Work Text:
The Bakugou’s have a tradition and Mitsuki is nothing if not a stickler for routines, especially when it concerns the family. There is a humble sailboat that is shared between all the siblings and cousins on Mitsuki’s side of the family; it’s nothing special, nothing outrageous, but it’s lovely, perfect for her little family considering how outdoorsy the three of them are. Mitsuki makes sure she dibs the boat at least a week every summer so that they can fulfil their little tradition.
When Katsuki goes off to UA and gets sucked into the brutal, violent world that is being a Pro Hero – even one in training – Mitsuki deems it even more important to whisk them away for at least a night or two on the boat. It’s a perfect reset, a way to escape the monotony of everyday life and reconnect with her favourite husband and son.
Mitsuki notices the difference in Katsuki every time; the way his frown softens and his shoulders drop with each day on the boat, the way he dedicates himself to simple tasks like helping his father with maintenance or navigation. The older he gets, the more confident he becomes. Mitsuki feels pride swell in her chest whenever he takes the lead for an afternoon to let them swim in the ocean, or when he takes the initiative to plan their trip. She knows how much he enjoys the reprieve from socialising, from everything that isn’t related to swimming or cooking the next meal or adjusting a sail, even if he never says so.
Which is why it’s all the more surprising when he calls her one afternoon, a week or two from the end of semester, to inform her that Midoriya Izuku will be coming with them on their family tradition this year.
She’s so caught off guard that her reprimand lacks its usual bite. “I didn’t hear any manners, brat.”
An exasperated sigh crackles down the line. “Can Deku come with us this summer?”
It’s still lacking the ‘please’ she was after, but at least he phrased it like a question this time instead of the‘Deku is coming on the boat with us this year’ she received initially.
“Where’s he going to sleep? You already use the couch bed. Are you seriously gonna make him sleep on the floor? I thought I taught you better manners than that, you jerk!”
Katsuki clicks his tongue. “Can you fucking chill, hag? We can share, it’s not a big deal.”
Mitsuki raises a brow, though her son obviously can’t see it. She hopes he can sense her disbelief. “Katsuki, the couch isn’t a very big bed, you know that right? You ain’t exactly small anymore.”
“Thanks, captain fuckin’ obvious.” She can hear his eye roll. Ungrateful asshole. She wonders where he got his attitude from. “It’ll be fine. You know how small these dorm beds are? It’s like we’re in the fucking army here.”
“Oi, don’t badmouth that school, you wanted to go there.” Mitsuki pauses, considering. If it were any of Katsuki’s other friends, she might’ve had a problem with the request. Don’t get her wrong, they are all lovely kids and great friends for her son – it would just be awkward having them there in such a cramped space on a family holiday.
But it’s Izuku. She has watched that boy grow from a sweet, tearful newborn into an equally tearful and even sweeter young adult. She helped change his nappies, she fed him, she bathed him alongside Katsuki when they used to have sleepovers as toddlers. Midoriya Izuku is almost like a second son to her. It really is a no brainer.
“Fine, but you’ve gotta ask Inko first. If she says yes, then it’s fine with me.”
This time, she swears Katsuki is smiling as he replies. “Done. Thanks, or whatever.” That’s another thing that surprised her over the years. He’s in his final year of school now, just about to finish his first semester, and ever since he started at UA, he’s been softer. He apologises … sometimes. He says please … when it’s absolutely necessary. And he says thank you. It all flows easier than it has since Katsuki was five years old and learnt his first swear word.
Mitsuki isn’t one to use those pleasantries herself unless the situation really calls for it. She has tact, of course, but the polite words have always been a little grating. It’s not that the newfound softness from Katsuki made her happy, but she saw the way Masaru paused when Katsuki thanked him for dinner the last time he visited home. She noticed the way Masaru was quicker to help Katsuki when he said please.
She can’t wait to tell him that Katsuki asked to invite Izuku on their family holiday and said thank you, all in the same conversation! Even more than that, she can’t wait to talk to Inko after Katsuki asks for her permission so that she can find out all the kind words he used to butter her up.
Yes, this family holiday will be slightly different to the ones in years gone by, but she has a feeling there is a lot to look forward to.
On the day they're due to set sail, Inko offers to drive them all down to the docks. She pulls up bright and early on a warm Thursday morning, dressed in her nurse scrubs with Izuku in the passenger seat.
“Did you just get off work or are you about to head in?” Mitsuki shouts in lieu of a greeting from the front stoop. They’ve got their windows rolled down, so she knows both Midoriya’s hear her – they’re both too polite to shout back, though, so Inko quickly puts the car in park and hurries out to continue their discussion at a nearer distance.
“I start at nine, so I will drop you all and head in.” She says, her smile far too excited and sweet for the topic. That's what she loves most about her best friend, Mitsuki supposes – she is always so positive. A nice balance for her in someone that she isn't married to.
Mitsuki opens her mouth to reply when a clatter sounds from inside her house. She looks over her shoulder and feels her brows raise in incredulity. Katsuki comes thundering down the stairs, dressed in shorts, a black tank and an old pair of slides, then breezes straight past Inko with a barely-there greeting, and heads straight for Izuku. Unsurprisingly, Izuku’s face brightens upon seeing Katsuki, even when her brat starts clicking his tongue and grumbling about the ‘nerdy ass hat’ Izuku is wearing. He’s got his hands in his pockets as he complains, his shoulders relaxed like they've already been at sea for days. How interesting.
“I promise I won’t let my asshole of a son pester Izuku too much.” Mitsuki reassures Inko when she looks over her shoulder to see what the boys are doing. “I swear, Katsuki never fucking leaves him alone when they’re together. I don’t know how poor Izuku handles it.”
Inko laughs. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it. Izuku loves hanging out with Katsuki. He never has a bad thing to say about him. I don’t think he minds the pestering, honestly.”
“I do.” Mitsuki grumbles. “He’ll drive him off at this rate. What’ll we do then, huh? I’ll never see my best friend again because my dumbass son scared off your boy.”
“So dramatic.” Inko replies with another giggle.
Masaru appears in the doorway then, absolutely laden with bags of things they’ll need to bring on the boat. Food and water and games and new cooking utensils. Their bags of clothes are waiting in the entryway, ready to be loaded into Inko’s little car. Mitsuki calls out to Katsuki and Izuku to come and help load it all in the back, which they make quick work of, and then they’re loading themselves into the car at last.
“Katsuki, move over and give Izuku more space. The poor kid is squished like a fucking sardine.”
“Where would you like me to go, huh?” Katsuki barks back to her, shooting a glare over the top of Izuku’s curls. “I’m so far against the fucking door, I’ll be punted through it in a second. Why don’t you move?”
“I really don’t mind, guys.” Izuku says, glancing between mother and son with wide eyes. He’s so sweet. “It’s not a long drive.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have a bigger car for you all.” Inko frets from the driver's seat. She glances back at Mitsuki, Izuku and Katsuki through the rear view mirror, all squished together in the back seat.
