My Father's Son - Chapter 64

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It was oddly sad to see Katsuki head off to work again, and to wave goodbye to the boys as they rode off on their bikes to school. Izuku had gotten used to hanging around home with them all, or going out to do fun things; going back to work without them all felt surprisingly lonely. His only saving grace was that the summer holidays weren’t too far away, there were only a couple of months left before they’d have tons of time together. Well, work schedules permitting, anyway – he was still gonna have to work some days, and he was sure Katsuki would too, but he tried not to think about that specific part of the equation.

Honestly, considering Katsuki paid for just about everything in their lives anyway, regardless of Izuku’s protests, it was increasingly tempting to just quit his job and hang out with the boys. He’d only just gotten the job, though, and he did actually enjoy it, plus the boys had to go to school regardless, so that probably wasn’t his best idea in the world.

He knew Hiroki would have agreed, though. He would’ve adored the idea of Izuku quitting work just to spend more time with him.

When he made it to the police station, a bunch of news cameras were set up near the front doors, and Izuku did his best to slip by unnoticed. It wasn’t super rare for a camera crew to show up, to ask someone about a case they’d solved, or help put out info on a missing person or something, but Izuku still hadn’t gotten used to it. A few of his colleagues were being interviewed, but Izuku turned around when he heard a familiar name, cursing himself for always reacting to it without thinking.

“Even the number one hero is entitled to take breaks,” Tsukauchi was telling the camera crew, his expression a lot sterner than usual. “There are plenty of other heroes who can handle incidents in his absence, it’s not always his responsibility.”

“Is it not part of the number one spot? Being available at a moment’s notice when needed?”

“He wasn’t needed.”

Izuku hated himself for stopping to listen, and hated himself more when he saw the little screen they were showing footage on, currently featuring Katsuki lined up at a movie theatre, with Izuku beside him. He felt himself turn beet red, and the cameras immediately pointed his direction, capturing his mortification for the world to see.

“Mister Midoriya!” one of the interviewers spoke up. “A moment of your time?”

Izuku didn’t answer, but they powered through all the same.

“If we understand correctly, you and Mister Bakugou Katsuki – Downfall – are currently co-parenting your two children, is that correct?”

“Yeah,” Izuku answered slowly, wary.

“Can you tell us about that experience?”

“I don’t really think his home life is the public’s business.”

The interviewer blinked at him, clearly surprised by the sternness to his tone – honestly, Izuku was a little surprised at himself too. He didn’t know where he’d dragged that up from, but he liked it.

“I’m sure you can understand how curious the public is about this odd situation, though!”

“That’s not his problem.”

“You don’t want to tell us about his personal experiences?” she said knowingly. “Okay, of course! Well then, what’s it like for you, living with the number one hero, Downfall?”

“I don’t,” Izuku answered, before he could think better of it. “I live with Katsuki.”

She paused, but Izuku didn’t give her a chance to think of a way to turn it back on him.

“It’s not the same thing,” he finished.

He turned and walked away without waiting for them to speak, heading out to one of the back offices to get a little privacy. His heart was pounding; he didn’t like confrontation at the best of times, let alone when he was being a little bit of a jerk about it. He hoped that part didn’t end up on air, although a very tiny part of him hoped it would. There were probably a lot of people out there who thought the same thing – that Katsuki was always on the clock, that he didn’t deserve time to switch off and just be himself, spend time with his friends and family. Hell, Katsuki sometimes thought he didn’t deserve that time. Maybe Izuku’s words could make a couple of people think about that idea, or something. He was probably overestimating himself.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, as he sat down at his desk, and he fished for it to take a look, surprised to find Katsuki’s name lighting up the screen. Had he somehow heard Izuku talking about him?

Oh fuck, was the broadcast live?

Hey nerd, don’t forget I’m gonna be late tonight, I’ve got that stupid meeting.

“Oh thank god,” Izuku whispered to himself, the tension quickly leaving his body. But before he could start typing a response, it buzzed again in his hand.

If there are leftovers could you stick them in one of the glass containers for me for later? All good if not, I can pick something up on my way home.

He’d make sure there were leftovers, and he was sure Katsuki knew that. He began to say as much, but once more the phone buzzed, and he paused again.

Hope work isn’t too crazy on your end.

Izuku cracked a smile. It was kind of sweet, imagining Katsuki typing out the important bits, then coming back again to dither for a moment, debating whether to be polite or not bother. Because he knew Katsuki wouldn’t have added that last bit on instinct, he had to have actively chosen to say something nice, and that was... cute.

Fuck, he needed to stop thinking about that kind of thing.

He opened up his emails to distract himself, oddly relieved to see the messages come piling in, and he gave himself a couple of replies before he looked at the phone screen again, feeling a little more level-headed this time.

There’ll be leftovers! ^_^

There. Short and sweet, nothing too sappy or special, just a simple response to his concerns, and a face to make sure Katsuki knew he was saying it with a smile. That was all it needed, right?

Oh.

Have a great day! ♥️

There. Perfect.

———

Katsuki almost dropped his phone when the response came in, his face burning as he quickly slammed it face down on the table before he could do anything stupid. It was no big deal, he knew it wasn’t; he got those stupid emojis from most of his friends on a daily basis, and yet...

He slowly turned his phone over again, peeking at the message one more time.

