"Please explain to me why you two look close to killing each other?" Crossing his arms, Shouta eyes the two suspiciously.
"He attacked me!" Shinso cuts in first, pointing at All Might.
Narrowing his eyes, Toshinori bristles. "I wouldn't have attacked you if you weren't lurking around the house in the dark! I had to protect Eri!"
"Protect Eri! I would have never hurt her you lumbering oaf!"
Taking offence to Shinso's statement Toshinori stands, agitation rolling off him in waves. "Lumbering! At least I'm not a brat! Who doesn't know when he's not wanted!"
"Children." Shouta shoots them a sharp look, quirk flaring. They both snap their mouths shut. "I've had a long day and I'm two seconds away from throwing you two out." Headache flaring up, Shouta ignores them for now and heads to the kitchen to grab some aspirin.
The long years of being a teacher have thought Shouta how to handle petty disagreements. This one between Shinso and Toshinori is no different. Forming a plan, as he swallows two pills dry, he returns to the living room.
"Darling," Shouta says, exhaustion creeping into his voice; Unconsciously using his nickname for Toshi when he's at his limit. "be a dear and draw a bath for me. I need to talk to Shinso." Divide and conquer. It'll be easier to deal with them one at a time and he rather get Shinso's attitude straightened out first. Having a little space should help to calm his husband as well. The bath being ready afterword is a nice bonus.
"O-okay…" Unsure, Toshinori hovers for a moment before turning and starting down the hall.
"It's the second door to your left. In case you've forgotten."
Faltering between steps, the tall man turns a scathing glance on Shinso.
"Shinso. Enough. There's no need to be rude." Shouta scolds, mouthing an 'I'm sorry' to Toshinori, with what he hopes is a reassuring smile.
The hero tilts his head in acknowledgement, before disappearing down the hall.
Turning back to his current problem child, Shouta shoots him a murderous glare. "Whatever's going on between you two, stop. I would hate to have to ban you from our house."
"Our house? Don't you think you're rushing into this? It's been what, four days since I got your message? Teach, you have to find this suspicious. You're letting your guard down, and you've even left him alone with Eri! This could be a trap, one that you're walking right into."
Scoffing, Shouta barely holds himself back form rolling his eyes. "A trap? Really Shinso, you're being paranoid. I was there when it happened. The only villain around was Riki."
"Were you? Because I read the reports, you weren't there when the quirk hit."
It suddenly dawns on Shouta that he didn't actually see it happen. He was in the store. There was a scream. But the woman and child were there. They would have told him if something strange happened… Right? "No, I didn't see him transform. But there were witnesses."
"Did you get any of their statements? A medical checkup on Yagi? To check to see if he is who he says he is?"
He didn't. In any other situation he would have gone through those normal steps. Shouta assumed the other teachers would take care of it, but he hasn't even followed up with any of them to see what's been found.
Not wanting to admit how much he neglected, Shouta deflects with, "What are you implying? That the man currently in my bathroom is some kind of villain? That… Toshi might currently held hostage somewhere? All Might's been at the school this entire time. He's demonstrated his incredible strength. There's no way he's not Toshi." He has to be Toshi. Shouta will never forgive himself if his mistakes caused the people, he loved harm.
"You and I both know there are ways to manipulate people over the obvious. Listen, I'm just trying to tell you that you're leaving yourself open, vulnerable. I didn't just show up for a chat, I've been doing follow up work for you all day. And Shouta? It's not good."
Shinso pulls a folder from behind himself and starts spreading its contents on the table in front of them.
"I started with Riki, portrayed myself as a sympathetic ear, and found his other victims. There are three total, not including All Might." Shinso points to the first photo. "The first was his teacher, an accident, when his quirk manifested, he turned her from mid-forties to twenty."
"Second, was his older uncle, who wanted a second chance at life. He was wealthy and signed a contract to provide funds to Riki. The uncle hand time to prepare, and now he runs a multimillion corporation. I wasn't able to interview him directly. "
Shouta makes a mental note to make sure that this uncle doesn't bail Riki out of jail.
"Last, is a woman he claims he felt sorry for. Though that couldn't have been further from the truth, they used to date, and she wanted to leave him. He thought his quirk would put her back to the beginning of their relationship, turns out she had an undiagnosed illness, and his quirk put her back to middle school, before the illness developed."
