My Father's Son - Chapter 12

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The house was surprisingly quiet when Izuku got up, but he quickly learned why when he padded up the stairs to investigate. In Katsuki's room, the three of them were still curled up together, Katsuki on his back with a boy in each arm, draped halfway across his chest and cuddled happily into his shoulders. It was about time for them to start getting ready for kindergarten, but Izuku couldn't bring himself to wake them, instead opting to sneak back downstairs and let them snooze. 

If they didn't wake up soon, he would call the kindergarten and let them know the boys would be arriving late. Surely even Katsuki couldn't fault him for letting them snuggle a little longer.

Inko climbed up the stairs as he was mixing up batter for pancakes, and he grinned at her when she showed up in her warm robe and slippers, courtesy of Katsuki on their most recent shopping trip.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I did,” she smiled. “And you?”

“Yeah, me too,” he nodded. “The boys are still sound asleep with Katsuki.”

“Oh good, he made it home? I didn't even hear him arrive.”

“Yeah, it was well after midnight though. Apparently the hospital and the police got in contact with each other, the boy's parents were searching for him everywhere and the hospital was calling around trying to get in touch with them. Eventually it all fell into place!”

“Did you talk a lot last night?”

“Yeah, we were texting while he was at the hospital.” He paused, cheeks flushed slightly pink. “It was nice, actually. We don't talk enough, I think.”

“Well I'm glad you're getting along,” Inko smiled, pulling toppings for the pancakes from the fridge and laying them out on the table. “You seem like a good match.”

“For parenting?” Izuku asked, trickling pancake batter into the pan. “Yeah, we seem to balance each other out well.”

Inko hummed thoughtfully, but didn't elaborate when Izuku gave her a questioning look.

“Do you think I should wake the boys for school?” he asked, when he accepted that an answer wasn't going to come. “I thought I'd just let them sleep and go in late, but he'll probably complain.”

“I think he'll give them a pass for today, it was a rough night for everyone.”

“If he ever does get hurt,” Izuku began nervously, flipping his pancakes carefully. “What are we gonna do?”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn't know how to handle Hiroki last night, when he freaked out. I can't imagine what it would be like if Katsuki was hurt.”

“I imagine he would just need someone to hold him while he cried. There's not much anyone could do, if he's hurt seriously. If it's minor then life will go on like normal, but if it's bad? There's nothing anyone can do, it's not a personal fault for you.”

“It makes me nauseous even thinking about it.”

“I know, dear, but he's a very capable hero. I'm sure he'll be fine.”

“I hope so.”

He flipped the first pancakes onto a plate, drizzling new batter into the pan, missing the sweet little smile on Inko's face as she watched him.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs alerted them to their company, as the batter began to dwindle, and Izuku braced himself to be yelled at about school, but then Katsuki was in the dining room with his hair all over the place and an exhausted look on his face, two boys clinging to his back and shoulders.

“Good morning!” Inko said brightly, carrying the stack of cooked pancakes out to the table. “Eat up, all of you!”

Katsuki picked one up with his chopsticks, snorting when he saw the little smiley face carefully cooked into it, but he stuck it on his plate all the same. The boys finally separated from him to get their own breakfast, Hiroki dragging another chair over so he and Yuuto could sit either side of their Dad.

“Smells good,” Katsuki grunted, as he drizzled lemon juice on it. “Thanks, nerd.”

“No problem!”

The boys loaded their own with cream and chocolate sauce, digging in like it was the best thing they'd ever eaten, and soon Inko and Izuku were joining them with another stack of pancakes and a mug of hot coffee for Katsuki.

“So, no kindy this morning?” Katsuki smirked, raising an eyebrow at Izuku when he swallowed hard. “I didn't hear about the cancellation.”

“I couldn't wake you!” Izuku whined. “You should have seen it! You were all cuddled up so sweetly together! I didn't think it would hurt if they were late just this once!”

“I'm not going,” Hiroki pouted, shuffling his chair closer to Katsuki's side. “You scared me, Daddy, I wanna be with you.”

“Don't be a brat, I'm right here.”

“I didn't get enough sleep.”

“Get used to it, school will be worse.”

“I don't feel good, my tummy hurts.”

“Stop lying to me.”

