It's awkward. So painfully awkward. Kirishima isn't meeting his eyes and Katsuki's not sure he wants him too. There's still too much going on in his head, too much going on in his heart, to face that innocent crimson gaze. Achingly wanting and sincere.
So Katsuki scurries away into his own room the moment he can. Between the news of Kirishima's waking and the following crowd of idiot extras streaming in to welcome him back, Katsuki easily slips away.
Sitting in his own room, door firmly closed and hiding from the world, Katsuki can't help feeling angry. At himself mostly, but also at the distance that has suddenly opened up in a single day between him and Kirishima. Empty smiles and suffocating silence at the redheads waking, both not looking directly at the other as Kirishima drank his Recovery Girl recommended water.
It's only now, with the sound of the extras next door trickling through the wall, that Katsuki realizes just how easy it's been. Being with Kirishima. Getting to know Kirishima. The redhead pushing himself boldly into Katsuki's space were others fear to tread. Nothing but guiles friendliness and some sort of 'manliness' mantra on his lips to explain why, out of all the chucklefucks out there, Kirishima would pick Katsuki to befriend. To grow close to.
Katsuki's not an idiot. He might have been a bit blinded to his own flaws at the beginning of the year but he knows what he is. He knows he's not what people would call friendly. It had never bothered him before UA, because he didn't need friends when he could have followers. When his rightful place was leading the pack, not running with it. Only UA changed that, Kirishima changed that, and now Katsuki doesn't know what to do, or how to move forward, or how to even properly think about these things without his heart pounding, his palms sparking and his breath catching at the thought of bright hair, bright eyes and brighter smiles.
It's fucking embarrassing.
The world doesn't stop in consideration of Katsuki's embarrassment or Kirishima's dimensional adventure. They've been through too many shit shows and unexpected situations for this to throw off their rhythm. So come next morning it's back to school. Like nothing happened, like Katsuki hasn't been changed in some fundamental way he's not even grasping.
Being stuck in the same classroom as everyone chatters away, surrounding Kirishima like planets circling the fucking sun - only with more heckling - it's only more obvious to Katsuki the divide he's made between them. The vast chasm of unspoken words. It's so profound, so fucking heavy, that Katsuki wonders if this distance is truly new, or something that has always been there. Something he had been ignoring, just as Katsuki had been ignoring his own feelings.
And just like how he had been ignoring Kirishima's feelings for him in return. The redhead had been anything but subtle.
"So, Kiri, what was the future like? Did you meet any of us? Is there flying cars? Tell me there's flying cars!" babbled Kaminari from across the classroom. He had been heckling Kirishima with questions all the way from the dorms. Barely stopping to take breath, let alone get any answers.
"Dude, there are literally people with flying quirks. Why are you so obsessed with flying cars?" asked Sero, leaning an elbow against the redheads shoulder. Kirishima smiling even as he elbowed the lanky boy in the ribs and took his seat.
"I just think they're neat!"
"Didn't older Kirishima say he would be at home? Tell us about your house!" asked Uraraka.
"Boo! Boring! Tell us about your husband!" shouted Hagakure.
"Ohh, yeah Kiri, tell us about the hubby. Older you was gushing about him," squealed Ashido, leaning in close over Kirishima's desk.
The redhead flushed, eyes going wide. He ducked his head, hiding his blush as everyone around him catcalled and hooted. Those sunset eyes flickered upwards for a second and found Katsuki, sending a jolt through him. The both of them turning away quickly.
"Was he hot? Older you was hot? Did you kiss him?"
"Did you do it?" panted Mineta, the thought of sex of any kind enough to overcome his distaste of two men doing it.
Kirishima sputtered, standing up as his entire face went as red as his hair. He banged the table with his hands, drowning out any more questions. "What!? No! No! We just-we just talked. That's it."
"But was he hot?" Ashido insisted, smirk curling at her lips as Kirishima continued to sputter. Another glance in Katsuki's direction and Kirishima slumped into his seat, burying his face in his hands and groaning long and loud. Everyone pressed closer, enjoying his suffering.
"Mnn-hhh"
"What was that? Come on Kiribro, don't be shy" sung Kaminari.
Kirishima lifted his face, crumbling under the numerous faces filled with eager anticipation. "Yes, alright! Yes, he was hot! I'm not saying anymore. No more questions!"
Katsuki sunk in his seat, glad no one was paying him any attention, blush decorating his face.
