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Plus One?
Not a lot of things in this world were more important to Katsuki Bakugou than being a hero, but one of those things - a shock to all of UA high - was fatherhood, and the two people that came along with it: his firecracker of a daughter Sachiko Bakugou, and her compassionate but fiercely protective mother, Katsuki’s long-time friend, Hana Watanabe.
The word ‘friend’ was deliberate, and those known to Katsuki could tell you it was used sparingly. Because although some might refer to Hana as Katsuki’s ex or Sachiko’s mother, a friend is what Hana had been to him since his second year at UA high - far longer than they had been anything more. And anything more, they had eventually realised, was never meant for the two of them - but it did make so much more than they ever could have dreamed.
Katsuki’s friends were well aware of both Hana and Sachiko’s place in his life, and they’d come to be a part of their own. They pulled him into gear when needed, forced him to take care of himself when he wouldn’t, and Hana knew him better than he knew himself. For that, she and Sachi were loved widely by the alumni of UA, and Katsuki was no exception.
But this story wasn’t about Hana, a fact which Katsuki would be forced to face when he was 27, sitting across from her at her kitchen table, with a four-year-old Sachiko bouncing on his knee.
“I don’t get why I’m still here. Is it about the wedding?” Katsuki asked, though he was never unhappy to visit his favourite girls - a fact he’d never let out in front of anyone but the pair sitting with him.
Hana placed a cup of tea in front of Katsuki and herself before taking her seat across from him. “No, but don’t sound so thrilled, jeez. It’s not like you’re the one who’s had to plan it.”
The ‘wedding’ the pair were referring to was Hana’s exclusively, though Katsuki was a big part of it. Katsuki had been sure to spend extra time with Sachi to allow Hana some space to breathe and collect her thoughts.
“Mhm. Well, I don’t envy it. Two crazy bridezillas like you and Kyoko? Makes me want to fall to my knees and thank Kami I never settled down.”
That was another thing: Hana was marrying her partner of two years, Kyoko. This was a conversation had by Katsuki and Hana not long after Sachi’s conception when the two realised whatever it was between them wasn’t working. Hana, specifically, came to realise she just didn’t like Katsuki that way - or any man, for that matter. It was a relief for Katsuki to have his friend back, because for whatever reason it didn’t feel right for him, either. And he’d decided if it didn’t feel right with Hana, it just wasn’t for him.
That train of thought is what made him interrupt Hana’s scolding of his misogynistic comment. “Oh fucking hell, am I here for this shit again?”
This shit referred to an all-too-frequent occurrence of Hana insisting Katsuki get back out there and find that special person , and if you asked Katsuki, he’s pretty sure Hana already has an idea of whoever this person is, even if Katsuki doesn’t.
When Hana’s eyes opened wide and lip formed a stern line, he was reminded of the impressionable infant in his lap. Luckily for him, she was happily distracted by a DynaMight plushie in her hands - a new toy, he now realised, upon further inspection.
With just the quirk of his eyebrow, the woman in front of him had already deciphered what he was thinking. “You’re lucky Midoriya brought this one over for her today,” Hana smiled at her daughter fondly, “it was the only thing that could make her stop sooking earlier.”
Katsuki was confused. “Deku was here?” The mention of his close friend and current rival for the hero rankings took him by surprise, but not for the reason one would think. It was a common occurrence for Deku to stop by Hana’s place, but that was usually with Katsuki by his side. Or, to stop by Katsuki’s place when he had Sachi, as the boy was rather fond of her. That feeling was entirely mutual, which also made Katsuki question why she was fiddling with the DynaMight toy rather than her favoured Deku figurine.
He wasn’t sure what caused a weight in his stomach when discovering Deku visited without him, and without mentioning it to him at that when he’d only seen him earlier that morning when their patrols overlapped.
“He sure was,” Hana smirked, “he stopped by earlier and we had tea.” Katsuki must have pulled a face, as Hana giggled behind her teacup. “Relax Kat, we’re not cheating on you.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Oh please, you think I’m jealous of you having tea with shitty Deku when you’re getting married in a month’s time?” Katsuki was never one to get jealous, not even when the mother of his child and the only person he had ever been with announced she was marrying someone else.
“Never said it was Deku you were jealous of...” She quipped, grin turning mischievous.
Heat rising to his face, Katsuki tried his best to hide his blush behind his own mug. This wasn’t the first time someone had alluded to something more between Katsuki and Deku, but it was usually a comment made in jest, and it wasn’t unknown behaviour from Hana or even Kirishima, Uraraka, Kaminari and Ashido for that matter.
However, these were only ever little, passing comments, like “these two bicker more like a married couple than Mina and me” from Kirishima, or “how hopeless I was to ever compete with Bakugou for Deku’s attention in high school” from Uraraka. He’ll admit that from Hana, they were a little less playful and a little more… he didn’t know. It was like she was complimenting them both and trying to point something out he couldn’t quite see, like how if anyone knew Katsuki better than Hana, it was Deku, or how if Hana and Kyoko died (he never liked these comments), she’d want Deku to take care of Katsuki and Sachi.
It wasn’t a crazy thought. If he wasn’t with Hana and Sachi or his idiot friends, he was at work with Deku, at Deku’s place, at his own place with Deku, getting ramen with Deku, or having drinks with Deku. In a way, they were already taking care of each other, and that went both ways… eventually. He realised the nerd only ever wanted to walk beside him, even when it came to the number one ranking they exchanged between them for years. Since then, he’d taken hits for him, saved him from the grips of death, and cleaned his wounds. Of course, the self-sacrificial bastard was always doing the same back for him, but that was nothing new… only now, Katsuki appreciated it. Hell, as much as he would deny it to anyone, Deku may just be among the more important things in his life. Especially seeming as though the fucker has managed to infiltrate his way into every aspect of Katsuki’s life, including his family.