“I don't wanna gooooo,” He whined, tearing up as he shoved his face into Katsuki's side. “Please, Daddy, just this one time, I promise I'll never ask ever again.”

Katsuki sighed, letting his arm fall down to rub Hiroki's back, and he nodded faintly.

“You can stay, but you have to do extra piano and homework.”

“I will! I promise!”

“Alright. What about you, Yuuto? You want to go to kindy?”

“Not without Hirokun,” Yuuto pouted. “Can I stay too?”

“You know the deal. Piano and homework.”

“I don't know how.”

“Hiroki will teach you.”

“Okay,” he nodded. “I'll do it!”

“Alright, I guess we're all taking a sick day today. I'll call the kindergarten after breakfast.”

Katsuki took another pancake, cutting it in half and turning the smile upside-down despite Izuku's little pout.

“You are what you eat, Kacchan.”

Katsuki nearly choked on his coffee, a surprisingly genuine laugh bursting from his lungs, and Izuku couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction for it.

“I didn't know you were on a diet of idiots,” he retorted, grinning at Yuuto when he tried to stuff an entire pancake in his mouth. “Do you have work to do today?”

“Not at this stage, but I'll look for some more contracts now that I've finished the last big one.”

“You looked at the weather report today?”

“No?”

“We're meant to get our first snow of the season,” he explained, watching Hiroki light up with the news. “Maybe we can play in the snow later.”

“Please!” Hiroki burst, bouncing in his chair with his excitement. “I wanna play!”

“You'd better get on to your homework right after breakfast, then. Gotta have it all done before the snow starts.”

“I'll do it super fast!”

“And super correct?”

“Yeah!”

“Alright. How about you do piano first while Yuuto tells me all about his interview, and then you can teach him some after?”

“Okay! But first, more pancakes.”

“Yeah, obviously,” Katsuki grinned, stuffing a piece in his mouth. “Pancakes always come first.”

When they were finished eating, Izuku and Inko took all the dishes away, refusing to let the others help on the grounds of “you have better things to do.” They could hear Yuuto chatting away in the living room, and the sweet sound of Hiroki on his keyboard, and even without saying it they knew it was comforting for them both, compared to the odd silence the night prior.

“Alright,” Katsuki groaned as he stood, when Yuuto had relayed him every detail. “Sounds like you did a good job, I'm proud of you.”

“Thank you!”

“I'm gonna get dressed and go buy a new phone, I expect homework to be done by the time I get back. Got it?”

“Got it!” the boys chorused.

“Yeah, got it,” Izuku rolled his eyes, when Katsuki gave him a pointed look. “They'll do it, relax.”

“They better. Oi, Yuuto, do you own a cellphone?”

Yuuto shook his head, pulling up a chair to watch Hiroki play his songs.

“I use Papa's and Nana's sometimes, though!”

“Lemme see,” Katsuki demanded, holding his hand out to Izuku. “Give it.”

Blushing, he pulled out the little second-hand phone, with its cracked screen and battered case.

“It still works!” Izuku assured him, when he got a scathing look for it. “It's fine!”

“This thing is older than your kid,” Katsuki pointed out, pushing it away along the counter like it might bite him, or make him sick. “Inko? Where's yours?”

“Oh, it's in my bedroom! I don't use it often, it's just a cute little flip phone!”

“Christ,” Katsuki sighed. “Alright, four then.”

“W-What?!” Izuku demanded. “No! Katsuki, come on!”

Katsuki levelled him with a stern glare, standing up to make the most of the extra six inches he had on Izuku in height.

“If Arakura had owned a cellphone, he wouldn't have been hurt in that villain attack.”

“What?! That's ridiculous!”

“He was waiting for his Aunt to come pick him up, and she didn't show up,” Katsuki scowled. “He didn't want to leave that spot in case he got stuck without a ride.”

“B-But that's such a rare thing to happen, Katsuki, you can't-”

“If he'd had a phone,” Katsuki continued, “we could have called his parents from the hospital.”

“Well sure, but he also could have just remembered his phone number.”

“You think any kid remembers their phone number when they're panicking like that?”

“Your phone got blown up by the same villain!”