Masaru tears his eyes from the directions on his phone to spare them a glance as well. “It’s not much further, please be patient guys. Katsuki, don't swear at your mother like that.” Katsuki’s jaw drops open as he gestures in disbelief, but before he can get a word of complaint out, Masaru has turned his brown eyes on Mitsuki. “We shouldn't antagonise Katsuki in such a small space, love, especially when there are others around.”
Mitsuki scowls but bites her lip. Damn her husband and his reasonable, cute face. Both her and Katsuki slump back and fold their arms over their chests, her son grumbling under his breath. Mitsuki decides not to rise to the bait, instead she asks Inko what she's going to do for the next five days while she’s on her own.
The conversation is enough to distract them all after that, and soon enough they're down at the harbour, parked alongside the dock where their sailboat is tethered. The boys spill out of the car, Katsuki following after an excited Izuku as he dashes toward the boat.
“Oh this is amazing, Kacchan! I've never been on a boat before! Does it go fast? Do you steer it?”
Mitsuki notes the little uptick of her son's mouth, a secret smile. “Goes pretty fast, I guess. And yeah, dumbass, of course I steer it.”
She snorts at her son's attempt at being friendly. Always so humble, that one. She calls them back to help carry their belongings from the car to the boat before they can get too swept away with how amazing it all is. Once everything is at least on the sailboat, if not unpacked, Izuku jumps back down to say goodbye to Inko, sweeping her in a massive hug that has both of them tearing up. It’s nice to see them so outwardly sentimental and caring considering her family isn't like that at all.
And then just like that, Inko is driving away, waving at them out of her open window until she is nothing more than a speck in the distance. It takes a little while for them to set up the boat before they can head off, but once the sun is high in the sky, they're on the water.
She stays at the helm with her husband while Katsuki and Izuku putter around inside. Snippets of their conversation float up to her through the open doorway in front of them, telling her that Katsuki is giving him the grand tour.
“Katsuki is being weirdly chill today.” Mitsuki says. She rises on the tips of her toes to try and catch a glimpse of the two boys over the top of the wheel. Masaru chuckles and elbows her in the side, a silent reprimand. “What? You don’t think it’s weird that our kid, who is never chill by the way, is just okay with Izuku crashing his alone time?”
“Cut him some slack, he’s chill sometimes. And wasn’t he the one that invited Izuku?”
“Exactly.” Mitsuki replies, wide-eyed. “Weird.”
Masaru shakes his head with a smile but doesn’t say anything in return as he carefully steers them out of the harbour, away from the other boats and out towards open waters. One of Mitsuki’s cousins put up a shade over the open back of the boat a few decades ago to block out the harsh sun, while another cousin’s wife built proper seating around the cockpit that could be transformed into a sort of cushioned nest. One of the great advantages of sharing a boat with family, Mitsuki supposes.
She presses a kiss to Masaru’s cheek before ducking through the opening, heading inside to start putting away some of their food. The space is small, definitely not made to be lived in by very many people for any extended period of time, but it’s enough for their small party for the next five days. She only just starts unpacking the first bag when Izuku’s voice sounds to her right.
“You swim out in the open ocean?” He asks, a second before they emerge from the small bathroom. His brow is creased in concern as he follows closely behind Katsuki. “I’d be nervous about sharks. And what about when the tides change?”
“You don’t swim that far from the boat, nerd. Anyway, I’m sure we’ve got a lifejacket around here somewhere if you’re gonna be a pussy about it.”
Mitsuki crosses her arms and raises a brow, making sure her glare is scathing when the boys finally look away from each other and notice her standing in the kitchen.
“Katsuki, you better not bully Izuku the whole time we’re on this boat or so help me, I will kick your ass right into the ocean, brat.”
His expression immediately switches from smooth and surprisingly fond, to a snarl. “Fuck off, I wasn’t bullying him! If he’s gonna be a pussy then I’m gonna call him out on it, hag.”
“It’s okay, Auntie.” Izuku adds, giving her a reassuring smile. “I can take Kacchan.”
Katsuki rounds on Izuku with a horrified expression while Mitsuki snorts. This innocent kid.
“Alright, but you come to me if you can’t, okay?”
“I will.”
Something tells her he won’t. Call it intuition or eighteen years experience to the contrary. Mitsuki’s only reassurance is that Izuku has lasted this long by her brat’s side, he’ll be able to handle a few more.
There’s something about sunsets on the open water that are incomparable to anything else. It’s one of Mitsuki’s favourite things about their trips. She sprawls out on the deck, leaning back on her elbows to soak in the sun, letting Masaru, Katsuki and Izuku’s conversation wash over her. They decided to have dinner on the deck tonight since the sky was clear. They’re anchored for the night, just inside the cove between Miura and Tateyama so they won’t be knocked around in the night if there is any wind. Tomorrow they’ll leave the safety of the mainland and venture out about half a day’s journey to Kozushima island, where the turquoise waters and picturesque hiking trails await.
This destination had been Katsuki’s request; Mitsuki remembers visiting on a similar trip when he was younger, probably just before he started junior high. He had fallen in love with the island, though he hadn’t necessarily said as much. A mother can always tell, though. How fitting that he asked to return while Izuku was travelling with them.
She tips her head to the side a little, watching the boys behind the privacy of her sunglasses. Masaru is patiently answering every single one of Izuku’s questions, ranging from the mechanics of steering a boat to what the weather forecast is going to be for the next few days. Katsuki, on the other hand, is lying in a similar position to her, relaxed on his elbows, his expression smooth and serene. His gaze never stays in one spot for very long, shifting from his father, Izuku, the surrounding ocean, the mast on his left, the plates left forgotten on the plaid blanket beneath them, to Izuku again. Always, back to the green haired boy, no matter how many other things he looks at between it all.
Mitsuki fails to hide her smirk, so she tips her head back again, letting her sunglasses inch up her nose and hide the delight in her eyes. She doesn’t need her son to know that she’s onto him. What a sneaky little shit.
She hopes Izuku realises, and soon. For her own sanity, for Masaru and Inko’s sanity, but more than anything, for Katsuki’s.
Mitsuki watches on in amusement, sitting on the steps leading down into the galley with her chin resting on her palm, as Katsuki barks directions and Izuku tries desperately to follow them. Who would have thought that putting together a couch bed would be a hellish task?
“Deku, the panels need to click into place like I told you.” Katsuki gently – he gently – shoves Izuku out of the way and steals the wooden slats from his hands. He gives the younger boy a pointed glare before turning back to the bed and lining them up properly, a feat that Izuku was struggling with for only a few seconds before Katsuki decided to take over.
“Kacchan, I can do it. You’ll be doing all the work this whole trip if I don’t learn now.”
“Fuck off, I’m not doing your job!”
Izuku’s sigh is a strange mix of fond yet exasperated. “Exactly. Don’t be a know-it-all, Kacchan.”
“I will literally throw you off this boat in your sleep, don’t test me, shitnerd.”
“Not if I throw you off first, Ka–ah! Auntie!” Izuku jolts upright, dropping the pillow he was just about to place at the head of the mattress. Katsuki whips around to face her as well, a sour look on his face. Mitsuki’s grin widens.
