop some kind of stockholm syndrome.

"And now what?" Izuku asked tentatively. "The boys get to play a while then we run back again?"

"Haah? That was our warm up, idiot. This playground is our gym."

"H-How?"

With a little smirk, Katsuki jumped up to a bar, pulling himself up until his chin peeked over the top.

"Everything you find in a gym, you can find here in a simpler form. No need for fancy equipment when you're just starting out, bodyweight is good enough as resistance. And when it isn't anymore, I can strap ankle weights on you. No big deal."

"O-Oh. Um, okay."

"Alright boys, we gotta stretch, get your little butts over here."

They jumped off the swings and scurried over, still grinning from ear to ear, and Izuku managed a faint smile at their delight. He did his best to copy along, swinging his arms and legs in his best imitation of the way Katsuki did it, surprised to see that Hiroki followed along like he did it every day, while Yuuto was a little less coordinated.

"Daddy does the same stretches every time," Hiroki giggled, when Yuuto whispered something to him. "I know the order!"

"I'm gonna have to find new ones, then," Katsuki smirked, tipping over to one side and watching Izuku's feeble attempt at copying. "Yeah, you got it nerd, just make sure you keep your hips out and don't lean forward."

By the time they finished stretching, Izuku was already tired, but he was nothing if not stubborn. There was no way he would admit that he needed a break when all they'd done was warm up.

"Alright, let's do the swings. Hiroki, you remember the thing we did with the ab ball?"

"Yeah!"

"We're gonna try it on the swings, you wanna give it a shot?"

"Okay!"

Katsuki got him into position, forearms resting on the seat and fingers clutching the edge, then waved Yuuto over to stand next to him.

"Your job is to spot him. You know what that means?"

Yuuto shook his head.

"If he gets stuck, you help pull him in, and if he falls, you catch him or help him up, yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Alright, you spot Hiro and I'm gonna spot Papa."

"Okay!"

He waved Izuku over, ignoring the blush across his freckled cheeks, and got him into position clutching the swing.

"Just go slow," he instructed. "Put your weight on the swing and slowly push forward, then pull back in just as slow. I won't let you fall."

Izuku nodded, cautiously making his first attempt, and Katsuki nodded when he managed, with a little more effort than expected, to pull it back in.

"Good. That's one rep, see if you can do ten."

He kept a hand hovering over the nerd's back as he worked, ready to grab him if he needed it. On number nine he began to tremble a little, breath shuddering, and Katsuki smirked.

"That's good," he nodded. "You're working hard. One more, you're right there."

Izuku nodded, holding his breath as he struggled through one more time, and Katsuki gripped him by the shirt as he stood back up. He was a little insulted by it at first, but when he stumbled over his own feet, he decided not to bother arguing.

"Breathe," Katsuki instructed. "You shouldn't be holding your breath on any of this. Catch your breath while I have my turn. Yuuto, Hiroki, time to switch!"

They traded places, and Izuku watched awkwardly as Katsuki got himself set, debating whether or not to speak up.

"Catch me if I fall," Katsuki smirked up at him. "Trusting you to spot me."

"Y-Yeah," Izuku squeaked. "I'll do my best!"

Katsuki made it look effortless, and as Izuku began to regain his breath and a little sanity, he finally understood the real meaning behind the words. Katsuki had perfect form and a world of strength, there was no way he was going to fall. It was just Izuku's chance to observe, to learn something by watching – he almost wondered why Katsuki hadn't gone first to show him, but then again, if Izuku had watched him first he'd surely have felt extra awkward about his own turn.

Katsuki was too damn smart for his own good. He was always three steps ahead.

"Alright, next!" Katsuki announced, when Yuuto began to slow down. "Over to the climbing frame!"

Izuku hobbled after him, abs already a little sore, and Katsuki directed the boys to the lowest bars.

"Grab hold and do some push ups on the bar, see how many you can do before your arms are too tired."

"Okay!"

"Don't forget elbows in!"

"Got it!"

They set to work, and Katsuki waved Izuku to a higher bar, putting him on more of a slope rather than almost to the ground.

"You know how to do a push up, right?"

"Um, theoretically?" he answered awkwardly, rubbing at his arm as he looked away. "I... I mean, I can't do one, but I know how?"

"Bar makes it easier," Katsuki assured him, gripping a spot and nodding for Izuku to join him. "Like this, yeah? Keep your elbows close to your body, and just slowly in and out."

