It was 6:02 in the evening. Which meant he should've heard from her by now.

Although Bakugo was unfairly forced to stay away from work, on what others might consider a day off, Uraraka still left a little after 7am for her regular shift. She seriously considered staying home with him and then going back in on Wednesday, but they both knew she couldn't really afford to miss another day after her break the week before when she was almost taken.

He practically had to kick her out of the place so she wouldn't miss the subway departure time. She wouldn't stop apologizing, but, really, she didn't have to worry so much. He knew exactly how important it was to keep a good image as a hero and he wasn't gonna punish her for it just because they were now in a relationship or whatever. Just like he expected her to support his goals, he knew she had dreams too.

It was now 6:03. She should've tugged on the string ages ago to let him know she was off. He was surprised at the jerk in the morning around the time she would've arrived at work. Since then, the double pull popped up every few hours. So what was keeping her from letting him know she was on her way home? It was just a simple twitch of a finger.

By that logic, he could've been the one to initiate it. But then that might look desperate and he couldn't bring himself to actually share just how much he missed her.

Had something happened? The only reason why she wouldn't be able to notify him is if she were paralyzed or unconscious, neither scenario putting his fears at ease. About to rip his hair in frustration, Bakugo almost missed it. Not a tug, but a buzz from his phone.

Round-face: Hey! I wanted to surprise you and come home early, but I just realized I don't have my key. Can you unlock the door for me? I'm almost up.

Stupid. Stupid, stupid, woman. And him too. But mostly her.

Feeling like an absolute idiot with his face on fire, Bakugo stood up from the couch and opened the door. Trying to be nonchalant to mask his earlier nerves, he strolled out casually with his hands in his sweatpant pockets. But once he stepped out, he was struck by the thought that maybe him being outside would look like he'd been waiting for her. Which was not something he did.

But maybe he was willing to do it for her? Why did this have to be so complicated? Usually, he just did what he wanted, when he wanted. There was no need to be considerate of others because anyone worth his time would be able to take care of their own needs.

The elevator door opened with a ding and Uraraka's whole face lit up at the sight of him.

Ok, so maybe he didn't mind waiting outside.

"You didn't have to come out for me. I just needed the door unlocked." She walked towards him with a little bounce in every step and he felt the sudden urge to sweep her up and haul her inside.

"Whatever."

"Thanks anyway." Her eyes curved into those half-moons as she smiled with zero inhibition, leaning in towards him with abandon.

She was so open and trusting, it was like she was from another planet. And judging by how much she was willing to overlook in him, it wouldn't be surprising if she were excusing things for the sake of keeping the peace. She might not have really thought this through, and he liked her too much to trap her here without all the information.

He couldn't even admit how much he had wanted her to stay that morning.

"Look, uh. You don't have to stay here just because I said so last night."

"I know that. I want to." She looked at him with that same smile and side stepped him to try and enter the apartment and put her things away, which he blocked her from successfully doing.

"Seriously, though. You can go if you want."

"Is this your way of saying you're not actually ready for me to move in?" She didn't seem hurt, just confused.

"No! I'm not kicking you out or anything."

"Alright, then what's the problem, exactly?"

"I'm… Not the nicest person."

"Ok?" She looked at him like he just said something obvious.

"I meant it when I said you deserve someone who worships you. And everyone knows I'm an ass. Which means I'm gonna inevitably say and do things that'll make you cry. Your folks will probably end up hating me, if they don't already, and I know how much you care about their opinions."

"All I heard just now is that you know what's important to me and that you care for me." She put her hands on her waist, challenging him to prove her wrong.

He let out an exasperated groan. Rather than it encouraging him, her words felt like more proof that she wasn't seeing clearly what was happening here. That he was giving her an out.

"You don't know what you're getting into with me, cheeks."

"Yes. I do." It was her turn to start getting really angry now. She didn't like being told what to do or how to feel. But before she could get carried away, she grabbed Bakugo's arm and dragged him into the apartment, closing the door so the neighbors wouldn't hear.

"Ok, so you can be an ass. And apparently, you can be a giant idiot too, not seeing how much I like you." She said the words so furiously, he couldn't believe she snuck in the fact that she liked him in there. "And I don't know who made you think you weren't worthy of love or companionship, but when I find them, I am going to drop kick them to the moon."