“Don’t stop on my account.” She teases. “You guys argue like me and Masaru did when we were younger.” About as subtle as a bull in a fucking china shop, but someone’s gotta imply things around here or else it will be a very long and painful holiday. She has the pleasure of watching Katsuki’s jaw clench as he obviously catches her drift. Izuku, meanwhile, just looks embarrassed.
“Sorry. Were you on your way to bed? We’ll be quiet, I promise.”
Mitsuki waves away his worry. “We’re not so old that we go to bed this early, Izuku, don’t worry. I was just coming down for a jacket.”
“Well hurry up, hag. I’m tired.” Katsuki grumbles. He turns back to the bed and straightens out the blanket, making sure it’s laying smooth, even though they’re about to pull it back and go to sleep soon. Mitsuki laughs to herself as she shuffles past and ducks into the main bedroom. From the other room, there are a few low words exchanged between the boys, then a gentle click of a door closing.
When Mitsuki emerges from the bedroom, jacket in hand, Katsuki pins her with a scowl, his arms crossed over his chest and Izuku nowhere to be found.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He hisses.
Mitsuki raises a brow. “Where’s Izuku?”
“Showering. Answer me, what the hell was that back there?”
“I couldn’t help myself. Your bickering really does remind me of when your father and I were first dating.”
This time, without Izuku around to observe, Katsuki flushes. “What the hell are you implying, huh?” Mitsuki doesn’t need to answer, not really. Katsuki knows her too well to pretend that it was a harmless, throwaway comment. He knows that she knows. “Stop. I don’t need you to do shit, okay? I’ve got this.”
Pride sparks in her chest, warm and familiar. Something about his dedication feels nostalgic, sparking memories of her own younger days. She steps past him, raising her hands in surrender. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands, kiddo. Romance the hell outta your boy.” She pauses at the bottom of the stairs, points two fingers at her eyes and then turns them on Katsuki, the universal sign for I’m watching you. “No nasty shit on this boat, though, got it?”
Katsuki bares his teeth at her and hikes his shoulders up around his ears. “Piss off.”
Satisfied that she’s successfully grossed out her son, she heads up to the deck once more to join Masaru under the moonlight.
“Our son is trying to woo Izuku.” She says as she settles in beside her husband. “He is very embarrassed about it, it’s so cute.”
Masaru’s smile is soft, fond. “Ah, I knew there was some ulterior motive as to why Izuku was invited. It was either that or murder. At least now I don’t have to worry.”
She snorts. “You trust those kids to share a bed now that you know what you know? You’re not worried about Inko’s reaction once they finally get together?”
“I trust you gave Katsuki some kind of warning?” Masaru replies with a smirk. “You scared any vulgar thoughts right out of his head, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. Who do you think I am?”
Masaru hums, pulls her closer. “Then no, I’m not worried. Poor kid’ll be scared shitless now that he knows we know.”
“Good.” Mitsuki crosses her arms, satisfied.
Later, once the chill is finally too much to bear and fatigue starts to creep into the edges of their vision, they decide to call it a night. They head back downstairs, closing the door behind them to block out the cool night air. A lamp by the couch is still on, so Mitsuki assumes the boys are still up. When she glances over as she heads to the bedroom, she finds that that isn’t the case at all.
Izuku is furthest from the edge, in between the side of the boat and Katsuki. He’s flat on his back, a book splayed open on his chest, while Katsuki is rolled on his side, facing the middle of the bed. Both boys appear fast asleep, their breaths even and deep. And Mitsuki was right – it isn’t a very big bed at all.
As quiet as possible, Mitsuki leans over and plucks the book from Izuku’s chest, using the ribbon bookmark to keep his spot, while Masaru flicks the light off, dousing the main cabin in darkness. Moonlight breaks through the foggy hatches, giving them just enough light to make their way into their bedroom without stubbing their toes. Once they close the door, Mitsuki lets out the quiet laugh that has been building in her chest.
“And they call us old.” Masaru shushes her but he’s smiling as well.
The next morning dawns bright and clear. Mitsuki made sure to secure the most perfect week during summer for this holiday, all so that they could wake up to views like this. When she emerges from her room, she finds Katsuki still fast asleep, sprawled on his stomach and taking up far too much room on the bed. Izuku meets her gaze over the top of his book from his position, wide-eyed and pressed all the way up against the wall so Katsuki has space.
She grins at him and speaks lowly to not wake her son. “You know you can shove him over, right?”
Izuku gives her a sheepish smile. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. He was like this when we were young, too, I remember.”
“All the more reason he should learn to give you some space.” She shakes her head with a fond sigh. “Wanna crawl over him and have some breakfast?”
Izuku drops his book after marking his place, and uses one of his many quirks to float over Katsuki’s prone form, landing on light feet in the middle of the sitting area.
“Huh. Or you could do that.” She shrugs and leads him over to the minuscule kitchen, only really wide enough for one person at a time.
She pops slices of bread on a tray to toast in the oven while Izuku digs around their fridge for some butter and red bean paste. It’s a simple breakfast, definitely not as filling or nutritious as what they would have if they were home, but you’ve got to make do when you’re trying to be quiet and have little space to prepare.
So they leave Katsuki and Masaru to sleep in while the two of them head up to the deck to enjoy their breakfast and watch the sun climb higher in the sky. She never really gets to spend time with Izuku one on one; Katsuki usually sweeps him away pretty quickly, and if not, then he’s usually hanging around Masaru. They are similar in so many ways, it’s unsurprising, really, that Izuku feels so comfortable around him.
“Did Katsuki tell you where we were going on this holiday? Or did he lead you into this blind?” Mitsuki asks, taking a bite of toast.
Izuku hums. “I asked him one time and he just told me off for meddling. He did let slip that it was an island though. I think that was a mistake, so I’m not gonna tell him that I know.” He glances up at her, sheepish once more. “Please don’t tell him.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I won’t. Your secret’s safe with me, Izuku.”
“I didn’t know you guys owned a boat, though. When did you get it?”
Without meaning to, Mitsuki finds herself recounting the whole story about how this has been in her family for decades, how each family puts a little bit of them into the upgrades and maintenance of the old thing. She tells him that it was while she and Masaru were on a holiday together, that she told him she was pregnant with Katsuki. She tells him about how Katsuki truly does plan and organise holidays for the three of them, how Masaru taught him all the controls before he was ten years old, how he was navigating on his own when he was fifteen.
She doesn’t even realise how long they talk for, too distracted with answering Izuku’s unending, truly genuine questions. It’s only when Katsuki and Masaru find them outside that she notices how bright the sky has become, how the sun is starting to seep into her skin.
A bottle of sunscreen drops in Izuku’s lap, making them both glance up to find Katsuki standing there, his hands on his hips.
“What’re you two yapping about, hah?”
“I was just asking about the boat, Kacchan. How could you never tell me all of this? It’s so cool!”
Katsuki rolls his eyes and kicks Izuku’s knee. “Stop gossiping like an auntie and put that shit on before you burn, dumbass. You too, hag.”
He narrows his eyes at Mitsuki, which just makes her snort. Who does this brat think he’s intimidating?
“Aye aye captain.” She replies, as sarcastic as possible so he knows just how much she doesn't care. She leaves the boys to hang out on the deck, heading over to the helm to Masaru, preparing for the day ahead with a piece of toast dangling from between his teeth.