Izuku joined him, following along, and he cracked a tiny smile when he noticed Katsuki mimicking his speed.

"You're allowed to do your own, you know. You don't have to keep pace with me."

"It's fine, I'm in the gym with Shitty-Hair every day anyway, this is my fun one."

"Every day?"

"Yeah. We have a patrol in the morning, then a block of like 3 hours for paperwork, workout, and lunch, before we do our afternoon patrol. It's part of the job, we get paid for workout time."

"It's nice that you can do it during the day. It would suck if you had to go before work and leave even earlier."

"Some people do, just depends on your schedule," Katsuki shrugged, somehow, mid-push up. "Mine is gonna change next year. I got this weird mix of patrols for six years, with the promise that once Hiroki started school I would be more... normal."

"What kind of change?"

"Business hours, pretty much. Start at the beginning of the morning rush, finish after the evening rush. I'll still get my block in the middle for my miscellaneous stuff, but won't be able to walk them to school like I did for kindy. Hiro has always known he'll be taking the train without me, he'll be more than happy to go with Yuuto instead of alone."

"You really did a good job raising him, he's so responsible."

"Thanks Papa!" Hiroki grinned, making Izuku jump. "I try my best!"

Somehow, in his conversation with Katsuki, Izuku had forgotten the boys were next to him.

"Is it easier if you're talking?" Katsuki teased, nodding toward the push ups Izuku was still grinding out.

"It is, actually. Distracted from pain."

"Good, keep talking."

Soon Izuku's arms began to ache, and they moved on to box jumps. Izuku and the boys used the little stairs leading up to various platforms, while Katsuki went straight up to the platform from the ground. It made Izuku stop and stare at first, watching his knees go practically to his ears. His thighs were thick and muscular under his spandex, where they were normally covered by baggy pants, and Izuku could see the sheer power held in them as he jumped.

"You'll get there," Katsuki smirked, when he caught Izuku staring. "Just takes practice."

"Me?" Izuku scoffed. "Never."

"Bring your ass over here."

"Huh?"

Katsuki grabbed him by the back of the shirt, dragging him over, and Izuku blushed when the strong hands gripped him around the waist.

"Okay, jump."

"What?"

"High as you can. I promise I won't let you fall."

Izuku grumbled, but he bent his knees all the same, springing up and feeling Katsuki yank him higher. His feet hit wood, and he looked down to see Katsuki smirking below him, still holding Izuku steady.

"I don't think it counts when you do all the work, Kacchan."

"You're on the platform, aren't you?"

"My turn! My turn!" Hiroki grinned, swinging from Katsuki's spare arm. "Me too!"

"Alright, alright, let the nerd down first."

To Izuku's surprise, Katsuki still held on as he jumped back down, even softened his landing before he hit the ground, and waited until he was steady before he let go.

"Alright, your turn," Katsuki agreed, grabbing Hiroki and Yuuto each by the back of the pants, yanking them up to the platform when they jumped. "Wow, look at you boys jumping your own height, impressive!"

Both boys giggled with glee, diving on Katsuki for hugs, and he caught them both easily, not even stumbling as he held one to each shoulder.

"Alright, last round then we stretch! Who knows how to do a pull up?"

"Me!" Hiroki beamed, throwing his hand in the air. "I can do it!"

"Alright little Hiro, show us how it's done."

He hoisted Hiroki up to a bar, letting him hang, and Hiroki grunted as he pulled, inching himself up. He got about halfway before he gave Katsuki a pitiful look, and Katsuki smirked back.

"We been slacking off?"

"Maybe a little."

Katsuki gave him a little nudge, pushing him up, and Hiroki grinned when his chin touched the bar lightly.

"Alright Deku, you get to spot this one," Katsuki instructed. "I'm gonna check Yuuto's form, I haven't had a chance to check out his training yet."

"Got it," Izuku smiled. "I've got you, Hiro."

He kept an arm under Hiroki's feet, his shoes leaving a little mark of dust on Izuku's arm as he pushed gently, but he was surprised by how little he had to assist the kid. He supposed it made sense – he was an athletic kid anyway, had been training them with Katsuki at some point in the past, and had hardly any bodyweight to lift up.

When he glanced over, Yuuto was listening to Katsuki's every word with rapt attention. He nodded solemnly as he hung from the bar, supported by Katsuki's grip, and with a little help he managed to pull himself up to touch the bar.