Denying that to his friends was one thing, but Hana was another. Not that he would stop trying. “I’m not his keeper, he can do what he wants. Just didn’t know he ever came here alone.”
“He doesn’t, it was just today. He came by for a reason.”
That piqued Katsuki’s interest. He grunted for her to continue, and she obliged. “He was asking me about plus-ones for the wedding.”
Katsuki spluttered hot black tea over his lap, just missing his daughter by half an inch. He thought he would have earned an irritated look from his friend, but instead, her face was unchanging: waiting, maybe.
“You didn’t know? He didn’t mention it to you?”
No, he hadn’t, which was as much of a surprise to Katsuki as it was completely expected. Deku was considered a hot commodity as one of Japan’s most eligible bachelors if any of the magazines were to be believed. Just as much as Katsuki were, dare he say so himself. But the surprising part was the fact Deku hadn’t mentioned it to him . Deku, who couldn’t help but broadcast which cereal he ate for breakfast, didn’t even tell Katsuki who he was bringing to his kid’s mother’s wedding.
Deku knew Katsuki wasn’t doing the whole “plus-one” deal. He didn’t need to; he was going to have Sachi, Deku, Kirishima and all of those idiots. Why would he want a date at one of the most important events of his daughter’s life? And why did it piss him off so much that Deku was going to?
“Alright, you’re freaking me out a bit. Never have I rendered Katsuki Bakugou speechless before,” she giggled, “like jeez, you had more to say when I told you I was gay.”
Katsuki eye-rolled. “Wasn’t entirely unexpected. Besides, not like I had anything to be upset about, had nothing to do with me.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Katsuki wished he could shove them back in, as the woman across from him widened her eyes and quickly swallowed a mouthful of tea to speak. “Oh, but you have reason to be upset with Midoriya maybe taking a date to my wedding, which - by the way - I haven’t even confirmed or denied yet!”
That one got Katsuki. She hadn’t actually said he was taking someone, just that he’d asked about plus-ones. So really, he could have told her he’s going stag, and happened to drop in a DynaMight toy he found on the way there - knowing him, he’d pocketed one for himself, as well.
But some nagging voice told Katsuki that wasn’t it. “So, confirm or deny it, then.”
Hana smirked and thought back to her morning with Midoriya.
~~~
“It’s unlocked!” Hana yelled from behind her couch, searching for her daughter’s toy to soothe her cries.
The door closed a little more gently than would be expected for Katsuki. “Uh, hi, Hana!”
Midoriya? “Midoriya?” She popped her head over the couch and saw Midoriya standing in her doorway with a plastic bag in hand. “Thought the absence of the door slam was weird. Kats with you? Thought he had patrol?”
He slowly walked over, looking nervous. “Oh, he does. It’s just me today, I’m sorry if I’ve come at a bad time, I can come back--”
“NO!” Hana cried, rising to her feet and stammering over to him. “I’ve got the number one hero in my apartment and he’s not leaving ‘til he lifts my couch and helps me find little Deku.”
Midoriya laughed. “Don’t let Kacchan hear you saying the number one H-word…” he began, before looking down at a crying Sachi who’s now made her way over to Midoriya, arms raised and pouting. “Oh, Sachi, you lost little Deku?”
Midoriya lifted Sachi into the air and carried her on his hip, as she buried her face into his shirt. “I’m sorry big Deku, I didn’t mean to!” He laughed and brushed the hair out of her face, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
“That’s okay sweetheart, big Deku will help you look! Plus ultra!” He cheered as she gave him a tear-filled smile and let him release her.
He walked over to Hana and lifted one end of the couch with ease. “You’re so good with her, she just loves you so much. That’s why she’s so bummed about losing little Deku.”
Midoriya’s cheeks burned but his stature didn’t falter; he wanted to do whatever he could to keep that little girl’s smile alive. “I don’t think it’s under here, Hana. Do you want me to lift anything else?”
Hana frowned. “That’s alright, I know it’ll turn up once I get the housework done or Kyoko gets home, I just…” she trailed off, tears lining her eyes, “I don’t want more things to change for her, you know? With Kyoko and I getting married, she’s getting a whole new family, and I… I don’t know…”
Midoriya gently lowered the couch to the ground and walked over to Hana, embracing her in a hug. “It’s not changing, Hana, you and Kyoko are already family! And Sachi loves her so much! I’ve never seen her warm so fast to anyone.”
Hana pulled her face back from Midoriya’s chest and huffed out a giggle. “Except you. She’s always looked at you like you hung the moon.”
Midoriya tried to laugh off the warm sensation in his chest. “That’s different, I… I was there since she was just a baby, she hasn’t known it any other way.”
Hana smiled like she knew something Midoriya didn’t. “We really don’t know it any other way,” she wiped her eyes as Midoriya released his arms and stepped back, “ugh, sorry about that. So what brings you here? Sit down, I’ll make tea.”
Midoriya went to follow her into the kitchen to help, but a stubborn Sachi grabbed his hand, leading him towards the kitchen table. He obliged her, remembering he’d just told himself he’d do whatever he could to keep her happy. If she couldn’t have little Deku for the meantime, he’d be her placeholder. He sat down and lifted her onto his lap.
“Oh, before I get to that, I have something for Sachi I don’t want to forget.” He collected the plastic bag from around his arm.
Hana’s laugh echoed through the kitchen. “You boys are terrible, stop the spoiling! She’s plenty happy with just a visit from big Deku.”
Midoriya smiled again, resting his chin on Sachi’s head. “I know, I’m sorry! It’s just one thing though, and I think it comes at a good time anyway…”
He handed her the plastic bag to dig through herself, and out she pulled a DynaMight hero plush toy bigger than her head, with soft explosions and spikes that contrasted the man’s actual demeanour.