Soon enough, once the boys have stopped their bickering (and Izuku has sunscreen thoroughly rubbed into his freckled cheeks), the anchor is lifted and they're off. The journey south is pretty uneventful, but it's nice to have a newcomer on board to gasp and point out all the things they've become used to seeing over the years. The odd dolphin that dives over the waves to escape their noisy boat, the flash of a turtle fin, the way seagulls converge in one area to snap fish out of the water.
They leave the mainland behind and make it to the first island in less than an hour. Izuku scurries from the cockpit to the front deck when he sees it, talking a mile a minute in his excitement. Later in the day, Katsuki takes over from Masaru so he can have a break. The four of them eat lunch in the cushioned and cosy nest of a cockpit, sharing fruit and cold soba. Masaru hands out iced tea and they pass around the sunscreen to apply another layer.
It’s early afternoon by the time they reach their destination; Masaru navigates their way toward the island and anchors just off the coast. This close to the island, the waters are a clear turquoise, perfect for swimming.
“You need that life jacket, pussy?” Katsuki teases Izuku. The younger boy pokes his tongue out, continuing to slather even more sunscreen on his bare chest.
“Shut up and help me with my back, Kacchan.”
Mitsuki has to hide her grin in Masaru’s shoulder at Katsuki’s expression, even when her son bares his teeth at them both in a scowl that does nothing to intimidate them at all. Izuku insists on returning the favour for Katsuki as well, ignoring his protests that he can do it himself. He handles her son like a champ, placating him but not letting him get out of being sun smart.
“You go first, Kacchan.” Izuku says from his spot, perched on the swim platform on the back of the boat, peering over the edge into the clear water. To his credit, he doesn’t look afraid, just wary.
Katsuki snorts and steps down onto the swim platform next to the younger boy. “You’ve got a million quirks but you’re worked up over some fuckin’ water? C’mon, nerd, follow my lead.” He shoots Izuku a taunting smirk before diving into the water.
Mitsuki leans against Masaru, watching from the cockpit as Izuku gapes at the perfect dive, then schools his features, obviously settling his nerves. Katsuki breaks through the surface and flicks his hair out of his eyes, treading water as he opens his mouth to probably shout even more insults. But before he can get a word out, Izuku backs up as much as he can on the small platform, takes a run up and leaps. He does not dive gracefully like Katsuki, instead, he cannonballs into the water, causing it to splash absolutely everywhere. Mitsuki shrieks and hides behind Masaru to try and protect herself from the spray, though she’s only partially successful. When she pokes her head back out, it’s to find Katsuki spluttering and scrubbing water out of his eyes, his hair slicked back from his forehead.
“Deku, you dumbass!” He yells before Izuku even breaks the surface. When he does, he immediately breaks into laughter, unconcerned with Katsuki’s continued yelled complaints and curses. Katsuki swims over to Izuku and splashes him back violently, hooks an arm over his shoulders and tackles him beneath the calm waters.
Mitsuki shakes her head, leaving the boys to their play fighting as she flops back against the cushioned seats and kicks her feet up, snatching up her book to continue where she left off. They while away the afternoon, swimming and reading and cooking to fill the time. Masaru jumps into the water with the boys, paddling out to the furthest buoy with them before starting a race back to the boat. Mitsuki loves him dearly, but she knows that her husband has no hope against two fit teenagers set to become Pro Heroes in a few months time.
As the sun sinks low in the sky, Mitsuki herself dives in, floating on her back beside Masaru with their fingers tangled together so they don’t float too far from one another. The boys clamber out to shower and start preparing dinner, at Izuku’s insistence; somehow, he manages to say just the right things to coerce Katsuki into helping him while making it seem like it’s Katsuki’s idea all along.
Maybe she underestimated Midoriya Izuku after all. She certainly does not miss the soft look he gives Katsuki when he’s not looking. Maybe Katsuki doesn’t have to impress and woo Izuku as much as he thinks he does. She grins to herself as she tips her head back into the water once more, gazing up at the pink and orange streaking the clear sky.
They have dinner on the deck once again, the atmosphere even more relaxed than it was the night before now that they’ve been at sea for a whole day. Katsuki’s frown has started to disappear at last, and he’s more amiable, softer. Izuku tells them about their studies, about their rigorous training schedule and their work studies, talking enthusiastically the whole time. Katsuki, on the other hand, is laying on his back beside Izuku with his arms crossed behind his head. He chimes in every now and then with a correction or an extra detail to Izuku’s story, proof that he is listening attentively.
When the hour grows late and it’s time for them to head inside, Katsuki grumbles and groans like he’s a toddler. Izuku laughs and grabs him by the hands, dragging him literally kicking and screaming across the deck until his complaining cracks in two and he grins. Mitsuki watches in wonder as her son – her shithead, stubborn, stoic son – smiles at Izuku and jumps to his feet to shove and poke the boy until they’re both shouting and laughing at one another.
Mitsuki grabs Masaru’s hand, watching with wide eyes as they tussle, their fighting so reminiscent of when they were kids that it nearly makes her tear up. Oh how she wishes Inko could see them like this, so young and carefree, unburdened by the weight of their future and their past.
Masaru murmurs something reassuring and breaks her out of her daze. She squeezes his hand in silent thanks as she digs out her phone to take a subtle, secret video of the boys, something she can send to Inko in the morning to giggle over as she has her morning coffee. Something to remind all three parents that although they act older than they are, although they’ve been through some absolute bullshit, at the end of the day, they really are just young boys holding onto the last threads of their innocence.
The next morning is a bustle of preparation. The anchor comes up so they can steer their way to the island’s main port where they’ll moor for the next two nights. Someone, somehow, cooks breakfast while everyone takes their turns getting changed in the tiny bathroom and packs day bags for their time on the island. Katsuki slaps sunscreen on Izuku’s back so hard that he has a bright red handprint directly between his shoulder blades. Mitsuki doesn’t even have to shout at him for that one; Masaru’s disapproving frown and Izuku’s retaliating smack on his bare thigh, right below the hem of his shorts, are enough to keep him in line. Then, the four of them scramble off the boat and find themselves on dry land at last.
“I’m taking Deku on that hiking trail.” Katsuki says as soon as they enter the little seaside village. He grabs a hold of Izuku by the arm and marches off without another word.
“Nuh uh, kiddo. Stop right there.” Mitsuki says, flipping her sunglasses onto her head so she can pierce him with a stern look unimpeded. Katsuki halts a few metres away with a scowl. Izuku glances between the two of them, a look of polite curiosity gracing his freckled face. “How long are you gonna be?”
“I dunno. Few hours at least.”
“Alright, keep us updated.” Masaru chimes in, effectively shutting down the chance for any further questioning. “We’ll meet up for lunch.” He places a guiding hand on the small of her back, gently urging her in the direction of the village gift shop that she knows her husband is dying to check out.
Mitsuki calls over her shoulder, “Stay hydrated, keep your phones on, no funny business!”
Her son rolls his eyes and Izuku calls out a goodbye, giving them a wave before he runs to catch up with Katsuki, who has already started stalking off in the opposite direction.
