All Might's wild blond hair poofed back out to its normal volume once he pulled his head through the collar of his sweater, and he let out a small sigh of relief at finally being in his own clothes again rather than that thin hospital gown he'd been stuck in for the past month. The fluffy knit fabric hung loosely around his middle, but he couldn't go back to his normal winter clothes just yet. He still had a significant amount of baby weight on him, but he was sure that would disappear in no short order whether he wanted it to or not.

"Ready to head home, Toshi?"

The retired hero smiled lightly to himself when he heard his husband's voice behind him. He turned around in time to catch Dave fastening the last button of Kansuke's onesie, all the while the infant wriggled about in an apparent effort to make things as difficult as possible for his father. All Might had to bite his lip to keep from chuckling in amusement.

"I've been ready to head home for weeks now, but you all insisted I stay. Honestly, I was starting to think you were all conspiring to keep me here until next year."

"Toshi… You could barely walk down the hall on your own until a week ago. I think the doctor's caution is perfectly understandable."

"I suppose…" he gave in without much more of a fight about it. He supposed it didn't matter. After all, he'd finally gotten cleared to be discharged, and he just wanted to finally get out of that damned hospital room as soon as possible. Then again… All Might cast a sideways glance back towards his husband just as he gingerly lifted their newborn son up from his plastic bassinette.

"Did the doctor get the chance to examine Kansuke today? As much as I want to go home, I don't want to leave until she says he's ready."

"Oh, don't you worry about him. He's been perfectly healthy and ready to go home pretty much since he was born. He only stayed because we didn't want to separate you two."

At that interjection, All Might's attention was pulled back towards the door of the hospital room, where the almost too familiar figure of his doctor made her way in, pushing an empty wheelchair in front of her. The former hero was relieved by the news, but that relief ebbed once his eyes settled on the wheelchair.

"Oh, come on… That's not really necessary, is it? I can walk just fine now. I'm not even sore anymore," he groaned out in protest, though that last bit about not being sore was perhaps not as true as he'd like her to believe. He'd probably be plenty sore by the time they got down to the car if he walked on his own the way he wanted. Either way, the doctor shook her head.

"You know that doesn't matter. Honestly, you've been here so many times over the past few years that you should be able to quote hospital policy by heart," she replied firmly, giving the seat of the wheelchair a light pat as though inviting him to sit down. Of course, it was perhaps a bit more of an order than a request. He let out another reluctant sigh, but eventually complied. He knew he wouldn't get out of there any sooner by making a fuss over it.

All Might couldn't stifle a small grunt of discomfort as he lowered himself down into the wheelchair, the doctor helping to support him a bit as he did so. He still hadn't fully healed from his surgery, but he was never the type that could just sit around waiting to get better. Apparently knowing this full well, the doctor proceeded to reiterate for what felt like the hundredth time that he needed to stay home and rest for at least another month before he could think about returning to his teaching duties. Predicting that he may not follow her instructions, she seemed to make a point to tell Dave more than him directly, trusting his husband more to make sure he was resting as much as he needed to. The retired hero was almost dreading the next few weeks, knowing the scientist would be diligent in ensuring that the doctor's instructions were followed to the letter.

After the laundry list of recommendations finally ended, Dave turned his attention back down towards his partner, flashing him an almost apologetic smile for the days to come even as he bent down to pass Kansuke into his arms. All Might eagerly accepted, taking the tiny infant and holding him close. Kansuke's blue-eyed gaze fixed lovingly up at his mother from the gap in the blankets he'd been thoroughly wrapped in to protect him from the cold mid-December air outside. All Might couldn't stop the wide grin that spread across his lips as he watched his son attempt in vain to wriggle around as he usually did, his warm blanket cocoon keeping his arms and legs well secure against his body. He cuddled the newborn close, so thoroughly distracted that he hardly noticed at all when Dave took the handles of the wheelchair and started pushing him down the hall. Well, perhaps he'd have something at home to keep him behaving himself after all.

"Your students will be happy to hear that you're finally coming home. They've been coming to ask me how you're doing practically everyday after school," Dave began once they reached the elevator. All Might couldn't stop the slight smirk that formed on his lips at that.

"'They,' huh? Why do I get the feeling that the reality isn't quite as plural as you let on?"

The scientist let out a light chuckle at that.

"Alright, alright… It was pretty much just Izuku, but I imagine he's reporting back to the rest of his class. He seemed particularly worried after I came back from my leave, almost like he knew about the complications you had… You don't think Nighteye told him about something like that, do you?"