The more he learns about Riki, the more disgusted he becomes. Though as fascinating as this is, none of this information actually helps with Shouta's predicament. "What's your point Shinso?"
"My point, Teach, is that these are things you should have thought to check out before getting close to Yagi. Not one of Riki's victims had any recollection of their previous life. Zero, zilch, nada. The first girl, she had a family, a husband and a few children. But she couldn't remember any of it. It was too much for her, so she left. And her family? They were devastated. I don't want that to happen to you or Eri. And from what I've seen, there shouldn't be reason for All Might to be in your house right now."
No wonder his former student is up in arms. Shouta would be on edge too if he didn't know the full story. This would also explain his hostile attitude towards Toshinori, if he thought the strongest man on earth could be a potential threat. "I told him about Eri, he wanted to meet her. This might be hard to believe, but there are people out there that care about family."
"Sure, he cares about family, but why would he be so fixated on you? Eri told me how he kissed you before the fight. He doesn't remember you Shouta. I get why your swept up in this, you were head over heels for Yagi, but why is he so easily swept up in you? The guy has to know he could have anyone. It's irrational."
Shinsho's words cut straight to all of Shouta's current insecurities. He's old, broken, and can barely function as a normal person. Why would anyone want to be saddled with him? Swallowing down the sudden lump in his throat, he desperately goes over his memories of the last two days. They seem to sour with his self-doubt, he doesn't know if he can trust his own interpretations of Toshinori's reactions.
But… "He-" had a wet dream about me. "said he found me attractive. We were married. There has to be something about me he likes." Shouta's voice is small and uncertain. The urge to curl around himself is strong, though he doesn't want to appear any weaker in front of his former student.
"So what? You're going to play house with this newer version and pretend like Yagi didn't exist? It's been four days Shouta! You're cautious about everything in your life, why aren't you being cautious about this? It took you a year to officially start dating Yagi, what if it doesn't work out with this one? You're not just screwing yourself over with this, Eri will get hurt too! It's not like you to blindly go into a situation thinking everything will be fine. Have you even given yourself time to mourn?"
"Do you honestly think I haven't thought about this? That every step closer to him isn't terrifying? It's been pure hell for me the last few days! You want to see me mourn Shinso? Well I'm fucking mourning. I haven't stopped. But my husband is here, and he wants to try, and don't you dare try to condemn me for wanting to try too. I will gladly take whatever scraps he's willing to give me."
Chest heaving from his outburst and angry tears threatening to fall, he collapses, defeated, on the couch adjacent to Shinso. Shouta holds his pounding head in his hands. "I know I'm rushing this. I know I'm being irrational. You don't have to tell me. But… Shinso, you have to understand, Toshi meant everything to me. If I could have stopped him from getting hit by that quirk, I would have kept my eyes open until they bled. I can't lose him again. I can't. I'm barely holding myself together as it is."
Strung out and close to breaking down again, Shouta concentrates on not falling apart in his living room.
Shinso must have sensed he pushed too far because the next thing he says is, "I'm sorry. I'm such an ass. I should have had more faith in you. You would never willingly let anything happen to Eri. And it's not even your job to follow up, you're too close to everything. I guess I was worried about you two. When found out what happened I was expecting to find you dead in a ditch by now, with Eri on the side of the street begging for money. Instead she comes home with some musclehead, whose first instinct is to put me in a choke hold. Talk about bad first impressions."
Snorting Shouta says "That must have been a sight to see. You two didn't scare Eri too badly?"
"Nah, the princess is fine, she's a fierce little thing when she wants to be. Scared the shit out of All Might that's for sure."
"I hope that didn't traumatize him." Bloodshot black eyes meet tired purple. "Shinso, I'll look into any possible quirks controlling All Might. And I'll make sure Nezu gives him a full exam if he hasn't already. I want you two to get along, and it's a rational move either way. I can't abandon him though. I won't."
Shinso breaks eye contact first, looking guilty. "You probably don't have to. I had Yagi's detective friend double check that Riki was indeed working alone. And I am really sorry for insinuating that this Yagi shouldn't have a reason to like you. That was uncalled for and mean."
"I would say uncalled for was an understatement. I apparently failed at teaching you how to talk to a trauma victim. Your little pep talk was atrocious. Adding to the stress in my life, rather than helping me deal with it."