Mitsuki and Masaru use their morning to go sightseeing without the children to cater to. They spend an insane amount of time in the gift shop as Masaru collects trinkets and souvenirs for their friends and family back home – as if they weren’t also just a few hours away from the island. Mitsuki indulges him because she loves seeing him get excited over hand towels and fridge magnets.
They lose the view of the beach and port in the trees when they visit Monoiminanomikoto Shrine, but its beauty far outweighs the loss. As expected for a day with weather as perfect as this, it’s quite busy with both tourists and locals. She can see the appeal; it’s a gorgeous shrine, weathered from time and exposure to the elements, but warm and welcoming all the same.
The sun is high overhead as they walk along the beachfront when they finally get a text from Katsuki, letting them know that they’re a few minutes away from the village. Izuku’s voice announces their arrival before they even come into view, loud and excited.
“Are you serious? Oh, we have to do that, please, Kacchan! Please!” When they round the corner of the konbini, Izuku has his hands pressed together, quite literally begging Katsuki with hands, words, and the puppy dog eyes. The killer combo.
Both boys are flushed and sweating from the hike, but Mitsuki suspects the colour on her son’s cheeks is from more than just the exercise.
“Don’t need to fucking beg, nerd. Obviously we’re gonna go, just chill the fuck out.”
Izuku pumps a fist in victory as he cheers, his elation contagious.
“What’s got you so excited, huh?” Mitsuki asks. Izuku rounds on her with a megawatt grin, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“Oh hi guys! Kacchan said we’re going snorkelling! At the Akasaka Promenade!”
Katsuki snorts and scuffs Izuku over the head. “Akasaki Promenade, idiot. That’s cool, right?” He glances at them, his expression challenging. Oh so now he deigns to check if it’s okay, after he’s already promised Izuku. Mitsuki clicks her tongue; what a presumptuous little shit. Not like she’s going to say no.
“Eat first and then we’ll catch a taxi up, okay?”
Izuku cheers again, with even more delight, making all three of them laugh when the owner of the konbini comes out to tell him to keep the noise down. They quickly shuffle down the street in search of a restaurant open for lunch, with Izuku hiding his bright red face in his hands as Katsuki drags him by the elbow. Eventually, they settle on a quaint family owned seafood restaurant, eating their fill as they chat with the owners, a friendly elderly couple, whose family has operated the establishment for generations.
The taxi ride is only about fifteen minutes, the road bordering the water the entire way along, giving them an amazing view of the clear beaches and sprawling ocean. As it is a popular attraction on the island, Akasaki Promenade is teeming with people, all trying to soak up the sun.
“Oh wow, the water is so clear!” Izuku gapes at their surroundings from the edge of the boardwalk on the rocky outcrop. “I don’t even think we need to snorkel, I can already see so many fish.”
Cheers and shouts draw their attention to their left, where a woman steps up to the edge of a platform and peers down at the water below. The drop is at least seven metres, which doesn’t seem entirely daunting but the poor woman’s knees are shaking in fear. Mitsuki doesn’t think she’d be able to bear a jump like that, though she would never say so out loud – if Katsuki knew, he would no doubt challenge her, and she can’t back down from a challenge from her brat. Lucky for her though, Katsuki’s attention has been quite preoccupied lately.
The woman’s friends count down and then she leaps from the platform with a loud scream. Their cheers pierce the air, the energy infectious.
“Kacchan, let's try!” Izuku says, smacking Katsuki’s bicep as he continues to peer down at the woman, who has just kicked her way to the surface with a laugh. “Bet I can jump further than you.”
“You must be fuckin’ brain dead if you think that, shitnerd.” But Katsuki grabs Izuku by the arm and drags him down the boardwalk with a fierce grin on his lips.
Mitsuki shakes her head with a forlorn sigh while Masaru chuckles and says, “He’s so predictable.”
“And so obvious.” She braces her elbows on the railing, watching as the group of friends take turns jumping off the platform to join the woman in the water. Then she sees the boys stop to dump their bags next to the outcrop, take off their shirts and shoes, and move to stand at the edge.
Katsuki peers over the side with a frown while Izuku mutters something to him, a nervous grin on his face. The younger boy shoves Katsuki, not hard enough to send him over the edge, but enough to make him stumble. Mitsuki can hear his shouted reprimand from here.
“Come on, boys!” She calls, gesturing for them to jump already when they both glance up at her. Masaru pulls out his phone and begins recording like every other tourist around here. Izuku waves at them, but then his excitement turns to surprise when Katsuki uses the moment of distraction to shove him back.
Izuku lets out a yelp that quickly turns into a laugh as he tips over the edge, but not before he grabs Katsuki’s hand and drags him over as well. Both boys fall – a far cry from the thrilling jump she’s sure they were expecting to do. Mitsuki can’t help her laughter, a wild cackle that makes Katsuki scowl and Izuku laugh with her when they surface.
“Fuck off, hag!” Her son shouts, flipping her off. She raises both middle fingers in response, still laughing uproariously as Masaru ends the recording. They head over to the platform themselves to meet up with the boys as they climb the stairs and have another go. It’s much better the second time around; Katsuki does a backflip, ever the showoff, and Izuku takes a run up to cannonball into the water again.
The four of them walk along the boardwalk, taking in the panoramic views. Katsuki and Izuku walk a little ahead of her and Masaru, so she clearly sees when Katsuki slings an arm over Izuku’s shoulders. It’s not exactly romantic, but the familiarity of the gesture is sweet, especially since Katsuki rarely allows himself to show any kind of geniality with anyone. Plus, it’s amusing to see the way Izuku’s ears go red and his hands flutter around like they don’t know where they should rest.
They find a dive shop where they rent some snorkelling equipment, stashing their belongings in the lockers there before heading back out to the reef. The colours of the coral and the small fish are vibrant, stunning in their beauty. Katsuki and Izuku seem to silently challenge one another to dive deeper and deeper, to swim through arches of the reef and around schools of tiny fish. They find a turtle, apparently asleep between two chunks of bright pink coral, and wave her and Masaru over to take a look, and she can’t help but be reminded once more that they are just boys still. It’s like they’re four all over again, scrambling through the back door to pull her outside so they can show her the bug they’d managed to capture or the ramshackle hut they’d built with sticks and mud.
They have had to deal with far too much at their young age, they’ve seen horrors that she can’t even imagine. Of course she indulges their every whim, of course she is a little more lenient than usual.
Once the sun starts its proper descent in the sky, they begin to make their way back to the docks, hailing another taxi to drive them the whole way down. Back on the boat, they all take their turns showering once more, washing away the salt and sand of the day before they have dinner. While Masaru begins chopping vegetables in the kitchen and Katsuki is in the shower, Mitsuki heads up to the cockpit to read a little while there’s still some natural light. It’s only once she’s settled into the cushioned seat, her feet propped up on the length of the bench, that she hears another voice outside with her. It’s Izuku, sitting at the bow of the boat if the quiet of his voice is any indication, obviously chatting on the phone with someone. Her first thought is Inko, what with the way he’s recounting their day, but then when he groans and asks for them to stop teasing him, she isn’t so sure.