“IT’S LITTLE DADDY!” She all but screamed, hugging the toy to her chest and promptly hopping off Midoriya’s lap to show her mother her new prized possession.
Hana took it from her briefly and looked between the toy and Midoriya fondly. “Oh wow, it is little Daddy! Gosh, it’s like you read our minds today, Midoriya, you really are our hero.” Sachi snatched her toy back from her mother, running over to the couch to inspect it on her own.
“I saw it in the window on my way over and couldn’t help myself. I know Kacchan would never buy his own merch for her, so… I thought I may as well! Now no matter what week it is, she’ll always have the number one hero by her side.”
Hana placed one hand on her chest in adoration, pouring tea with the other. “God, Midoriya, get any sweeter and you’ll rot my teeth out. I think you’ve just made her day.”
Midoriya smiled to himself; he could only hope so, anyway. He could imagine being the child of one of the top heroes was hard, seeing your Dad on screen and not being able to talk to him whenever you want. At least the latter was something he could personally relate to in his own childhood. She was a lucky girl to have her Kacchan, Hana and now Kyoko, but he knew this wasn’t an ideal situation for a kid.
“So you were already on your way here when you saw it… what brings you here?” She asked, placing the tea in front of Midoriya and herself before taking her seat across from him.
Midoriya thanked her, grabbing the tea and blowing on it - anything to drag this on. He wasn’t sure how to start, or what to say, or how to say it, but--
“Midoriya, you’re muttering,” she snapped him out of it, “no stress, it’s just me. You can blurt out whatever it is.”
“Wedding.”
“Yes, I am having one of those.”
“No,” he laughed at his fumbled words, “um, I mean, plus-ones to the wedding.”
Hana eyed him suspiciously, clearly not having anticipated his words. “I’m pretty sure I remember you vehemently declining your plus-one, but you know I love you so I’m happy to make an exception--”
Deku quickly shook his head, swallowing his first gulp of tea. “No, no! Not me, I don’t, there’s no one, you’ve already--”
Hana put down her cup and scratched her chin. “Okay… someone else?”
“Kacchan,” he spat out.
Hana smirked. “You don’t have to plus-one him, Midoriya, he’s already invited. My best man, in fact.”
Midoriya was cringing at himself. The man could save hundreds from a collapsed wreckage but couldn’t get his thoughts across in one simple sentence. Of course, he had an inkling Hana might have known what he was getting at, but the woman had always liked to toy around with both him and Kacchan.
“Does Kacchan have a plus-one?”
Hana’s smile fell and her mouth dropped slightly; Midoriya couldn’t tell what his question had made her think, but each second only seemed to drag on longer than the last, before she finally broke the silence. “I did give him one,” she began, Midoriya’s breath catching in his throat before she continued, “just like I gave you one.”
That didn’t really answer his question. Or, maybe it did? Midoriya had a plus one, but he didn’t use it. If Kacchan had a plus one, just like Midoriya, that would have to mean he didn’t use it. Right? Unless his date was already invited. Unless there was someone--
“He is not bringing a date, Midoriya.”
Midoriya felt a wave of relief crash over his body but tried his best not to show it. “Oh, okay. Yeah, okay. Me neither, I, um, you know, it’s a big day for you all, and for Sachiko, so I, uh… you know, it’s not really the right day for a first date, not that there’s anyone I’d want to bring as a first date, I mean who’s not already…”
“He said the same thing,” Hana explained, “it’s a big day for Sachi, Kyoko and me, and he doesn’t need a date. But you know the guy, he’s only ever dated a lesbian so he’s not exactly versed in the area.”
Midoriya laughed. It was true, Kacchan wasn’t really the ‘dating’ type, not that he didn’t have options. In fact, over the years, whenever Midoriya agreed to a date - which was only ever as a nicety, not out of interest - his friend would chastise him for “putting his dick above the hero rankings”. It was big talk for Katsuki Bakugou, the secretly doting and ever-devoted family man, to accuse someone of placing something above being a hero. But it was one of the things Midoriya… loved about him.
“You’re right. I mean, it’s not like I can talk. I haven’t dated in forever.”
“Wouldn’t say you’re not the dating type though,” she said, matter-of-factly, “actually, I’d say you’re dying to date someone.”
Midoriya huffed. “No, Hana, honest! I just don’t see the point in going out and meeting new--”
“Who said anything about new?” Hana caught him, and Midoriya froze. Earlier, he thought Hana’s face conveyed that she knew something he didn’t. Now, it looks like she knows something he’s known for a long while and has hoped no one else did, either.
“Um, I mean… that is how people… date, these days. It’s how you and Kyoko met, as well.”
“You’re right, it is how people date,” she agreed, “people who aren’t already in love with someone.”
Shit. Midoriya’s heart sank, and he felt like he was exposed for the whole world to see, even if in front of him sat one of the people he’d come to trust the most. “Hana…”
“I’m sorry, Midoriya, I really don’t mean to be blunt,” she apologised, beginning to look remorseful, “but I’ve been sitting on this for like ten years now, and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in like a week with all this wedding stress and now with Sachi’s lost Deku I--”
“Ten years?! Hana that’s… that’s way before you and Kacchan ever even dated, how could you have known how I felt about him and not want to gouge my eyes out?”
“Wait, it’s Katsuki?” She eyed him, and he sputtered once more. “Wait no, Midoriya, I’m just messing with you, I know it’s Kats. And God, I was never mad. Maybe I should’ve been jealous. Hell, Ochako always said I should’ve been. But I guess that’s a consequence of not liking men, isn’t it?” She laughed.
Midoriya knew it was a safe space, he really did. But sitting in this apartment, across from the former flame of the man he loves, only metres away from the child he loves too, he’s beginning to feel claustrophobic. And scared. He buried his face in his hands.