"A-ah, no, Nighteye's too much of a stickler to let something like that slip to a student. Young Midoriya's always been more concerned over my health than any of the others. I-I'm sure that just comes from being a longtime fan of mine," he dismissed casually, trying his best to dodge the subject of Sir Nighteye's previous prediction. After all, it seemed he'd avoided that particular fate, so there was no reason to worry Dave over it.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. In any case, he caught me just before I left campus today and I already told him you'd be coming home. He was pretty awkward after that, but I'm sure he wanted to ask when he could come see you and the baby. I told him you'd text him when you felt up to having visitors over."

All Might nodded his head at that. Yeah, that sounded about right. He'd have probably suggested something along those lines anyway. Honestly, he was looking forward to seeing his successor again and easing the poor boy's fears that something terrible had happened. Perhaps he could stand to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon if it meant he could invite him over in the evening.

Later on into the evening, Midoriya found himself sitting at his desk up in his dorm room, staring down at the textbooks and papers scattered over the surface but not really registering the information they presented. His intention had been to study for his end of term exams that were only a week away, but instead he found himself fidgeting restlessly in his seat and constantly glancing out the window. Professor Shield's car had returned from the hospital a lot earlier than it usually would, which seemed to support the scientist's promise that All Might was finally coming home.

Izuku practically had to physically restrain himself to keep from sending his mentor a text message. While he desperately wanted to see that his hero was alive and well with his own eyes, he really didn't want to be a pest. Surely All Might must still be recovering, and this was the first night that he'd get to sit at home and relax with the entirety of his family. The teen really didn't want to butt in on that. After all, that wasn't a space that he really belonged.

"A text message is here!"

The sudden announcement in his idol's booming voice caused Midoriya to jump in surprise, nearly toppling backwards in his chair. He managed to quickly right himself before he could fall, immediately snatching his phone up from his desk and burying his nose in the screen. His heart leapt in his chest when he found that the text he'd gotten was from All Might's number! He tried to reign in his excitement as he quickly read over the message he'd been sent, which became a difficult task indeed once he saw that it included a casual invitation to come over if he wanted.

Midoriya was dressed in a flash, just barely having the presence of mind to text back to All Might before dashing out of his room. His immediate destination wasn't downstairs, however. After all, he hadn't been the only one to be invited over. He first headed upstairs to the fourth floor of Height's Alliance, making his way down the hall on the boys' side to the last occupied room on that floor. He gave the door a quick knock, perhaps sounding a bit more frantic than he'd intended to. After a moment, the door swung open, the perpetually-irritated face of Bakugo greeting him with no shortage of ire.

"Yeah, whaddaya want?"

"W-well, All Might just texted me and said we could come over to visit if we—"

Midoriya found himself cut off mid-sentence when the door was abruptly slammed in his face. He hardly had enough time to be upset about it as, after a bit of shuffling inside, the door swung open once more and a fully-dressed Bakugo pushed his way out into the hall.

"Well, what are you waiting for? You coming or not?" the explosive teen called out behind him as he made his way down the hall. Midoriya merely sighed at his classmate's brash demeanor, a small smile spreading across his lips before he jogged to catch up with him.

With practiced ease, Bakugo and Midoriya managed to slip out of the dormitory without any of their classmates taking notice of their absence. They might have been able to make an excuse if they'd ever been caught sneaking out back when they were having their private training sessions with All Might, but their intentions would have been all too obvious that particular night. Luckily they were spared having to explain themselves, and soon enough they found themselves standing in front of the retired hero's front door.

Midoriya managed to control his excitement this time when he knocked, and soon enough the door opened to them. Melissa's smiling face was what greeted them, causing Izuku's cheeks to redden reflexively.

"Wow, that certainly was fast! If I didn't know any better I'd think you guys were camping out here waiting for Dad to text you or something," she teased with a light giggle, to which the freckle-faced young man couldn't help but laugh nervously in return.

"A-ah, no nothing like that! I wouldn't do something so stalkery now that I've gotten to spend so much time with All Might at school. N-not that I would have done that before either! I-I just meant that sort of like – ow!"

Midoriya's flustered rambling was cut mercifully short when he felt a sudden sharp kick to his ankle. He glanced to the side, just catching Bakugo's impatient stare.

"I-I mean, uhh… How're your dad and brother doing?"

Melissa let out another poorly stifled giggle at the teen's awkward stammering but stepped aside to let the two of them come inside.

"Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't be happy until you saw the answer for yourself."

Once again, it took all of Midoriya's restraint to keep from bolting inside to hunt down his mentor, instead trying his best to act normally as he made his way inside. Luckily he didn't have to go far to find who he was looking for. All Might was settled comfortably in the middle of the couch in the living room, a tiny bundle cradled in his arms. As soon as the two boys rounded the corner, he glanced up and flashed the two of them his usual smile.