“No! No, it was nothing like that, don’t be silly. Kacchan was just showing me his favourite trail from the last time he visited the island.” A pause as the person on the other end of the line replies, and then a groan. “Ochako! He wouldn’t – he isn’t like that with me. I’m telling you, as the person who knows him best out of probably everyone in the world. Well, maybe not Auntie and Uncle, but you know what I mean.”
There’s a longer silence this time and then a thump. Mitsuki imagines Izuku slumping back against the deck, a hand over his face to hide his embarrassment from someone that can’t even see it.
“Do not read into this but, yeah. On the hike he was so – he paid attention. Like when I nearly tripped over a rock, he grabbed my arm and didn’t even shout at me at all. He was actually asking super in-depth questions about what I wanna do when we graduate, he … he said we should work together.”
Mitsuki’s heart warms. She slowly closes her book, not even trying to pretend that she isn’t paying full attention to the conversation happening at the front of the boat. She doesn’t want to eavesdrop, but it’s not like her son is going to divulge all the sweet things he’s doing for Izuku.
“I don’t know, Ochako, this whole trip seems so unreal. I don’t know how to act around him.” Izuku lets out a strangled sound of disbelief a second later. “I will not flirt with him, who the heck do you think I am? No, I won’t do that either! Ochako, I’m not – I can’t! First, we’re just friends, so he would never see me any differently. And second, if his parents overheard me saying that stuff I would die.”
Mitsuki snorts. Oh how she yearns to know exactly what Izuku’s friend is telling him. Teenagers and their dumb advice – she remembers the advice she used to give Inko when they were in school, trying to urge the shy girl to go and talk to the boy she liked. Considering how similar Izuku and Inko are, she can already predict the series of events.
“‘Kay, I’m going now before Kacchan overhears. Yes, I’ll keep sending pictures. Wait – no, not of that! Ochako!”
Mitsuki quickly gathers her book and heads inside before she’s caught, leaving the paperback on the table so she can help Masaru with dinner. When Izuku comes back inside, he still has a lingering blush on his freckled cheeks, but he definitely appears calmer. He offers to help with dinner as well, but the kitchen is really far too small for even her and Masaru, so she banishes him to the couch to watch some TV and wait for Katsuki.
The rest of the evening is spent playing a few rounds of card games while they sip iced tea and loosely plan the next day. It’s calm and peaceful and lovely; Mitsuki relishes time spent like this, away from the hustle and bustle of their day-to-day life.
She notices how much more comfortable Izuku seems, too. He’s less unsure and on edge, happily teasing Katsuki with her or chatting with Masaru while Mitsuki deals in the next round. She didn’t think things would be awkward per se, but she can clearly see how he fits in with the family, how Izuku might’ve been the missing piece to this puzzle all along.
When Katsuki loses the third game in a row, he spits curses under his breath and retreats to the couch. Izuku helps them pack away the game, then goes over to join him, sprawling over Katsuki’s lap like a blanket.
“The fuck’re you doing, Deku?” Katsuki grumbles.
“I have a question.”
“And why the fuck do you have to lay on me to ask it?”
Izuku shrugs, his face smooshed into the couch cushion. “You’re comfy. Anyway, listen. Do you think the volcano on the island is still active? I know it’s been a few years since it last erupted but there’s always the possibility, you know?”
“You are the nerdiest nerd I know, Deku, you know this volcano has been dormant for more than a few fucking years.”
“Wait, I’m the nerdiest nerd? What about Iida? Yaomomo?”
Katsuki snorts and buries his hand in Izuku’s curls, tugging on the knotted strands lightly. “Did you just call your own friend a nerd? Wow, Deku. Didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Look who’s talking, nerd.” Izuku bites back, making Mitsuki snort. The boys continue to bicker, the sound fading into the background as she and her husband put away the leftovers from their dinner and start making some tea. Katsuki’s disappointment entirely dissolves with just a few words from Izuku – maybe Izuku does have some kind of innate quirk after all.
“No! Kacchan, wait – ack!”
Katsuki lets out a truly evil cackle before he launches himself at Izuku, tackling them both headfirst into the still water. Mitsuki, standing in the ankle deep water at Maehama beach with her hands on her hips and her sunglasses hiding the worst of the sun rays, watches as both boys resurface, still clinging onto one another as they continue their scuffle.
“Don’t drown one another before you have the chance to graduate!” She calls.
Izuku manages a muffled, “Yes, Auntie!” before Katsuki tackles him again, both of them shouting and screaming and laughing like idiots. Mitsuki sighs and heads back to their little setup on the beach, shaking her head in fond exasperation. She should’ve taught her son when he was younger that pulling pigtails – or in this case, violently submerging your best friend – does not equate to flirting.
“I hope Inko doesn’t mind getting her son back all bruised and bloody.” Masaru comments idly when she flops down beside him on her beach towel. She snorts and props herself up on her elbows to watch the boys.
“If this is the start of their relationship, I hate to see how they flirt in a few years time.”
Masaru hums, resting his open book face down on his belly. “You think they’re dating officially?”
“Are you kidding me?” Mitsuki gestures to the boys – who are now smacking the water to send fierce waves to one another – with an incredulous look. “If they’re not I’ll eat your fucking book.”
Her husband laughs. “Maybe we’ll settle for a more traditional bet instead, love. I happen to like this book.”
They pause for a moment, watching as Izuku latches onto Katsuki’s back with a cry of victory that’s quickly cut off when Katsuki falls backwards into the water and submerges them both.
“Fifty bucks says they’re already dating.”
Masaru shakes her hand, an uncharacteristic gleam of competition in his eye.
They make the most of their last day on the island, staying at the beach until the sun sits just above the horizon and drenches the land in a golden glow. They decide to revisit the family restaurant one final time for dinner, too tired and sunburnt to bother cooking for themselves.
The boys exhausted themselves with their roughhousing and then the second hike they decided to go on after lunch, so much so that Izuku is actually nodding off at the table as they wait for their food to arrive. Mitsuki watches in amusement as he slumps back against the chair, losing the battle to sleep, and then slowly tilts to the side.
“Fuck!” Katsuki hisses, reaching out to grab Izuku by the arm before he faceplants.
Izuku squints one bleary eye open, his nose scrunched up. “Mm?”
“You’re gonna fuckin’ brain yourself on the floor if you ain’t careful, Deku.”
The younger boy looks at the floor, then the empty table, then Katsuki. “‘S rude to sleep on the table, though.”
Katsuki’s gaze narrows, flicks up to Mitsuki and Masaru, then drops back down to Izuku – who has let his eyes slip closed once more.
“Don’t say anything.” Katsuki spits. Then he yanks Izuku back and tucks him into his side so that his salty green curls rest on Katsuki’s sunburnt shoulder.
“Me?”
“Not you, nerd.” Her son flicks his gaze up to Mitsuki and Masaru once more, challenging and obviously embarrassed.
Mitsuki tries to make sure that her grin is more proud than teasing, but it’s a very close thing. He doesn’t blow her up or swear at her though, which is as good a sign as any. When the food comes out, he elbows Izuku awake and barks at him to eat his dinner, so it pretty much negates any of the kindness he was showing.