"Awww, but we're curious!" whined Ashido. "What was it like? What did you see."
Kirishima sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I mean, it seemed normal. I just stayed in the house all day. Bak - my husband, I mean, older me's husband - called in to let them know what happened. I mostly just played with the kids all day. They had some cool toys, but that's about it."
"So you met your own kids? Older Kirishima kept going on about them. That must have been a bit weird. What were they like?" asked Sero, genuinely curious instead of looking to embarrass the redhead further.
"Ah, well, I mean, I didn't really think about it. Like, I don't think it really sunk in that they were mine, you know? It was just like babysitting a friends kids. The youngest one was really upset that he had caused the accident so I spent a lot of time trying to cheer him up. And his older sister was kind of bossy."
"I just - it's still just so weird bro. To think of you being married and having kids and all that. I mean, we're in highschool!" said Kaminari.
"Dude, I know. They kept calling me Papa and stuff. It was weird," Kirishima paused, fiddling with his fingers and looking away. A small smile started to curl at his lip. "But not, like, a bad weird."
Kaminari snorted, tipping back on his chair. "Oh my god, you totally liked it! Your gonna find and marry this hot husband of yours, get all buff and badass and shit, and then have, like, a million kids. You totally are. I can see it."
"I does sound like a Kirishima thing to do" mused Sero, rubbing at his chin.
"Shut up" mumbled Kirishima, blushing again. "It just - it was nice, you know. Really, nice." Kirishima looked up again and this time when his eyes met Katsuki he didn't look away for one long, drawn out second. Katsuki felt rooted to his chair, electricity shotting down his spine and flush heating his face.
"I was happy," whispered Kirishima, soft smile parting his lips and warm eyes causing Katsuki to shiver. Even across the room he heard those three words loud a clear, or maybe he simply read them from the redheads lips. Either way, it had his heart thumping and hands sweating. A longing soaring through his veins.
Fuck.
Kirishima looked away, turning back to his crowd of gossipers. A few of them shot looks at Katsuki and then each other, unspoken realizations and agreements shared in a glance. Kaminari pulled a face, Sero shrugged but his smile grew wider to flash two more teeth, Hakagure giggled quietly while Ochako wondered what was going on. Ashido grinned happily at Kirishima, punching him hard on the arm, to his confusion.
"Well, we're happy that you're happy man," said Sero, the voice of reason.
"You'll get there!" encourage Ashido. "Older you was, like, super big and strong. He totally kicked all our asses in training."
Kirishima blinked, perking up in interest. "He did? What did he look like? What did he do? Do you think I can copy his moves?"
"Oh dude, he managed to do this air cannon weapon thing with his hardening. It was sick. Completely whiped out Blasty and almost took Jiro's foot off! It was fucking scary man," said Kaminari, flinging his arms wide.
"But awesome, also awesome!" said Ashido, glaring at the electric user. Kaminari waved his arms at her.
"Of course it was awesome! It was fucking insane!"
"You were pretty badass. Apparently you got number one a few times?" said Ochako, bouncing along.
"What? Really?!" blinked Kirishima in disbelief, looking around at their faces like he was trying to spot the joke. Seeing nothing but grinning honesty. "You're kidding me."
"Nah boi, look. You were hella stacked." Kaminari whipped out his phone, clicking through it rapidly and turning it to face the crowd. Katsuki could only assume he had taken a picture of the older Kirishima, mostly likely a selfie knowing Kaminari, and was showing it off.
Kirishima grabbed the phone, looking at the image of his older self with wide eyes. Katsuki knew how he felt, just remembering the man had mixed feeling surging within him. On the one hand - anger, annoyance, confusion, shame. On the other hand - that was one fine side of beef.
"Holy shit" whispered Kirishima, zooming in. "Holy fuck" he repeated. "What can he lift? What's his training regime? Does he have a special diet? How does he maintain his flexibility? Tell me!"
Kaminari reeled back, tipping in his chair dangerously before it banged against the desk behind him. He held his arms up in surrender as Kirishima's face drew uncomfortably close. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Dude, chill. I don't know okay! I didn't ask!"
"You didn't ask!?" shouted Kirishima, drawing the attention of everyone else in the room with his volume.
"I didn't ask!" repeated Kaminari, wailing. "How was I meant to know to ask?"