Before he knew it, a chair had been pulled up beside him, and Hana’s hands were soothing his back. “Midoriya, I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to do this today, and I know it’s not why you’re here, but--”
“It is.”
Hana’s hand stilled. “It is?”
“It is. I…” Midoriya removed his face from his hands and turned to look at the woman beside him. “You’re becoming a family, Hana, and I’m so happy for you, Kyoko, Sachi and even Kacchan. It’s beautiful, but it made me sad. Because I kind of feel like… I am family sometimes, you know? I’m here every other day, I take Sachiko on my own some days, hell I’ve even had to put her to sleep sometimes when she’s refused to go with you, Kyo or Kacchan.”
Hana frowned. “You are family, Midoriya. Why would you be sad?”
Midoriya gave a downcast smile. “Because I won’t always be. Kacchan says he doesn’t want to date, but this could be his wedding someday, you know? I don’t think I could stand beside him and watch him add someone else to your family without ever having had a chance. I don’t even think I could stand to see someone else meet Sachiko, or see Sachiko with some other person’s plush toy.”
“Well, we don’t know he’s marrying another hero,” she joked and managed to coax a laugh out of Midoriya.
“You know what I mean. I’m only family until he meets his own Kyoko. I can’t exactly hang around here, pining for him while he’s happy with someone else. I won’t do that to him.”
“You really are a self-sacrificial bastard.” Hana muttered just audibly enough for Midoriya to hear, as he gave confused ‘huh?’. “So, you’re here today to what? Take your hat out of the ring? Walk out of our lives?” She begins to feel angry, and she can’t help it. She knows he needs to give Katsuki the chance before Izuku makes this decision on his own.
“No, I’m going to tell him I love him,” Midoriya stated with confidence, “but I knew I had to do it before the wedding, because if he showed up with a date, or I had one too many glasses of champagne and thought about his own wedding while I’m dancing at yours, I’d end up telling him then and there, and I refuse to do that to any of you. Not when you’ve waited so long for this.”
“Well, you’re right about one thing,” she told him, hand on his shoulder, “you’re definitely not doing it at my wedding.” Midoriya smiled at her honesty. “That’s why you’re doing it today.”
Midoriya was thankful he’d already finished his tea by now. “Today?!”
Hana nodded. “Today. He’s on patrol now, but I’ll text him saying I need help with Sachi tonight. You just go home and think about this, and I’ll help any way I can before then.”
Midoriya didn’t imagine he’d have access to this much help. He wasn’t even quite sure what brought him here, apart from Hana’s comfort and his desire to glimpse his pseudo-family one last time before jeopardising it.
“I appreciate it, Hana, thank you. But I don’t really know how you’d be able to help me. I’ll just have to ask to see him after.”
Hana smirked to herself. “I’ll think of something, don’t you worry. Just leave it with me. I owe you anyway for finally stopping this one’s crying.” She nodded towards her now-sleeping child on the couch, arms around her new toy.
“Still beats me why she asked for a little Deku in the first place when she could’ve asked for a little Kacchan. Look how happy she is with her little Daddy!” He watched on with adoration.
Out of his peripheral, he saw Hana look over at him with slight confusion. “You don’t know?”
Now Midoriya was confused. “Know what?”
“Sachi didn’t ask for little Deku. Kat gave it to her.”
“He did? When?”
“While you were in hospital last year. You know, Sachi was so mad she wasn’t allowed to visit you, and so jealous that Kat was going to see you everyday. After visiting you one day, he came back with a Deku toy. God, she was so happy after that, she went to sleep with Mommy, Daddy, Kyo and Deku all around her.” Hana smiled, clearly touched by the memory, but Midoriya paused.
“Kacchan bought her little Deku? Wait, Kacchan was visiting me everyday?” Midoriya was flooded by so many questions that he wanted, no, needed answers to.
Hana looked at him with a quirked eyebrow. “Yeah, who else would have? Mrs Midoriya couldn’t always make it. You were never alone, you know,” she explained, her smile resurfacing again, “he really never told you that, did he?”
Midoriya slowly shook his head, trying to force his overactive mind not to read into this more than he should. But why shouldn’t he? “Kacchan didn’t even see Auntie once when she got her gallbladder taken out.”
A pause washed over them, and Hana let it for a few moments before adding her two cents. “Maybe you should let yourself overthink every once in a while.” She smiled, having read his mind yet again. But she didn’t have to tell him twice, because his mind had already taken him there.
He didn’t even realise he’d stood up and began walking to the door before Hana caught his arm right before he left. “I don’t know if this tells you much else, but the Deku toy was already quite scuffed when Sachi got it. I never said Kat bought it, but he did give it to her.”
That was the last boost of confidence Midoriya needed before he flashed a smile at Hana and raced out the door in full cowl. The rest was up to him, now.
~~~
Now, Hana sat across from Katsuki, much like she had sat across from Midoriya only hours earlier. When she’d told Midoriya to leave it with her, she had no idea an opportunity like this would fall into her hands.
“Why do you care?” She challenged.
“I don’t, you’re the one who brought it up.”
“Actually, you asked me what Midoriya was doing here. He came here to talk about plus-ones for the wedding, and he gave that plushie to your daughter,” she explained, “and we got to talking about little Deku - which is lost, by the way.”
Call him a sap, but the end of Hana’s sentence made Katsuki’s eyes dart around the room. “Don’t stress Kats, I found it. Sach left it under the car seat.”
“I wasn’t stressed.” He lied, not knowing why he even bothered anymore. “Is that why he brought it?”
“No, actually, happy coincidence. He just always found it weird that Sachi asked me to get her a Deku toy and not a DynaMight one,” she teased, “and I found that weird!”
Katsuki narrowed his eyes. “Hana…”
She laughed him off. “Oh relax, he didn’t think anything of it when I told him you gave it to her,” she paused briefly while Katsuki tensed up, “in secondhand condition after visiting him daily in the hospital.”