“My phone got blown up because I punched the villain in the face. Believe it or not, I don't expect my kids to be doing that any time soon. If they're gonna be taking the train to school next year, or going to clubs after school, and their cram school lessons, I need them to have phones. I'm not going to get them the most extravagant model in the world, but I am going to get them – and the people they're likely to be contacting – something reliable to keep on them. It's for my own peace of mind, and I'd appreciate it if you let me have that while I'm out saving other people's lives.”

“That was low.”

“And completely true.”

“Fine,” Izuku huffed. “A cheap one for Yuuto, but you are not buying new ones for me and Mom too!”

“Watch me, nerd.”

He walked out to get dressed, and Izuku folded his arms stubbornly, glaring at his back as he left. He was right, after all – it's not like Izuku could stop him from doing it. The best he could do was refuse to use it, but Katsuki was still going to be paying the money either way, and he was sure the stubborn jerk would make it impossible to return to the store. Besides, even if he managed to return it, Katsuki would just refuse to take the money. The asshole had him backed into a corner and he knew it.

“Work hard,” Katsuki instucted on his return, hugging the boys briefly. “I'll be back in an hour, tops.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

He paused to meet Izuku's irritated gaze, waiting, and Izuku's scowl deepened.

“What do you want me to say?” he asked stubbornly. “I know you have me beaten, and I'm not happy about it.”

Katsuki grinned, putting on a high-pitched voice that Izuku quickly realised was meant to be an impression of him.

“Thank you, Kacchan!” he squeaked. “You're so amazing and generous! You give such good gifts!”

“I don't sound like that,” Izuku grumbled. “Asshole.”

“Bye, nerd,” Katsuki chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Take care of my boys.”

“Our boys.”

“Take care of our boys.”

“Yeah,” Izuku sighed, looking away. “I will.”

“Don't I get a 'come back safe' or something?”

Izuku knew he was teasing, knew he should refuse, but after the night prior he knew he'd never forgive himself if something did happen. Katsuki knew exactly how to push his buttons.

“Come back safe, Kacchan,” he sighed, giving the man a gentle shove. “You stubborn jerk.”

“Don't miss me too much.”

─────

The front door swung open right as the snow began, and Katsuki grinned as he snatched both the boys from the couch, tucking them under an arm each as he started up the stairs.

“Daddy!” Hiroki giggled, squirming a little. “What are you doing?!”

“It's snowing, you little squirts, we've gotta go play!” he explained, dumping them in their room and opening the closet. “Here, get dressed! Fast!”

The boys were still in their pyjamas, so he threw them underwear first, quickly following it up with warm sweatpants and jumpers, and finally their brand-new coats. As Hiroki ran for the door, Katsuki caught him with a scarf, throwing it around him and dragging him back amongst two sets of giggles.

“Socks!” he insisted, throwing them at Hiroki's face, then Yuuto's. “Gloves! Scarves! Hats! Boots!”

Finally, laden with their goods, he sent them downstairs to put their shoes on while he grabbed a warmer coat and some gloves and boots for himself. It had only been a sweet little smattering of snow as he walked back, but now he could see it falling hard and fast beyond the windows, turning their neighbourhood white in a hurry.

“Nerd, grab your warm shit!” he yelled, as he dressed himself quickly and grabbed his boots. “Inko, are you coming?”

He dug through the hall closet, finding the big paper bag he'd stowed away and shoving it into her arms.

“Here, use these if you want to come.”

Inko's eyes widened when she found the new winter coat inside, with heavy boots and thick gloves to match. Katsuki refused to acknowledge the look of frustration that Izuku gave him, torn between complaining about more gifts and delighting in the fact that Inko could join them in the snow. In the end, he kept his mouth shut, unable to bring himself to complain when the boys were calling up the stairs to them, begging Inko to come play.

“You, too,” Katsuki said quietly, pulling another bag from the closet. “Don't argue with me right now, let the kids have fun with both their Dads, okay?”

Izuku couldn't seem to find an argument for that, obediently slipping into the heavy coat when Katsuki held it open, a pair of warm gloves already stuffed in one pocket, a cardboard box of furry boots shoved into his arms.

“Come on, nerd, you're too slow,” Katsuki grinned. “The boys are waiting.”

With a sigh, Izuku conceded a smile, nodding as he followed Katsuki down the stairs. The boys were just finishing off their laces when they caught up, and Izuku giggled when Katsuki pulled warm beanies down over their heads, two mops of uncooperative hair fighting back against the wool.