"I'd have told you not to rush, but I imagine it wouldn't have done much good," he joked lightly, beckoning his two students over with a wave of his hand. Midoriya simultaneously felt great relief and a sudden nervousness at that. On one hand, it was a huge weight off his shoulders to see All Might in the flesh once more, alive and well. On the other hand… His gaze drifted over to the infant held in the former hero's arms, a soft warble emanating from somewhere inside the blanket bundle as a tiny hand reached up and attempted to grasp the frizzy tuft at the end of All Might's long bangs as it brushed by.

Midoriya was suddenly made painfully aware that he had exactly zero experience with babies. He was an only child, and he'd never visited any family members with young children before. What was he supposed to do here? Was he supposed to stay quiet around him? What if he accidentally scared him or made him cry? He'd never forgive himself if his first interaction with All Might's son was something like that!

Sensing the teen's hesitation, the lanky man gave a small chuckle.

"Come on, you two, there's no need to be so nervous. I can't promise he won't bite, but at least he doesn't have any teeth yet."

At that, Izuku realized once more that he wasn't there alone. He glanced to his side, noticing that, if anything, Bakugo seemed even more reluctant to approach than he was. A bead of sweat could be seen rolling down the explosive teen's cheek, the subtle scent of caramel emanating from him becoming ever more apparent by the second. Midoriya could practically hear his rival's thoughts through his skull, clearly worried that he might accidentally detonate his nitroglycerin sweat if he got too close to the baby. His stress at the situation only caused him to sweat even more, creating a vicious cycle of constantly increasing danger.

Seeing Bakugo so worried over an actual potential catastrophe, Midoriya suddenly felt a little silly for worrying over making a baby cry. Still quite hesitant, he stepped forward and took a seat next to All Might on the couch, peeking tentatively over the hero's arm to get a peek at the newborn. The teen's presence was enough to distract Kansuke from trying to grab at his mother's hair, his bright blue eyes suddenly fixing on this strange new person. He then began to wriggle around once more in his mother's arms, letting out a stream of meaningless baby babble that only stopped once he stuck his fingers in his mouth.

Midoriya could feel his heart clench in his chest at the sight, his eyes sparkling with adoration, the tips of his fingers held over his lips being the only thing keeping him from squealing aloud in delight. He was so cute he could hardly contain himself!

"Would you like to hold him?"

That one casual question was enough to turn the warm fuzzies Izuku felt inside into nerve-wracking ice. He froze, glancing up nervously to see All Might still smiling gently down at him. It wasn't that he didn't want to hold his lifelong idol's baby – hell, that was like the fulfillment of a wish he didn't know he had, but… Was that really okay? He had no idea how to properly hold a newborn baby, and suddenly he was filled with the fear that he'd accidentally drop him.

"U-um… I-I don't know if that's a good idea…" he stammered out meekly, but All Might's reassuring smile never waivered.

"Don't worry so much, my boy. I'm sure you'll do just fine," the retired hero assured softly, holding the infant out slightly for his successor to take. "Besides, there are times when being a hero requires a gentle touch. Just think of it as more training."

Midoriya stared hesitantly down at Kansuke for a moment more, the infant staring back up at him almost expectantly. He swallowed hard at the lump that had gathered in his throat, slowly reaching his arms out to wrap gingerly around the baby. Once the transfer was complete, All Might adjusted his student's arms to ensure he was supporting the child's head properly before releasing Midoriya to hold him on his own.

Izuku sat deathly still once he had Kansuke in his arms, afraid he'd mess something up if he moved even an inch out of place. The newborn cradled against his chest wasn't making that task an easy one, continuing to wiggle about happily as he babbled up at the teen. After a few moments, however, he started to feel the tension ease from his muscles, and soon he was able to fully relax. Even Bakugo's nerves seemed to have calmed a bit, as he'd gradually inched closer until he was able to peek over the back of the couch to have a look himself, though his hands remained firmly in his pockets the entire time.

Soon growing more confident, Midoriya felt comfortable enough to move his hand from where it was settled on the infant's back, reaching in to gently brush the tip of his finger across Kansuke's cheek. It was so soft and warm, like nothing he'd ever felt before. Of course, the newborn reacted to the touch with wide-eyed curiosity, an uncoordinated hand moving up to grasp the wandering digit. His tiny little fingers could barely wrap more than halfway around, but that didn't seem to intimidate Kansuke in the slightest. He managed to wriggle his other arm free from the blanket he was wrapped in, reaching up to explore one of the wide scars that decorated the young hero's hand.

Midoriya had to bite his lip to stifle whatever surely-embarrassing sound was trying to worm its way out of him, his heart swelling in his chest once more. How was it possible for something so tiny to be so adorable?! He couldn't help but lean down and gently nuzzle the baby's face with his own, eliciting a happy squeal as those two tiny hands buried themselves in the teen's soft green curls.

Meanwhile, All Might watched quietly from the side, that proud grin never leaving his face. He had a feeling the two boys would get along right away, but he was genuinely impressed by just how readily his successor managed to slip into the role of big brother.