Mitsuki and Masaru lead the exhausted boys back to the boat, walking a few paces ahead to give them their privacy as the purpling sky darkens.
“I told you they’re already dating.” She whispers to her husband, a little more relaxed now thanks to the sake they’d had with dinner. Masaru shakes his head with a fond smile and tightens his grip on her hand.
“I still don’t think so. You saw how embarrassed he got when Izuku fell asleep on him after dessert.” Masaru glances over his shoulder once before tilting his head closer, dropping his voice a little more. “If I know my son like I think I do, he would be far more smug if they were finally dating.”
Mitsuki casts a look back as well, eyes narrowed in her scrutiny; Katsuki has both of his hands shoved into the pockets of his shorts, with his brows set in a slightly softer scowl than usual. Izuku, on the other hand, has hooked his arm with Katsuki’s, matching his pace with ease as he rambles, albeit with a lot less energy and passion than usual. From her quick glance, Mitsuki notes the way Katsuki steers them both around potholes and bollards, obviously paying attention to what Izuku is saying even if he’s not really reciprocating conversation.
She faces forward once more, no longer feeling the urge to tease or that sense of vindication. Instead, incredibly, something in her melts a little.
Bakugou Mitsuki doesn’t have many shortcomings, but after many years and giving birth to a brat that’s practically her carbon copy, she understands that her one downfall is that she isn’t very tender or soft-hearted. She can pull her kid into line with a few choice words when he’s being an ass and bolster his confidence when the situation calls for it, she can adore her husband and still tease him mercilessly when he wakes with his hair looking like an exploded dandelion. When it comes to pride, she has always felt the burning sear of it, for both herself and her family – it has always been the kind of satisfaction and fulfilment that is sharp like a whip crack, strong in its power and surety.
This time, though …
She rubs her chest where this strange feeling blooms. This kind of pride, she has never felt before. It’s so totally separate from her or anything she has done. And yet.
Her son is happy, her son has found someone that he looks at with the same softness in his eyes that she has seen in pictures of herself sometimes. Her son has found his partner and is content.
The emotion swells stronger than ever. She sucks in a breath and leans into her husband, comforted even further when he wraps an arm around her shoulder and draws her nearer.
“I guess it doesn’t matter who’s right.” She replies at last. “He’s happy.”
Mitsuki can’t see it now that she’s tucked into his side, but by the way Masaru tenses a little and shifts his weight, he must look down at her in surprise.
“Yes, exactly.”
They walk in silence until their boat comes into sight at the end of the pier. Then Masaru speaks up once more.
“I still expect you to pay up when I win our bet, though.”
She smacks his arm with a laugh and pulls away, climbing onto the boat first.
Mitsuki is just about to pull back the blanket and snuggle into bed, content to sleep away the final night on the boat when Masaru pokes his head into the bedroom with a soft smile.
“Love, come and look at this.”
Mitsuki pauses, one foot hovering in mid air halfway through the motion of kicking off her slipper. Her husband wouldn’t call her over for just anything, so it’s gotta be something truly amazing. She hurries to the door and follows him through the empty galley.
He raises a finger to his lips and points up, and Mitsuki knows exactly what he means. She slowly and quietly climbs the stairs into the cockpit, which is also suspiciously empty. One glance back at Masaru confirms that the boys are definitely up here. So, she kneels on the cushioned seats and peeks out onto the deck where, sure enough, she spots the boys laying on a blanket.
“I never realised there could be so many stars.” Izuku says softly, his voice full of wonder. Mitsuki jolts when Masaru kneels beside her, elbowing him when he laughs quietly, then quickly tunes back into the two teenagers.
“‘Cause there’s so much shitty light pollution in the city.” Katsuki replies. There’s something strange about his tone too, something Mitsuki hasn’t heard in a long time. This is how he sounds when he’s truly relaxed, when he doesn’t feel the need to put on such a show for everyone. “Cool, right?”
“It’s amazing, Kacchan. I wish I could see the stars like this all the time.”
“You should come on more trips ‘n shit, then.”
“Ah.” Izuku’s voice turns bashful and nervous. From her limited view, she can see Izuku wave his hands and shake his head. “I couldn’t intrude like that. This is time for you to be with your family!”
Katsuki snorts. “I see them all the fuckin’ time, nerd.”
“Kacchan, don’t be mean.”
A sigh. “If you’re really getting all worked up over it, then we can just come out here ourselves. Those old fucks don’t have to come.”
Mitsuki shoots Masaru a look, to find him already staring back at her with raised brows.
“Just you and me? Are you sure, Kacchan?”
Katsuki turns to look at Izuku. “Don’t make a big fucking deal about it, Deku.”
Green curls shift as Izuku meets Katsuki’s gaze then looks away. “I just don’t wanna get the wrong idea.”
“What if – oi, look at me, nerd.” Katsuki rises on an elbow so he’s looking down at Izuku. Mitsuki catches the serious, borderline nervous set of his brows before she and Masaru duck out of sight. She stares wide-eyed at her husband as they hear Katsuki continue. “What if that’s exactly the idea I want you to get, huh? What then?”
Trust Bakugou Katsuki to give the most accusatory confession in the world.
“Don’t tease me, Kacchan. I can’t handle that.”
“I ain’t teasing, dumbass. Is it really so fucking unbelievable that I want to hang out with you alone? That I want you?”
She catches the barest edge of a hitched breath, then a sniffle. When Izuku replies, his voice is wet with tears. “You’re not lying?”
“Why the fuck do you think I brought you on this trip, huh? You think I wanted to be grilled by my parents for fun? You know how embarrassing it is to be all fucking mushy and shit in front of them?”
“I didn’t know!”
“Obviously, shitnerd.”
The boys are silent for a long moment, Mitsuki and Masaru sitting on the floor of the cockpit with matching grins.
“So, you like me? Not … just as a friend?”
“No! Idiot! You think I’d bring any of the other extras out on this fuckin’ boat?”
“Okay, well, I like you too. A lot.”
“Not more than me, asshole.”
“It’s not a competition, Kacchan.” But Izuku is laughing now, and the sound of it brings sweet relief.
Masaru tugs her hand and jerks his head to indicate that they should let them have their moment. With that strange feeling in her chest once more, that sense of vicarious pride, she follows her husband back down the stairs, but not before she catches Izuku’s next sentence.
“You know you just called all of our classmates your friends, right?”
“Fuck off, I don’t like you anymore.”
“Nuh uuuuh. No take backs, Kacchan.”
Back downstairs, Masaru turns to her with his palm raised. “I believe you owe me fifty bucks, love.”
“At least wait until we get back home!” She replies with an eye roll. “Greedy bastard.”
Damn him for being right. But how can she be upset, really?
Sure enough, when she wakes first the next morning and heads out to the galley to make herself some tea, she passes by the couch bed to find the boys sleeping much closer together. Katsuki’s laying on his back in the middle of the bed, completely starfished out, except this time he has Izuku cuddled in close with an arm around his waist and his head pillowed on his shoulder. It’s sweet and not at all subtle. Maybe to anyone else, it would be a little surprising if not concerning that the boys are so comfortable and close after having only started their relationship the night before.