"How could you not ask?!" countered Kirishima, waving the phone at him. "Look at him! Look at me! He must be able to lift, like, five times my amount! Do you know how much trouble I have to go through to work on my delts like that? How the heck did he get them so tight? I need to know Kaminari! This is much more important that flying cars!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Sero? Ashido?!" Kirishima turned to his other friends, a manic grin splitting his face. They too held there hands up in surrender.
"Sorry man. Didn't think of it," said Sero, speaking for the both of them.
Kirishima slumped, phone going lip in his grasp as he looked imploringly towards the ceiling and what lay beyond it. Bemoaning his loss. Katsuki tried not to snort.
"I cant believe it. Do none of you know me!? I can't believe you would do me like this?!"
Shoji, the quiet giant until now unnoticed, tapped the redhead from behind. Kirishima slowly lowered his face, lip scrunched up in a pout. The masked boy held out a couple of pages torn from a notebook. Written, in a scribble Katsuki recognized across the room as Kirishima's own, in bold bright red sharpie were the words 'Training Tips!'. There was even the same flexing arm emoji Katsuki had seen the redhead scribble a hundred times before across his math homework.
Kirishima received the papers like he would receive a new born baby, cradling them to his chest and cooing gently as he folded out the creases. There were actual tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.
"Shoji, bro." A sniffle, "thank you! Only you really know me," Kirishima breathed. He probably would have scooped the masked boy up into a bear hug if that wouldn't have wrinkled the papers. "I owe you my life. My life!"
Shoji simply did his normal crinkly eye smile, giving six thumbs up. Katsuki rolled his eyes, turning away from the crowd as Aizawa finally entered the room. Kind of annoyed he hadn't thought of asking the older Kirishima for his workout routine himself. Or his own futures selfs routine. Being in love was making him fucking sloppy.
And with that four letter word ringing in his head, and making his heart pound like thunder with the sound of his own denial shattering around him, Katsuki proceeded to pay absolutely zero attention to the days lessons.
—
Katsuki is restless. He's already wasted all the time he can with extra training, extra homework and cooking himself a complicated curry for dinner. Now there was nothing else to distract himself from the feelings that have been simmering in his chest all afternoon.
If Katsuki was being honest with himself, he would admit these feelings have been simmering a lot longer than that.
Katsuki bounces his knee, listening to the fucking Pickachu knock off laugh, Kirishima joining in a second later. He sends an impatient look at his clock, repressing a yawn when he sees it's nearing ten o' clock already. Just when is that electric fucker going to leave?!
Another round of laughter, louder this time and Katsuki's patience, minimal that it is, snaps. He pounds on the wall harshly, listening to the rattle of Kirishima's desk on the other side. The two idiots go silent.
When Kaminari leaves a moment later it's not without first pounding on Katsuki's door in revenge. Banging out the rhythm of a stupid anime song he's been singing constantly just to piss Katsuki off. Katsuki swings open his door, furious and intending to blast the fucker into an early sleep, only to stop when he sees Kirishima's bright hopeful face looking at him from his own door. Grinding his teeth Katsuki lets the electric fucker go, shoving his hands into his pockets in a sudden fit of nervousness.
"Hey, Bakugou. Sorry, if we were being to loud."
"It's fucking fine," Katsuki grumbles. Watching as Kirishima takes a glance at him only to quickly look away.
They both stand awkwardly. Katsuki glaring angrily at the floor, Kirishima shifting his feet and taking quick glances into his room. The redhead looks like he wants nothing more than to close the door on Katsuki's face and escape this entire situation.
Only that's not what he does. Katsuki literally sees the moment Kirishima decides he's not going to run. Thats he's going to confront this head on and take the consequences, whatever they are. Katsuki's glad for his reckless courage. He feels none of it at this moment.
The redhead squares his shoulders, lifting his head to stare Katsuki straight in the eyes and offers him a smile. The lack of sharp, shark like teeth the only thing belaying his nerves.
"You wanna hang out? We didn't really get the chance to talk today."
Katsuki grunts, which Kirishima knows well enough to take as an agreement, and makes his way into the redheads familiar room. The bright colors and patterns embrace him, while the smell of slightly sweaty teenage boy mildly assaults him at the same time. Not that Katsuki's got any right to complain about Kirishima's BO, not with how much he sweats. The sickly sweet smell of his own perspirations is enough to make him gag at times.
Katsuki shuffles over to the bed, rudely claiming it as his own space. He doesn't remove his hands from his pockets, worried that if he does his palms will start sparking from how much he's sweating. Kirishima keeps smiling at him, sitting cross-legged on the floor already scattered with cushions and crisp packets from Kaminari's visit.