Katsuki felt sparks light up his hand before he was reminded of the gentle weight in his lap - and he stopped. He closed his eyes, counted his breaths in and out, and wondered why the fuck it even mattered that Deku knew that, why it mattered if he knew Katsuki was visiting him, wondered why… he felt the need to hide it from Deku in the first place?
It’s not like Deku wouldn’t have done it for him - scratch that, he has . He can’t even count on two hands how many times he’s woken up in a hospital bed or after a fight and not met the eyes of his green-haired friend. Whether he was in the background behind Hana and Sachi, or in the foreground just as bloodied as he was, Deku was always a constant when Katsuki felt he was in danger - and if anyone asked, that was never . Another thing Katsuki would never admit is he’d begun to seek him out. If he woke up in a hospital bed tomorrow without Deku in sight, he knows panic would spike in him, because if Deku’s not there doting on him, he’s either lying in a bed two doors down or in a ditch somewhere. So, it’s not a big deal if Katsuki finds himself returning the favour, is it?
“Okay.” He managed.
“Those anger management sessions really paid off, didn’t they? That and having a four-year-old in your lap, I guess.” She quipped.
“You’re getting off track.” He prompted.
“Ah, right, silly me…” she jested, “well, I may as well start from the beginning, right?” Katsuki nodded. “After a lot of probing for why he was even here, he asked if you were bringing a date.”
Katsuki frowned. Deku would know as well as Hana that Katsuki was not only against bringing a date to his daughter’s mother’s wedding, but didn’t even date in general. He can’t fathom why he would ask Hana, especially when he could’ve just asked Katsuki himself. For whatever reason, the idea of Deku thinking he had a date annoyed him… he wanted Deku to be corrected.
“Yes, I told him you weren’t, and he immediately reiterated your whole ‘I’m not doing that to Sachi’ speech, which made me think, why would he even ask me in the first place?” Hana had wondered aloud Katsuki’s own thoughts.
“So I asked if he wanted to bring a date,” she went on as Katsuki’s stomach churned, “and he said he shouldn’t, because it’s an important day for us, but I wasn’t convinced that’s what he wanted deep down, you know? Maybe if I’d said you were bringing a date, he would have too.”
Katsuki couldn’t play the part of the complacent Dad anymore. He lifted Sachi off his lap, placing her on the couch with her DynaMight toy and gave her a kiss on the head before walking back over to Hana.
She looked up at him expectantly, clearly sure of his response. As much as he’d like to be able to keep her on her toes, he gave in. “So shitty Deku wants the OK to bring some cheap extra to the wedding.”
“I didn’t say that,” Hana warned, “and I’m not going to tell you any more. This is something you and Midoriya need to talk out together. I won’t get involved. He trusted me and you know I consider Midoriya family. You need to tell him if you’re not okay with it.”
“Of course I’m not okay with it!” Katsuki managed in his best quiet voice, which still managed to be some degree of yelling, “He can pick any day of the year to date some shitty extra. Has he not considered you?”
“I told him I don’t personally have an issue with it!”
“Then is he not thinking about Sachi? How confused she’ll be with him rocking up with some guy or chick she’s never even seen before?”
Hana sighed. “Midoriya’s not her Dad, Kat. It’s not that big a deal if big Deku has a boyfriend or girlfriend. You didn’t even get this weird when Kyoko met Sachi.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair. “That’s different! She’s going to be your wife! This person isn’t gonna keep up with Deku like Kyoko’s kept up with you. They won’t make sure the fucker doesn’t starve himself or pass out on the road!”
“Remind me again how this relates to Sachiko at all? You’re just talking about why it’s not good for Deku to have a partner! He could end up this person’s husband, Katsuki, just like with Kyoko and me!”
Katsuki shook his head. “No. Deku doesn’t do that shit. Nothing’s more important to him than being a hero. He’s never even gone on more than one date with someone.”
“And why do you think that is, Katsuki?”
“Because we have lives to save, Hana! There’s no fucking time for weakness or shitty nobodies standing in our way!”
Hana’s face went cold. “Is that what Sachiko and I are to you, Katsuki? Weakness and shitty distractions from your hero work?” She uttered in a hushed tone so the child in question wouldn’t hear.
Katsuki’s face dropped as he turned around to look at his daughter, now with her Deku toy in one hand and DynaMight plush in the other. When he listened closely, he heard her utter tiny fake explosion noises and parroting the pair’s “win to save, save to win!”. He was enamoured watching her embrace both toys with the love she’d embraced him with everyday, giving him only more strength to help save the day.
“No, you’re… family. I do that shit for you guys, you don’t… you don’t make me weak, you make me feel… loved.”
Hana’s arms were folded in front of her. “So Midoriya doesn’t deserve that? Family? Motivation? He doesn’t deserve to feel loved when he’s out there risking his ass to save everyone?”
“He is fucking loved, Hana! We’re his family, you just said it, we fucking love him! The whole of UA and the rest of fucking Japan love him!” Katsuki yelled before immediately freezing.
Hana’s said she loves Deku before, Sachi says it all the time. Kirishima, Uraraka, IcyHot, so many others have said it, too, and Deku always says it back. He knows he’s loved. He has to.
His eyes refocused and Hana was closer to him than before. She stared into his eyes, challenging him. “Do you love him, Kat?”
If his heart wasn’t already pounding out of his chest, it was now. No , he wants to spit back in her face. He’s just Deku. But he knows that’s not true, because he’d just said we love him . He could look her in the eyes right now and say I just said we love him , but he knows this woman just as well as she knows him. He knows as soon as the words fly out of his mouth, they’ll be countered with you know what I mean, Kat, not that kind of love. Then what does he say? He might as well skip the middle bullshit and get to what she really wants to know - what she wants to hear. But he doesn’t know what he wants to say, even though he knows what she wants to hear.