"I did it!" he grinned. "Again!"

"Yeah, gotta go for ten," Katsuki agreed. "You can do it."

When Hiroki's arms began to tremble, Izuku helped him down, sitting him on a nearby platform where he could see.

"You wanna teach me this?" he asked quietly, while Katsuki was distracted by Yuuto. "My arms are like noodles, it's gonna be tough."

"Just hang first!" Hiroki instructed. "You don't have to pull straight away, just try hanging!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! It's still hard, so you gotta learn it before the pulling! See if you can jump up and hold!"

"Alright, I'll give it a shot."

He jumped at the bar, pulling a face when he only skimmed it with his fingertips, but then Katsuki's hand was grabbing him by the back of the pants, giving him a little boost when he jumped again.

"Like Hiroki said, just hang," he nodded. "Get used to how the bar feels, especially."

"Yeah, okay."

He shifted his grip a little to get comfortable, and Katsuki let him go when he was stable, moving back to helping Yuuto instead. The next time Izuku looked over, Yuuto was on the ground giving Katsuki a high five, and Katsuki was moving to look up at Izuku's sweaty face.

"Hurting?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

He bent down and gripped around Izuku's ankles, giving him a little boost up until his chest touched the bar. It took all the strain off his arms, and he wasn't entirely sure if that was intentional or not, but he made the most of the break all the same.

"I'm gonna let you take over here," Katsuki explained. "I'll still hold on, but you're gonna use your own strength and try to slowly lower yourself back down."

"I'll try."

"That's all I asked."

Katsuki gave Izuku back some of his weight, letting him control his descent a little. He still moved a lot faster than he suspected Katsuki wanted, but there was no complaint or lecture, just a strong arm lifting him back up to do it again.

"It's a little easier than going up," Katsuki explained. "Fighting like half your weight in gravity instead of all of it."

"Does it help at all?"

"Yeah, but it'll take time. We'll keep doing it every week and see how you go."

"You were serious about this weekly workout thing?"

"Yeah, obviously. Why would I say shit I didn't mean?"

"You do that all the time," Izuku grumbled. "Every time you say 'good job, nerd' and all that."

"Haaah? You think I'm just being patronising or some shit?"

"Yeah? Obviously?"

"I'm honest as fuck, nerd. If I say it, I damn well mean it. Stop being so self-deprecating."

Izuku couldn't seem to come up with an answer for that, and as he dropped back to the ground with noodle arms, he found himself staring at Katsuki's scowl, at the faint pink tint in his cheeks and ears.

"Thank you."

"Whatever. Come on, we need to stretch again."

He copied along once more, his arms and legs both jelly, until finally Katsuki gave him a quick nod to say they were done.

"Daddy, can we play on the swings a little?"

"Course you can. You think we'd come to the park and not play on the swings? Dummy."

Giggling, the boys ran off to their favourite swingset, and Izuku smiled awkwardly as he flopped onto a damp bench.

"I would push, but," he gestured weakly with his arms. "I think you've killed me for the weekend."

"I'll handle it," Katsuki snorted. "But you shouldn't sit there, your ass is gonna go numb."

"I can't move."

Katsuki gripped him around the middle, swinging him up over a shoulder, and Izuku squawked indignantly at the manhandling. He flailed a little as Katsuki carried him over closer to the swings, finding a spot that wasn't drenched from last night's snow before he set him back down.

"Papa is tired, you're gonna have to put up with me pushing," Katsuki grinned, stepping up to the boys where they swung gently in their seats. "Think I can handle both of you?"

"Daddy can do anything!"

"Good answer. I've taught you well."

"You fight villains for a living," Yuuto mumbled. "And you think pushing two swings is hard?"

Katsuki doubled over with his sudden burst of laughter, and Izuku had never seen Yuuto look prouder than he did as he watched his Dad laugh at his joke.

"I love you," Katsuki laughed, wiping a tear from his eye. "God, you two brats make my day every time."

Both the boys flung themselves at him for hugs, Hiroki tearing up when he shoved his face into Katsuki's chest, and even Izuku found himself a little watery as he watched.

"Alright, think we should go have breakfast?" Katsuki asked when he'd recovered, squeezing his boys a little tighter. "Let's make something yummy for Nana before she wakes up."

"Yeah! Can we make waffles?"

"The sweet ones or the savoury ones with the herbs and things?"