Bakugo gulped as a strange feeling stirred in the pit of his stomach. His hands were getting clammy, a clear sign that he wanted to get the hell out of this uncomfortable conversation. But where could he go? He invited her to his place of living.

Uraraka dropped her work duffel bag by the door with a huff and continued. "You were the first person who ever took me and my ambitions seriously. You're the reason why I know my worth. I don't need someone who mindlessly worships me. I need you, someone who respects me as an equal and pushes me to be better. You make me better. So, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna be selfish and choose you."

"What?" That stomach churning feeling shot straight into his heart, leaving it sputtering for life.

"You said you chose me. Well, I'm choosing you back. Whether you like it or not."

Every nerve in his body was now screaming at him to go be as close to her as possible. At this point, he couldn't deny it anymore. This was the one time he was willing to give up what he wanted for someone else, and it turned out they wanted him. He shot forward and crushed her to his chest, catching her as the momentum made her bend back.

"Does this mean I'm staying?" Uraraka laughed as she embraced him back, partly in order to hug him and partly to keep herself from falling. Only her toes were touching the ground.

"You're staying forever." He murmured into her hair. There was no way in hell he was gonna let her leave now. She laughed into his chest, sending vibrations throughout his body before pulling away and shimmying her arms out of his hold. His whole body prickled in goosebumps as she wove her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.

"I know you don't like talking about this stuff… but if you ever need another reminder, I'll be here. Ok, Bakugo?"

"Katsuki."

"Huh?" She did a double take, not wanting to incorrectly assume what he might be implying.

"If you like me that much, you might as well call me by my name." He didn't dare try to speak above a whisper, afraid his voice would crack at the first syllable.

"Ok." Her cheeks ached from her impossibly wide smile. There was nothing more he needed to say. He was allowing himself to accept her feelings.

But that didn't seem to satisfy him. He leaned forward to press their foreheads together, lashes on the verge of tangling together. Her hands were now clutching at his shirt, an attempt at keeping herself from falling, but it was unnecessary. He was always going to catch her.

"You didn't say it."

She took in a shaky inhale, her breath catching on the immense weight of what she was about to say.

"Katsuki." She said shyly.

At that, he closed the sliver of space still between them and finally, finally, kissed her. He kissed her like it would be the only chance he'd ever get. Deep, pressing, and desperate, he only eased when her back hit the kitchen counter, her feet still dangling off the floor.

But it was only for a moment. He stopped just long enough to lift her up onto the counter, swooping back down to lock lips the moment she dropped onto the flat surface. He grinned when he got a squeak out of her, holding her flush against him and nipping at her lower lip. But she retaliated by hooking her legs around his waist and seizing her chance to dart her tongue along his parted lips.

Neither seemed to want the string of kisses to end. Giving and taking, pulling and pulling and pulling until it was nearly impossible to define where one body ended and the other began. Their hands roamed, brushing across skin they previously never dared to touch.

And as they slowed, running out of breath and careful not to advance into things prematurely, their kisses developed into a series of something sweeter. As if there was more to come.

Like they had all the time in the world.

5 years later

Katsuki heard the shower the turn on as he sunk into the rocking chair with Kouki snuggled in his arms. The 7-month old made a smacking motion with his mouth and his arms slowed their waving as he settled into sleep in his father's arms.

It took Katsuki an embarrassingly long time to say out loud to others that he loved his wife. He said it once at the wedding and it was enough ammunition for Kirishima to hold over him for months, despite his insistence that "She's my wife, you dimwit! It's not really a surprise!"

Every other time was in the privacy of their home, just between him and her.

But if anyone were to ask how he felt about Kouki, he would say, without a doubt, that he loved the little shit more than he could've ever imagined.

He was terrified at first, especially once they learned he would be a boy. He was afraid the kid would turn out like him- cruel and arrogant. Ochako spent a good chunk of the pregnancy reassuring him that he would be a good father. Thank god she was stubborn enough to stick around after all that.