She wants to hear him say yes. He’s not an idiot, he’s been over this before. But despite living a few blocks down and having known Katsuki for ten years, she doesn’t live in the same world as him and Deku. Hana can love Kyoko with every fibre of her being with no consequences, other than the inevitable deaths they’ll both endure at some point, likely later if Katsuki can help it. Deku is the self-sacrificial successor of One For All, the number one hero of Japan (this week), which is heavy enough on its own as it is.
But he was also the formerly quirkless Deku that Katsuki taunted for the better part of a decade, even if that was over 13 years ago now. Although Hana’s heard the stories, she wasn’t there. She met the two boys behind the scenes of their second-year internship with Endeavour, when she was simply interning behind a desk managing accounts. She met him after so many things had already happened: the sludge villain, the USJ incident, the kidnapping, Katsuki taking the hit from Shigaraki for Deku. By that time, Katsuki’s already realised Deku was important to him, even if his adolescent brain hadn’t caught up to what that importance meant quite yet.
Even if Katsuki had love to give, he doesn’t know that Deku wouldn’t flinch away from it. Hell, all the information Katsuki has right now tells him that Deku wants Katsuki with someone else so that Deku can be with someone else. It’s not an encouragement; it’s the exact opposite. It’s only an encouragement for Katsuki to implode the thoughts and feelings he’s kept at bay all his adulthood. He was doing fine before this, so why did it have to come up now?
He doesn’t know what he wants to say to Hana’s question, so instead, he said, “I know you want me to say yes.”
Hana nodded, taking her teacup back into her hands and taking another slow sip, before placing it back down. She looked up at him. “Why would I want you to say that, Kats?”
Katsuki always said in another life Hana would’ve made a good shrink. Katsuki can appreciate a good question when he hears one, so he gave it thought. Why would Hana, his best friend, the mother of his child, want Katsuki to say he loves Deku?
Maybe it’s as simple as Katsuki thought.
“You want me to be happy.”
Hana smiled softly and reached her hand out to hold his own. She didn’t say anything; only gave his hand a gentle squeeze, which said all she needed to. Katsuki looked down at their linked hands and huffed a heavy sigh.
He couldn’t resist making a joke during the heavy moment. “This would’ve been so much easier if we were straight, huh?”
Hana playfully slapped his hand. “I can’t believe that is how you officially come out to me. I cried and made you dinner when I came out to you, and you just slip it into a joke like it’s nothing!”
“Don’t act like you didn’t already know. I’ve got no problem whipping you guys something up to eat but I’ll be damned if you see me cry.” He feigned annoyance but squeezed her hand back.
“True. And how cute of you to act like I haven’t seen you cry plenty already,” she smirked, rubbing circles over the back of his hand. “I notice you still haven’t quite given me an answer.”
Katsuki realised that, too. He knows what he told her conveyed the message loud and clear. But one fact remained: Deku had come here asking about a date to bring to the wedding. And if someone was going to hear Katsuki’s confession today, it was going to be that sorry bastard once Katsuki tells him the only possible date he can have at this wedding.
He grinned, kissing Hana’s hand. “I guess I didn’t.” He got up and walked over to his sleeping daughter, brushing hair from her face and kissing her forehead. His eyes trailed down to the little Deku and DynaMight cuddled at her side, not just holding her, but almost holding each other.
As he walked past Hana to the front door, he couldn’t help but make one last comment. “I may not give you an answer, but I will say this - Deku certainly ain’t just another extra to my kid.”
Hana smiled. “That he certainly isn’t,” she agreed, “go get him, Kats.”
Katsuki closed the door behind him, shooting a text to the boy in question before he reached his car.
~~~
Katsuki sat behind the wheel for longer than intended, gripping the wheel and trying to urge himself to move even an inch. But now he was here, he could see the TV on through the curtains of Deku’s living room, and he knew Deku was in there . Deku, who knows about Katsuki’s hospital visits, who wanted a plus-one to the wedding, who came to visit his daughter and her mother with a gift of him made into a plushie. Deku, who’s seen him at his ugliest, and who’s seen and spent time with the most beautiful thing he’s ever created. Deku, whose relationship with Katsuki is about to change in one way or another - good or bad - in the next hour, as soon as Katsuki manages to move .
He saw the TV shut off, and just like that, his seatbelt was off, his car door was closed and he was making his way to the front door. He can’t tell if he wants this moment to drag on or speed up. He faced the door, fist raised, though it opened before Katsuki can even knock, and he’s met with big, bright, expectant , green eyes. The churning evaporated into butterflies in his stomach, and it’s all he needed to take a step forward into the house.
Once inside, his eyes immediately darted towards a takeout bag from their favourite ramen joint sitting on the dining table, two bowls placed across from each other with a glass of wine on each side. He couldn’t help but chuckle, because trust Deku to pair takeout ramen with a bottle of red. He made his way over as he heard a gentle close and lock of the front door. Then, it was all becoming more and more real by the second.
“Um, I wasn’t exactly sure to what I owed the pleasure, and I know you had patrol earlier and I don’t think you would’ve eaten already since you left after 5:30 and you usually don’t eat until after 6, so I just thought I’d grab us some ramen since I hadn’t eaten either,” he began rambling, and Katsuki wondered if Deku even remembered he was speaking aloud, “and I also thought maybe you just wanted to unwind - um, like relax - after your patrol and whatever chaos you had with Sachi and her lost toy, so I opened this bottle of wine the agency gifted me last quarter which is apparently meant to be very good and--”
“It’s great, thanks Deku.” He took his seat and allowed Deku to take a breath amidst his muttering. Deku sat across from him, still looking nervous and unsure of what was to come.