At least Shinso's heart was in the right place. Shouta can forgive him, his anger already cooling, though it might take a little longer than usual. It wouldn't have affected him nearly as much if it wasn't for his physical fatigue, headache, and the day's events.
"There is something that's been bothering me." Shouta's eyes narrow at Shinso. "Weren't you on an undercover mission? That was supposed to go on for another… three months? Mind telling me why you're in my living room?"
Twitching, Shinso nervously scratches the back of his head. "I finished early?"
"You finished early." Shouta deadpans. "Please do tell me what stupid ass shit you got yourself into."
"Nothing you wouldn't do." He grumbles under his breath.
"Shinso."
"Okay! Shit you can be scary, like I said when I got your message, I got worried. So, I sped up the mission. Brainwashed a few people, bribed others, and beat up anyone who was left. It was a small drug ring. No victims to rescue, so I figured why not?"
"Status report."
"I'm fine!"
"Status. Report."
Huffing, Shinso crosses his arms and looks away from his former teacher. "Two bullet wounds, one in the left leg and the other in my arm, a broken rib, and I broke my hands punching someone. All healed by my agency's doctor."
"You're a fucking idiot. Don't pull stupid shit like that on a mission. That's how you get killed." Sighing, Shouta pulls the purple haired man into a hug. "Don't make me hide things from you while you're on a mission. I know what it's like to be complete cut off from the outside world, how helpless you feel, but you have to know what you're doing can save a lot of people. Being an underground hero is one of the hardest paths you could have chosen for yourself."
Shouta releases him from the hug and holds him at arm's length. "I care about you. If I lost you, it would be just as bad as losing Eri. Keep yourself safe for me. And please, be nicer to Toshi? I really want things to work out between us. It won't, if you two hate each other."
"Yea yea, I'll play nice." Shinso waves a hand dismissively in the air. "But if he hurts you, I'll find a way to kill him."
Shouta gives the voice hero a bored look. "No, you won't. Now get out of my house. I'm tired and I have a bath with my name on it." Shooing Shinso as he stands to stretch.
"As you wish, I'll see ya around Teach."
Before Shinso walks out the door, Shouta calls out to him. "Shinso, thanks. For looking into Riki and his other victims for me."
"Anytime." Smiling, the other hero waves goodbye, heading back to his apartment.
As soon as the door shuts, Shouta falls, boneless back onto the couch. Maybe he can just sleep here tonight. The grime and dirt covering his body beg to be washed off, but he's past his limit. And Shinso's warnings, stop him from begging Toshinori to take care of him for the night.
He wants to, and he could. Sweet and caring, Toshinori would spoil him. Shouta wouldn't have to worry about anything.
Pushing the fantasy away, he stands on shaking legs, and stumbles to the bathroom. Thoughts of Toshinori waiting, alone for Shouta force him into action. He'll probably end up waiting all night for me.
When he enters the bathroom, he nearly cries. Toshinori found the bubble mixture and their massive bathtub is filled with steaming water and fluffy clouds. Screw Shinso's warnings, Shouta's going to marry this man a second time.
Toshinori stands as soon as he see's Shouta, looking towards the ground "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been impolite to your friend and you have to know that I would never hurt you or Eri."
"Eavesdropping is rude Toshinori. Turn around so I can wash off before my bath." He doesn't bother waiting for the shy hero to answer, already stripping off his clothes.
Face heating, the tall hero turns to face the wall, stammering, "Y-you want me to- to stay? While you b-bathe?"
"Yes, I'm running out of energy. This way at least I can talk to you, without passing out." Rinsing off as quick as possible, he clears the filth from his body. "How much did you hear?" He slows down to give his hair extra attention.
"Ah, your talk sounded like it was getting heated, so I came to check that everything was okay. Around the time he accused me of not having a reason to like you." Toshinori's voice turns impassioned as he continues. "Which is completely untrue! You're amazing Shouta. Anyone would be lucky to have you." A pause, and shyly he says, "And I think that you- you're beautiful."
Unconvinced, Shouta huffs. "Now I know you're lying. Toshinori, look at me." The tall man stiffens at the command, unmoving. "Don't worry I have a towel on, just look."