So far, it was hard to say who he took after more. He had only just recently become a person, there weren't many personality traits other than the fact he had a massive appetite and could, thankfully, sleep through most anything.

Katsuki knew how lucky he was. And more so today than any other day.

It was a hard day at work. Not because it was physically demanding, they could handle that. And they've perfected using the string in combination with her quirk to create combo moves so their teamwork was better than the majority of hero pairs out there. Ochako had only recently gotten back on the field after maternity leave and desk duty and they were fired up to finally be out together again, but their particular mission was to secure the evacuation of a school full of elementary aged children.

And as much as the brats annoyed him with their wailing and insistence that they could help the pro heroes, he couldn't help but think about his own child back at home and how uncertain his safety would be as he grew up.

They executed their mission perfectly, of course, but that didn't stop the couple from rushing home as soon as they could and excusing the nanny so Ochako could get her hands on their baby. Knowing there was no prying her from the infant, he took a shower first and then tagged in so she could get cleaned up.

Now that the baby was asleep, Katsuki knew he should put him back in the crib, but he wanted to hold onto him a little longer. While Ochako worried about the public's inclination towards her as a hero while also being a mom, he struggled with not giving his kid enough time and attention. His paternity leave lasted only 5 days, starting the day Kouki was born.

So any free time he had, he spent with his son. He couldn't do much about pumping breastmilk, but he had mastered the art of changing a diaper and reading a baby board book at the same time. Those dumbfuck media outlets could say whatever they wanted, trying to paint him as a deadbeat dad, but anyone who knew Katsuki would know it was a pile of horse shit.

The shower turned off and the string soon moved towards the direction of the bedroom. Now that the little one was fast asleep and out for the next 4 hours, it was time for him to spend some quality time with his wife. Katsuki slowly lowered Kouki down, cradling his body until he was sure he wouldn't wake.

He walked into their bedroom to see Ochako lying on the bed on her stomach, facing away from him. Her still-damp hair was piled high on top of her head in a messy bun to keep his shirt from getting wet. She must've been looking at a book or her phone in the light of the lamp because she didn't notice Katsuki entering the room.

Her bare legs were swinging absentmindedly in the air, back and forth like they were beckoning him. With a wide grin, he pulled her towards him by the ankles and and playfully sunk his teeth into her upper thigh.

He laughed with glee as she yelped and flipped around. "Katsuki! Did you just bite my ass?"

Rather than answer her directly, he moved up her body, peppering her stomach and sternum with kisses. Her whole body shook with laughter as his hair tickled her from under her shirt. He couldn't tell if she was squeezing him with her legs out of excitement or reflex, but he took it as a sign to continue until she started swatting at his head. He snuck in one last nip at her side before retreating.

"It really is a nice ass." She rolled her eyes at his comment and pulled him up by the arm to his spot on the bed next to her so she could plant a kiss on his lips. Then she cuddled into his side, curling in with her freezing cold feet latching onto his legs like she did every night. Though, that didn't mean he didn't flinch at the sudden loss of heat.

"Damn. You sure you don't need to get those feet checked out?" He strained to turn the lamp on the nightstand off for the night.

"You're just abnormally hot." She quipped back, completely unphased.

"I don't see you or Kouki complaining." They both used him like a heater. He couldn't possibly count all the times she asked for him to hold her as opposed to putting on another layer or grabbing a blanket. But he supposed he wasn't really complaining about that either.

"You didn't have too much trouble getting him to fall asleep, did you? I think he might be coming down with something, he's been a bit crankier than usual. Did his breathing seem weird to you? Because if he's congested-"

"He's fine. Chill." If those parenting books were right, this was about the time Kouki would develop stronger attachments to them as his parents. The only reason why he was crying more often than normal, was because he was upset they were leaving for work. But Katsuki wasn't going to tell her that and make her feel bad about being a working mom.

"Ok, ok." She snuggled deeper into him, tightening her hold, but he knew she would get up in a couple of minutes to go check on the baby. She was so predictable like that. So consistent. "Love you."

And in that moment, Ochako nestled in his arms and Kouki slumbering away on the other side of the wall, Katsuki was grateful beyond words that this was always what was going to happen. He was one lucky bastard.

"Love you too, 'Chako."