“So, you mentioned Sachi lost her toy.”
Izuku’s eyes blew open, telling Katsuki he clearly didn’t even realise or intend to tell him about his visit to Hana’s apartment. “Oh, I, uh… yeah. I was there earlier.”
Katsuki smirked, bringing the glass of wine to his lips. “So I’ve heard.”
Izuku mirrored the man in front of him by picking up his own glass. “You did, did you?”
“Yep. She’s found it now, by the way. Not before she managed to snag an even better toy in its stead.” Katsuki smirked, paying close attention to dishing out his food, so as not to lose his confidence so soon in the conversation.
Izuku chuckled. “I’m glad she has them both now. Guess little Deku and little Kacchan go good together.”
Katsuki’s confidence faltered now; he didn’t think the nerd had this in him. “Uh, yeah, I guess so.”
They were met with silence as they began to eat, and it wasn’t one of awkwardness; the pair were used to moments like this, spending as much time as they do together. But for Katsuki, and he was sure Izuku might have been feeling something similar, the silence was invaded by loud thoughts trying to predict where the conversation would go tonight.
So this time only, he was sick of the silence. “Deku, I--”
“So--” Izuku began at the same time.
The pair managed a laugh before Katsuki decided to let Izuku take the lead on this one, signalling him to continue with a slight nod.
Izuku stopped eating and folded his hands together, resting his chin on top while looking down at his plate. “So, I did see Hana today, and I came to ask her something…” his gaze met Katsuki’s, “important.”
Excitement and anticipation are bubbling inside of Katsuki as he tries to stop the corners of his mouth from betraying his cool facade. “So I’ve heard.”
At that, Izuku looked shocked, which made sense; Katsuki imagined he probably wouldn’t have expected Hana to tell him much at all, but the nerd should know by now that Katsuki is just as smart as he is. Some things he can figure out on his own (or with a subtle helping hand from a meddling Hana Watanabe).
Izuku reasoned that if Katsuki came over, unprompted by Izuku, surely the night wouldn’t go south. That gave him the confidence he needed to continue. “Ah, so… you heard that part too, did you?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Katsuki’s lit with confidence until Izuku’s own began to falter. The man took another sip of his wine, seemingly hiding behind the glass as if scared of Katsuki’s response - an entirely different impression than what he got from earlier.
“And…” Izuku began, voice slightly quivering, “what do you… think? Would it be okay?”
Whatever confidence was left in Katsuki has evaporated, looking into the nervous, cautious but hopeful eyes of the man sitting across from him. Fuck, he felt like an idiot. Here he was, thinking he’d read all of Hana’s cues that Izuku might’ve wanted more, when really what he wanted all along was Katsuki’s approval - to date someone. He couldn’t help but feel annoyed, and his voice conveyed that just fine. “I heard you already know what I think.”
A little confused, Izuku decided to press on ahead, knowing the moment had to be now or never. “Well, I… was hoping maybe you’d consider it?”
What Izuku didn’t expect is for a scoff to escape Katsuki’s mouth. If Katsuki wasn’t annoyed before, he was now; Izuku’s buttering him up with wine and ramen to ask him if he can take someone else to the wedding. “Are you kidding me?” He spat.
Izuku’s hope melted into hesitation, and then determination to desperately undo whatever he’d just begun. “Yes, just forget it. Don’t worry, I… I must have misunderstood.” He reflects on the confident spring in his step as he left Hana’s apartment earlier which has only turned into shame for hoping for this of all things. He was praying that Katsuki would oblige him and let him walk away from this, maybe not unscathed, but with some dignity intact.
Katsuki huffed. “No, Izuku, I won’t forget it,” Izuku is taken aback by the use of his given name, “I can’t now. I thought you knew how I felt about that.”
Shame soon became annoyance, and Izuku decided he would have no regrets if the situation couldn’t be forgotten. “How would I ever know how you feel when you don’t say it? Can you blame me for having hope?”
Katsuki rose to his feet, hands planted firmly on the table in front of him as he looked down at Izuku. But seeing the frown in his brows and determination to be heard by Katsuki, he reminded himself of why he was here. Izuku was right; even if Katsuki had told Izuku why he didn’t want dates at the wedding, it wasn’t entirely genuine. “No, I… I can’t keep expecting you to believe the bullshit excuse for why I’m against plus-ones. You’re smarter than that, I owe you that.”
Izuku’s confused now, but mostly intrigued. What bullshit shouldn’t Izuku believe?
Katsuki continued, still on his feet. “No, I can’t blame you for having hope, as shitty as I’ve been about it. Hana pulled me up on that today, and… Izuku,” he meets Izuku’s eyes, “you deserve to be loved, and if this makes you happy…”
Izuku’s mouth gaped as he allowed a little hope to revitalise him. Only on the brink of death or by his daughter’s side has he heard the ill-tempered man speak so softly and sweetly, and he’s not even finished yet.
“...you can bring them,” them? “But only if this is something serious, Izuku, not just one of those one-off extras you never see again, I… don’t think I could handle that.”
Izuku had realised the miscommunication by the time he’d heard Katsuki say them , but that was forgotten when his attention was redirected elsewhere. “Why couldn’t you handle it?”
Katsuki looked away and took a deep breath. “Kacchan,” Izuku prompted.
“Because,” Katsuki looked at Izuku again, “if you’re not with someone else for good, who’s gonna love you and all that sappy shit, then I’m not fine with stepping back anymore.”
Izuku was about to confess then and there when Katsuki silenced him - because apparently, he still wasn’t finished. “I said to Hana today… did Izuku not consider Sachi? What it would mean to bring some random extra into her life?”
“But then I realised I’m not shitty you didn’t consider Sachi, I’m shitty you didn’t consider me.”
Izuku’s eyes, brimming slightly with tears, never left Katsuki’s as he let out a soft “Kacchan”.