“Alright, are we all warm and toasty?”

“Yeah!”

“To the park we go! Hiroki, you remember the way?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Alright, you lead, then.”

He shoved Izuku and Inko ahead of himself to follow Hiroki, hanging back to lock the door behind them and bring up the rear. Hiroki led them all down to a little walkway, turning to make sure they were all still behind him before he stepped into the narrow passage, beaming at the fluffy snow gathering on the grass up ahead.

“You can go,” Izuku said fondly, nudging Yuuto on ahead when he looked up at them. “We won't get lost from here.”

Hand in hand, the boys took off without waiting for a second assurance, little legs carrying them down the path to the open fields. Hiroki dove into the snow face first, laughing as he rolled onto his back.

“It's harder than it looks,” he giggled. “Ow.”

“Idiot,” Katsuki snorted, side-stepping past Izuku to check on him. “You hurt yourself?”

“I'm fine! Just surprised!”

Yuuto lay down next to him, his smile wide as he picked up handfuls of snow, tossing them up in the air and letting them rain down on his little body.

“You trying to bury yourself?” Katsuki asked with a grin. “Here, let me help.”

He picked up a big armload of snow, and Yuuto rolled away with a laugh when he threw it, scrambling back to his feet to dive on Katsuki instead.

“I'll get cold!” he complained, still laughing all the same. “Too much!”

Hiroki scooped up a handful of the snow, shaping it into a little oval, and soon there was a sweet little snow-bunny sitting on the grass, while Hiroki moved on to make it a friend. Yuuto and Katsuki continued to roll around in the icy grass, throwing snow in each other's faces, but Hiroki was more than content to build his little creatures.

Inko knelt down beside him to help, and Hiroki gasped when he saw her little snow pig come to life.

“It's so cute!” Hiroki fawned, “can you teach me?!”

“Sure! I can make a penguin and an octopus too, do you want to see?”

“Yeah!”

Soon there was a whole zoo of animals hanging out in the grass, and Katsuki scooped Yuuto up in a hurry when he took a step too close, quickly diverting him to make sure the sculptures didn't get stood on. It was such an effortless motion, Izuku suspected that Yuuto didn't even realise why he did it other than as a part of their game, but something about it made Izuku smile at him softly. Even caught up in their little rough and tumble game, he was still always watching out the corner of his eye, always paying attention to make sure Hiroki was happy and safe too.

He hoped Yuuto would be as kind and attentive when he got to that age, when he was a grown man with his own stressful hero career to balance. Katsuki really was an ideal role model for an aspiring hero.

When Hiroki began to shiver, Izuku picked him up with a smile, opening his jacket to tuck him inside for snuggles.

“Katsuki,” he called, “me and Hiroki are gonna head back. You guys can keep playing if you want, but don't panic when we disappear!”

He heard Yuuto's stomach growl even from across the park, and Katsuki laughed as he scooped him up under an arm.

“Let's all go back,” he suggested. “We can get some lunch and come play again later if we want.”

“I'm hungry!” Yuuto called, from where he hung over Katsuki's forearm like a piece of laundry. “Food sounds good!”

Inko led the way this time, with Izuku right behind her and Katsuki slowly catching up. Hiroki wound his arms around Izuku's neck, cuddling up close, and Yuuto just giggled any time Katsuki hitched him up a little higher, still dangling limply over the strong arm.

Inko stepped into the kitchen the moment they'd stripped off their outer layers, and Katsuki chuckled as he set Yuuto at the bottom of the stairs.

“Go get changed, you're drenched. I'll help cook.”

“I'll help too!” Hiroki insisted, tearing his gloves off and hurrying into the kitchen. “What can I do?”

“Thank you sweetie, can you get out lots of vegetables for me? I think a nice hot stew is in order.”

“Yum! I love stew!”

He began pulling armloads of potatoes and onions from the bottom of the cupboard, dumping them in the sink to wash, and Inko smiled fondly as she watched.

“You're a very good helper,” she praised, as she began scrubbing potatoes. “Thank you, Hiroki.”

“You're welcome! I like helping!”

He went for carrots next, handing them up to Katsuki to slice off the tops before they went in the sink, and Katsuki ruffled his snow-riddled curls.

“Thanks, bud,” he said softly. “You're a good boy.”

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