Have a great day! ♥

Fuck, was he really so gone for the nerd that he was gonna start reading way-too-far into every damn message he sent? It was just a damn emoji, everyone used them, he used them. Yuuto sent him explosions and bombs in just about every text message; Hiroki sent him a wild collection of flowers and animals and foods that half the time didn’t make sense; even Ryouji occasionally sent him a text that was just that one little dude disco dancing and no further explanation – honestly, what was so different about Izuku using a dumb little heart that he no doubt sent to everyone?

Katsuki really needed to get his damn act together before he ended up ruining everything for their family.

Honestly, he kind of wondered if he should just... tell Izuku. It was probably nothing, after all, right? A dumb little crush because they were spending so much time in close proximity; it was bound to happen. He was sure Izuku would have a little giggle about it, maybe tease him a bit, and they’d both move on. That was who Izuku was. He would never let things be awkward between them, no matter what stupid shit Katsuki’s brain and heart and mouth did.

“Hey Blasty, you good?”

Katsuki slammed his phone back down, getting a raised eyebrow from Mina for it, though she didn’t say the words out loud – not that she needed to.

“Brain doing stupid shit,” he admitted, his voice just an awkward mumble, eyes darting away to make sure no one was listening in.

“Ah. Midoriya?”

“What the fuck-?!”

“Katsuki,” she said softly, sympathetically. “Come on.”

Katsuki slammed his mouth shut, jaw tight, and Mina sat down opposite him, holding her hand out. When he didn’t stop her, she gently took the phone, peeking at the conversation on screen and smiling to herself.

“Overthinking it?” she asked knowingly. “You could just tell him, you know.”

“Tell him what?” Katsuki asked, through gritted teeth.

“That you like him?” Mina answered, just as stubbornly. “Katsuki, my guy, please don’t act like I’m stupid.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She raised an eyebrow at him again, and Katsuki felt his face burn.

“Look,” she began, sighing faintly. “You’re the only one who knows how you feel about anything, okay? I get that. But you could at least be honest about it. Have you even admitted it to yourself yet?”

“I don’t know what–”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Mina cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. “You don’t have to say anything, it’s whatever, I get it. But honestly, dude, we can all see it from a mile away, and I know, you’re gonna get angry about that and yell at me and deny it all, so just skip all that and let’s not bother, okay? You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”

Katsuki glared at her, and she just waited, waving a hand at him again.

“Go on, get it out of your system, then we can talk properly.”

Every muscle in Katsuki’s body felt tight, but he refused to give her the satisfaction, instead focussing on tracing the patterns in the tabletop with his eyes.

“I’m well aware,” he grumbled, refusing to meet her eyes. “But it doesn’t mean anything, I just want it to hurry the fuck up and go away.”

“You think it will?” she asked, genuinely surprised. “I mean, in the nicest way possible... have you ever had a crush before?”

“Fuck no.”

“Then doesn’t it kinda... say something? That you’re thinking about this?”

“Had to happen at some point, didn’t it?”

“Well... Sure, I guess. Or maybe you’re just not the crushing type, maybe you just...”

She trailed off, and Katsuki huffed, not bothering to finish it for her.

“Are you going to tell him?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Think?”

Katsuki shrugged, but Mina waited patiently, letting him choose his words carefully.

“I know I could. It might be... fine. Good. Whatever. I know he wouldn’t be... offended or something.”

“That’s good.”

“I just... can’t imagine it. Him knowing all the stupid things I’m thinking.”

“Stupid?” Mina asked, genuine surprise in her tone. “You think he’d think they’re stupid?”

“I think they’re stupid.”

“Well yeah, but you’re you. You’ve always been so single-minded. It was nothing but number one, your entire life. You didn’t have time to consider relationships. Hell, I’m still surprised you even had hook ups to end up with a kid.”

“Had to blow off steam,” Katsuki shrugged, looking away again, this time to watch sidekicks file through the doors to start their lunch breaks. “Mostly dudes.”

“Your gay ass? Noooo, really?”

“Shut up.” Katsuki smiled all the same, tossing a balled-up napkin at her. “If straight dudes can experiment, so can I.”

“Oh for sure, I’m not denying your right to fuck around and find out, I just always thought it was pretty obvious without the experiments.”

“Yeah,” Katsuki conceded. “It should’ve been.”

He picked up his phone again, staring at that stupid little heart, his thumb hovering over the reply button.

“You never know,” Mina added, with a little shrug. “He might even be thinking the same thing.”

It was Katsuki’s turn to look at her sceptically, this time, and she laughed when she saw his face.

“Let’s be objective here,” she suggested. “He’s a hero nerd, and you’re the number one hero.”

“Granted.”

“You’re the father of his kids, of sorts, and you’re a good dad to them both.”

“Damn right.”

“You’re hot.”

“Fucking obviously.”

“So why wouldn’t he have a little crush on you, too?”

Katsuki frowned, but he... didn’t really have an answer for that.

“I mean, sure, you’re a fucked-up jerkwad-”

“Oi, stop stealing my answers.”

“But,” Mina continued, struggling to hold back her laughter. “You’re really hot.”

“Fuck,” Katsuki said softly. “You might actually be right.”

“I swear to god, for a dude with a list of anxieties and self-deprecations a mile long, you’re the most conceited fucker I’ve ever met.”

“Hell yeah. Number one, bitch.”

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