“Oi, I’m not finished,” Katsuki interrupted, and it was so classically Katsuki that Izuku can’t help but sigh with a smile, “this is hard, and it’s shit, and I came over here stupidly thinking you wanted Hana to tell you I didn’t have a date, but you’re smarter than that and you know I don’t do that shit.” Izuku is smarter than that. “Only, I would do it, if it was… you.”
Izuku gasped. Although he knew it was headed somewhere in this general direction, he’d never have dared to hope they’d get here. “Are you saying…?”
“Don’t bring anyone else, be there with me. Just… be with me, every other day, too.” Katsuki looked at him, almost with a hint of fear if Izuku ‘s eyes were to be believed. “Sachi loves you, we all consider you family, I don’t want you to have a shitty plus one because the person you should be there with is already going.”
Izuku’s first tear fell, and it prompted Katsuki - still standing - to reach his hand out over Izuku’s on the table. The warm palm was a stark contrast from the cold condensation of the wine, and now he was drunk off the heat crawling its way from Izuku’s hand to his heart. He revelled in it, and he was so content he didn’t even feel the need to speak any words.
But that didn’t mean the same of Katsuki, when he whispered to Izuku quieter than he’d ever heard before, “Say something.” Izuku could almost hear a silent please in there, too.
“I thought this was where this was headed when you first got here, but then…” Izuku laughed, “but then you carried on all angry when I asked you what you think about us.”
Izuku could feel Katsuki still from the palm that laid atop his own. “That’s what you meant? When you asked what I think?” Izuku nodded and gave a wet laugh. “Not what I think about you and some shitty extra?” Izuku shook his head with a grin.
Katsuki stepped back for a moment to really absorb his surroundings for the first time. His attention was drawn to the bottle of wine, now with its label revealed - and no, it’s not the quarterly gift given to them by their agency - in fact, it’s Katsuki’s favourite . Just behind the bottle, he noticed Izuku’s clothes. In the absence of his regular goofy attire, he’d opted for a dark green button-down and black pants that matched his hair and set his eyes and freckles alight by contrast. He noticed a scent beyond ramen, wine and nitroglycerin - he was lead to the mantle behind Izuku where there were lit orange and red candles lined up. But the flame paled in comparison to the glint Katsuki found in Izuku’s eye when their gazes finally meet again, only now with Izuku confidently standing in front of him as well. Izuku’s wobbly smile and dazed eyes made him wonder why the fuck he’s holding back anymore?
Then, he’s grabbed either side of Izuku’s face and pulled him into a wet kiss, but not before Izuku had already latched his hands around Katsuki’s neck, readily meeting him halfway. They melt into ten years of pent-up emotion that seared into a fiery, passionate kiss, and stay like that for a while, each cursing themselves for not making this happen sooner.
When they finally pulled apart for air, their foreheads pressed against each other, hot breaths fanning each other’s faces as they tried to catch their breaths. “Fuck, we’re idiots,” Katsuki muttered.
“You really are,” Izuku retorted.
Katsuki bit Izuku’s cheek playfully to scold him. “You’re no better, you didn’t realise either.”
Izuku cupped Katsuki’s face with his free hand, the other still wrapped around his nape. “I’ve been in love with you for ten years Kacchan, everyone else knew it but you.”
Katsuki froze against him and Izuku paled, concerned he’d taken it too far too quickly. “Um, I don’t want to pressure you, I’m sorry, I know this is new and we haven’t even talked about--”
Silencing his overthinking, Katsuki collected his lips once more. When they parted, he leaned into Izuku’s ear and whispered, “I love you too, Izuku.” Before he could even pull back to glance at the younger man’s expression, he’d already pulled Katsuki in for another long kiss.
~~~
The next morning, Katsuki woke with a mess of green curls under his nose and decided Izuku was correct - Katsuki was indeed an idiot if confessing meant this could’ve been his morning for everyday for years. He pressed a kiss to Izuku’s head, who stirred and looked up at him brightly.
They mumbled their good mornings and stole a few kisses before Katsuki spoke. “Guess I should let Hana know I might have a date to the wedding.”
Izuku sat up and looked at him, shocked. “Katsuki, how inappropriate. I thought dates had to meet and win the family’s approval first?”
Katsuki laughed and brushed dark green strands out of Izuku’s eyes. “Now who’s the idiot. Go look in the mirror, dumbass, you’ve already been family for a while now.”
That was all Izuku needed to hear before falling back into Katsuki’s welcoming arms and huddling close once again. “Besides, I have a feeling Hana already knows,” Izuku added.
And Izuku was right. Because when the pair arrived at Hana’s doorstep an hour later wearing the same clothes they had on the day before, Kyoko opened the door, inspecting them for a moment before revealing a shit-eating grin. “Han, you were right.” She called out to her soon-to-be-wife.
Hana walked up, coffee in hand and Sachi on her hip. She smiled, releasing Sachi to the ground, and looked back up at Katsuki. “Well, aren’t you gonna introduce us to your friend?”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, but obliged her by smirking and wrapping an arm around Izuku’s waist. “Kyoko, Hana, Sachi… this is my boyfriend, Izuku.”
Sachi immediately lit up, running up to the pair and demanding to be lifted up by Izuku. Katsuki pulled the two close to him, while Sachi buried her face in between them. The men exchanged a warm glance that stretched on until they were interrupted by a high-pitched voice between them. “Big Deku, when are you and Daddy going to have a wedding?”
The two might have heated up and sputtered their way out of it then. But in a month’s time, as Katsuki stood beside Hana at the altar as she recited her vows to Kyoko, his eyes fell to meet Izuku’s as the man cradled Sachi in his arms and beamed up at Katsuki. And fuck, if that sight didn’t make him think about what a wedding of his own might look like.