"Both!"

"Sure, why not?"

"Yay!"

He set them down when Izuku struggled his way off the bench, smirking at the boys as he ruffled their hair. Before Izuku knew it he was being picked up again, hoisted onto a strong back, and despite his protests Katsuki held him tight.

"Alright boys, race you home."

"Katsuki! No!" Izuku insisted, as they all began to run, the boys nearly tripping over their own feet as they giggled up a storm. Katsuki took no notice of his complaints, though, keeping a steady pace with the boys as they jogged back toward the house. He supposed it made sense for it to be so effortless for him – he was a hero, after all, and the boys' legs took two or three steps to every one of Katsuki's, but it was still so stupidly impressive to feel him practically glide down the street, right behind the giggling children.

"Ahh, you beat me," Katsuki huffed, when the boys tagged the door. "Next time I'll get you."

He set Izuku down in the doorway to peel off his shoes, watching with a smirk as he slowly climbed the stairs with his jelly legs.

"Any advice?"

"Ice bath sucks but will help, hot bath will feel good but you'll hurt in a day or two."

"Can I hot bath now and ice bath in a few days?"

"You can certainly try. Stretching helps too."

"You gonna teach me that too?"

"Sure."

"I- I wasn't-"

"If you want to learn, I'll teach you," Katsuki shrugged. "Doesn't bother me."

"You're... Generous."

"You've said that before."

"Well, yeah, but... With time? I knew you were generous with money, but you have so little free time already, I never thought-"

"Oi," Katsuki cut him off with a growl, shoving him against the wall firmly. "Don't project that bullshit on me."

"W-What?"

"You have all these stupid notions about me in your head and even after living together for – what, over a month? – you still can't let go of that shit. Yeah, I'm the fuckin' number one hero, so what? I have to fit into this stupid little mould you've built for that position? I'm not allowed to be my own fuckin' person because of it?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then why the hell do you keep treating me like I'm an asshole when I've been doing my damn best to be fuckin' nice to you?!"

Izuku's gaze fell to his feet, and Katsuki paused, tearing his hand away like it suddenly burned him to touch Izuku's chest.

"I'm sorry," Izuku said softly. "You're right, I've been a jerk."

"That's not what I said," Katsuki growled, blushing as he looked away. "I know my reputation is shitty. Angry, always yelling and scowling, all that shit. And yeah, I have that image for a reason, because at school and shit I was... I was an asshole, okay? But I've been trying."

"You're amazing, Kacchan," Izuku said softly. "Everything about you is so brilliant that it's blinding. You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry for judging you."

"I clearly did something."

"I just... I don't measure up, you know? I'll never be as good as you. At anything."

"Oh shut up," Katsuki snorted, ruffling his curls roughly. "You're a good Dad, and I'm not gonna say that sappy shit again, so don't fuckin' forget it."

"You really think so?"

"You heard me asshole, don't even try it."

Izuku cracked a smile, and Katsuki softened a little, his hand stilling but remaining on Izuku's hair.

"This is working, nerd. It might not be easy to live with me every minute of every day, but it's working, right? Against all odds?"

"I'm really happy. Living with you, I mean. I just don't want you to get sick of me."

"I won't."

"Will you tell me if you do?"

"Haah? Why would you want that?"

"Because if you get sick of me, I'll start looking into my options. I don't want you to keep me here out of guilt or because you're scared to lose the kids or something."

"If I promise to tell you, and I mean it, are you gonna be less timid all the time?"

Izuku hesitated, and Katsuki took a step sideways, leaning against the wall beside him.

"That night we talked on the roof," he said quietly. "I... I liked that. The way you just sat down with me and talked about everything without second guessing yourself. It was... nice."

"You're not good at this, are you?"

"I've never been a nice person. I was even an asshole to kids until I had my own. I like to think Hiroki made me a better person, but maybe I just became a better actor. You... You might be the first adult I've actually wanted to be nice to."

"I appreciate it. Really, Katsuki, you've done so much for me. For us. I can't thank you enough."

"I guess we're both stuck with these shitty inferiority complexes," Katsuki sighed. "We're gonna make this work. Keep working. I'll... I'll try to talk more. Like, open up and shit."

"Me too."

With a little smirk, Katsuki offered out his little finger, and Izuku laughed as he linked it with his own.

"It's gonna work," he nodded. "Promise."

"Promise."

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