Ever so slowly, Toshinori turns around, opening his eyes only after Shouta taps his arm. Electric blue stays locked on his face. Exasperated, he takes a step away from the taller man, forcing him to take in his damaged body. As soon as the first of his countless scars are spotted, Toshinori takes to tracking each one, roaming over Shouta's body. His eyes linger on the star shaped on at his elbow, his biggest, courtesy of Shigaraki.
"I'm not beautiful Toshi. I'm almost forty and I'm a complete mess. Shinso was right, there's nothing about me that you should like." There. No more hiding, it's all out in the open. Coursing through him is the illogical fear that Toshinori will walk out. He fights to push it down, Toshi is too sweet to ever damn someone for their scars. But that doesn't mean he'll find the body attached to them attractive.
He flinches, when he feels a broad hand wrap around his own, pulling it close. Soft lips touch his fingertips, reassuring. "Shouta…"
Sharp pain has him wrenching his arm back from a stinging pinch. Shouta quickly covers the forming bruise with his hand. "Toshi, what the fuck."
"You were being an idiot." Toshinori says cheerfully. Echoing the phrase Shouta used on him back at the dorms.
Memories flood through him. The many different times Toshi spiraled, over his body, over not being a hero, doubting his self-worth, and on the rare occasion, doubting Shouta's love for him. All overcome with a simple pinch, the word's 'you're being an idiot' and the rest of the day spent however Toshi needed him. Weather that was showering him with all the love and attention Shouta could muster, or curled up next to him in the dark, a comforting presence by his side.
"God damnit Toshi." Inhaling a shuttering breath, Shouta wraps both arms around his husband's tree-trunk frame. He buries his face in the soft fabric of Toshi's shirt, breathing in his familiar scent.
He loves this man.
"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. Are you okay? Did I pinch to hard?" Floundering, Toshinori starts running his hands over Shouta's back and through his hair. "Shouta, please talk to me."
He blinks up at Toshi, his eyes glassy with tears he refuses to let fall. "I'm fine. More than fine, you were right. I'm being an idiot."
He's so stupidly happy.
"Come here, you dork." Shouta stands on the tips of his toes to pull Toshi into a kiss, tugging on a rabbit ear. The tall man gladly obliges, one hand settling on the back of Shouta's neck and one snaking into his dark hair.
Needing to feel more of this man, Shouta swipes at the other's lips with his tongue. At the same time, his nails scrape at his husband's back. Just as planned, Toshi opens his mouth with a gasp at the duel attack, and Shouta takes full advantage. Twinning their tongues together, deepening the kiss.
Toshi tastes like home.
A gentle, but constant pressure pulls at his hair forcing him back down on the heels of his feet and away from Toshi. Whimpering at the lost contact, Shouta moves his shaking grip to the blond man's shirt, desperate to not be separated.
"Toshi, darling please." On a fundamental level, Shouta can tell he's not in the right state of mind for what he's begging for. But the day's events have taken their toll. He's aching to be near Toshi, wanting to reconfirm that the tall hero still wants him, he's unsure of their future now that their relationship is out to the public, his body is tired and aching because of the fight earlier, and he feels guilty over the fact that he didn't do more to protect Eri. All he wants is to be held, loved, and needed.
"I am here. I'll take care of you, love." A soft kiss on his forehead, and Shouta's feet are swept out from under him as he's lifted into Toshi's arms.
Expecting to be carried to the bathroom, Shouta's startled when his feet hit hot water. Toshi lowers him carefully into the bath, making sure his head stays above the water. The heat soothes his sore muscles and Shouta sighs with contentment. Strong hands move over his shoulders, kneading away at any knots they find.
Officially in heaven, Shouta lets his eyes droop, nuzzling at Toshi's arm. Bubble baths are akin to a comfort food for him. He has nothing but good memories associated with them. Especially since they decided to buy a bigger bath that would easily fit both Toshi and himself.
Happy and relaxed, Shouta drifts off a few times during his bath. Ever attentive, Toshi stops him from drowning. Once the water starts to cool, he's lifted out of the tub into a fluffy towel. Shouta struggles to stay upright as his hair is being dried by the other man.
At some point he must have passed out again, because the next thing he knows, he's laying in bed, woken as Toshi pulls him to his chest. A small smile graces his lips as he settles into his husband's warmth. It doesn't matter what happens tomorrow. They'll get through it together.