Not to Mitsuki, though. These boys have grown up together, fought a war together, died and lived for each other. The most surprising thing about all of this is that they haven’t developed some kind of freaky mind link at this point. So she leaves them to sleep, taking her tea and her book up to the cockpit so she can sit and enjoy the peace.
She knows when they wake because she catches the murmur of sleep roughened voices and low chuckles. When they do finally come up and sit in the cockpit, with plates of fruit and tea for themselves, she doesn’t give anything away. They’re good at pretending that nothing has changed, she’ll give them that, but she also catches the looks they send one another, the way their teasing and bickering has turned gentle.
Maybe they actually have developed a mind link or something after all, then.
They squeeze in one more ocean swim before they absolutely have to leave. It’s a little sad to see the island go, but if what Katsuki said last night has any truth, the boys would definitely be back soon. Maybe not until they graduate, though. She doesn’t want to think about what could happen with the two of them living in an enclosed space for days at a time by themselves.
Mitsuki shakes the thought out of her head with a wince, focusing on the sway of the boat as they glide through the choppy water. Katsuki is steering them back home this time, and he’s recruited Izuku so he can show him all of the controls, leaving Mitsuki and Masaru to relax downstairs, watching TV until it's time for lunch.
The afternoon creeps up on them, so they pause their travel to eat. Masaru cooks fish with vegetables, which they eat under the blinding rays of the midday sun on the deck, protected by sunscreen and sunglasses alone.
The boys remain on the deck, even after Masaru starts them on the final leg home and Mitsuki finishes washing up all the dishes. After the first hour, she pokes her head over the edge of the cockpit to see what they could be doing, only to find them curled around one another once more. Katsuki’s holding Izuku like he’s scared he’ll be snatched away from him at any moment, and Izuku’s grip tells the same story. If they don’t get out of the sun soon, they’ll both have very strange tan lines.
Still, Mitsuki pulls out her phone, snapping a few pictures before taking a little video, zooming in on them before switching the camera around to her fake-disgusted expression, catching Masaru’s grin in the background before she saves it and sends it to Inko.
Perhaps she should have held off until Izuku brought it up to her first, but something tells her that her best friend has been waiting for this moment. Sure enough, once the boys have woken from their afternoon nap and return to the shade, dazed and sun-warm, she gets a reply from Inko that consists of a lot of exclamation marks and repeated ‘finally’s.
It’s nearing nightfall by the time they dock again in the city, the hustle and bustle greeting them like an old friend. The four of them clean the boat from top to bottom, packing all of the belongings that need to come back home with them while they wait for Inko to arrive. When she pulls up in her little car, Izuku jumps down and runs to greet her with a big hug. Katsuki, surprisingly enough, follows slowly behind so that when the Midoriya’s pull apart – both of them a little teary eyed – he can greet her with a much less emotional hug.
“No fucking way.” Mitsuki says, mostly to herself. Masaru still hears, of course, and he snorts.
“Who knew having a boyfriend would give him some manners?” He replies.
“The little brat never greets me like that!”
“Would you give him shit if he did?”
Mitsuki glares at her husband and clicks her tongue, unwilling to concede defeat. Instead she abandons him by the boat with their belongings so she can go and greet her best friend as well.
The drive back home is a lot more spacious than it was on the way in and, after glancing sidelong, Mitsuki knows it’s because Izuku is scooted all the way over to press up against Katsuki. They’re sharing a pair of earphones, both watching something on Katsuki’s phone, but even despite that, there’s no real reason for the two of them to be so close. Honestly, there is no point in them pretending to be anything but officially dating – their body language screams it loud and clear.
Dumb teenagers.
Still, when they finally get back home and Katsuki lingers outside to talk with Izuku, Mitsuki doesn’t call them out on it. Instead, she, Masaru and Inko ferry their belongings out of the car and dump them in the entryway to deal with later while they stand on the front doorstep and chat.
“So, how did it all happen?” Inko asks, eyes gleaming in excitement. They’d already recounted much of the holiday in the car on the way home, but this wasn’t something they could really talk about with the boys within earshot. Now they’re a safe distance away, in their own little world next to the car, their heads bent close as they talk.
“It was so cute, right?” Mitsuki looks at Masaru as he nods in confirmation. “They spent all day hanging off each other at the beach, then Izuku kept falling asleep on Katsuki at dinner.”
“Oh my.” Inko covers her mouth as she laughs.
“Masaru called me out to the deck right as I was about to go to sleep and the boys were stargazing! The confession was so – so them. It was really sweet.”
“Even though he never really told me, Izuku has always been so smitten with Katsuki. I’m so happy that they worked it all out.”
“Means we’re practically family now, hey?” Mitsuki elbows Inko with a laugh. “Thank fuck, I thought my brat was gonna drive Izuku off with his shitty attitude.”
The three of them share a fond look, then glance to the boys in question, only to find Katsuki watching Izuku intently as he rambles, his gaze tracking every shift and expression Izuku makes. Then, right as Izuku pauses to draw breath, Katsuki grabs him by the shoulder and kisses him.
Mitsuki’s mouth drops open in disbelief as Izuku freezes in place, his eyes comically wide before he realises what’s happening and melts into it. It’s chaste – thank god – and not long at all. When they draw back, Izuku grins wide, his eyes sparkling as Katsuki clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck, his already sunburned cheeks flushing further.
Then they glance to the front door and go rigid as they realise their parents are watching them.
“Can’t you nosy fucks leave us alone for five minutes! Damn!” Katsuki, predictably, explodes.
“Not when you’re making out right in front of us, we can’t!” Mitsuki fires back, her surprise quickly turning into glee.
“M-mum, I’m sorry, I didn’t – I mean, we – I’m sorry.” Izuku stutters, hiding his burning face behind his arms.
Inko laughs. “It’s okay, baby, I knew already. I’m so excited for you both!”
“How did you –” At once, Izuku and Katsuki look at her and Masaru, understanding dawning in their expressions.
Katsuki drags Izuku along behind him as he storms into the house, brushing past the three adults as he spits, “No goddamn privacy, can’t do anything around here without the whole fucking universe knowing about it. C’mon Deku, screw this shit.”
“Leaving in five minutes, okay, Izu?” Inko calls after the boys as they climb the stairs.
“Mhm.” His reply is strained with obvious embarrassment. Katsuki’s bedroom door slams shut with a sense of finality, leaving the three of them on the front doorstep in silence. Silence which Mitsuki promptly breaks.
“Gonna have to lay down some new rules now. No more closed doors with Izuku around.” She shakes her head and waves her finger but she’s still grinning widely.
Inko laughs and nods in agreement. “No more unsupervised sleepovers either.”
Mitsuki hooks her arm around Inko's, bringing her further inside to the lounge room. “Let’s come up with these rules together, shall we?”
Masaru closes the front door and picks up the bag of leftover groceries, heading to the kitchen with an amused smirk. “You two are going to give them hell, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not, I love my baby!” Inko replies, all faux-innocence.
“Are you kidding me? I totally trust those boys!”
The two mothers look at one another and laugh. Mitsuki already knows that the next few years with the additions to her family are going to be delightful. Thank goodness for summer holidays and family traditions.