"Aizawa told me you looked after me, last night when I made it back. I forgot to say thanks. So, thanks Bakugou." A more genuine smile this time and Katsuki feels some of the tension bleed from his shoulders.
"'S nothing' he grumbles. Then, struck with sudden curiosity, "what did it feel like?"
"What?"
"Being sent to the future and back, or to another dimension, or whatever it was? It knocked you out good."
Kirishima blew out a breath, running a hand through his shaggy hair. It was down, and Katsuki was distracted by the way it curled at his shoulders, looking soft to the touch. His fingers twitched.
"Man, it was weird. The first time I don't really remember, cause I was asleep. I get the feeling it made me restless, but then I must have gone back to sleep."
"You-the older you-said it was like being hungover."
Kirishima blinked, letting out a short laugh. "Well, I guess so! I wouldn't know man!"
"What about when you came back, you were awake for that right?"
"Yeah. It was…not pleasant. Like, I didn't notice it at first but the longer I stayed there, in the future, the more agitated I got. The more…uncomfortable. It was like there was a rubber band inside me, stretching slowly the whole time, and it kept getting closer and closer to snapping. And then, well, it snapped. And I was back here, but I felt awful, like my insides had been turned inside out or something. And my head was killing me, like a head rush mixed with a migraine."
The more Kirishima talked the more Katsuki relaxed, letting that still boyish voice, slightly strained and cracking with ongoing puberty, sooth him. Only an echo of the deep baritone it would one day become.
The redhead ran another hand through his hair, shaking out his head as he remembered the rough feeling of traveling across time-lines and dimensions. "If that's what a hangover feels like, remind me never to drink."
Katsuki snorts, knowing an empty promise when he hears one, but he finds himself understanding somethings. Such as why the older Kirishima was so impatient all the time, so agitated and angry. If the older Kirishima was also feeling what Shitty Hair had been feeling, that stretch to his own dimension and time-line. Not that it stopped Katsuki being angry at the man, but it would explain why he seemed so different to the Kirishima he knows.
After-all, Katsuki had seen the redhead when he was hungry, and agitated didn't begin to cover it.
Katsuki looks at Kirishima, the redhead smiling at him on reflex. Kirishima's much more relaxed now, leaning back on his hands while one of his knees bounces with the constant energy he seems to carry with him at all times. The parting words of his older counterpart ring through Katsuki's head. The more he repeats them, the more like a challenge they sound. And Katsuki's never backed down from a challenge.
But Katsuki's also never wavered from his goal, and he's not sure he wants to start. Not even for Kirishima.
He turns his head just slightly and Crimson Riot glares back at him from one of Kirishima's retro motivational posters. The pompadour taunting him as it declares CHIVALRY, COURAGE, HONOR.
Katsuki jolts with realization. After all, he's not the only one with goals.
Slowly, curiously, he uncurls his palms, letting them come to rest between his legs. Katsuki hunches forward, looking up at Kirishima from behind his bangs and slowly gives voice to his thoughts. His insides tremble as he does so, knowing instinctively that this is something big. Something that could penitentially change everything.
"Hey, you wanna be a hero right?"
"Well, yeah bro. Why I'm here and everything."
"A fucking top hero right?"
Kirishima blinks, sitting up as be becomes aware of just how heavy Katsuki's voice is. Eyes bright and blazing but face somber as he regards Katsuki.
"The best Hero I can be," he replies. Every inch of his being radiating truth. "I'm not gonna have any regrets."
"So you don't-do you want-isn't it a distraction? Having someone? Having a family? All those kids?"
To his credit Kirishima doesn't answer right away. Katsuki can tell by the small crinkles in his brow that he's thinking hard. Really considering his answer. Katsuki clenches his fists, heart bruising against his rib cage with how hard its beating.
Eventually, slowly, Kirishima opens his mouth. "No. Not…not if it's the right person. The right time. Being a hero, it's my goal. It's what, who, I want to be. Being with someone, having a family, won't change that."
"But won't-won't it be a distraction? A…a compromise?" strains Katsuki, because he needs more. He needs more than some sappiness about it being the right person, about having goals outside of a relationship. He needs Kirishima to give him a reason to take that step. He wants Kirishima to give him a reason.
Kirishima squares his shoulders, glaring at him. "My resolve isn't so halfhearted," he declares, shaking Katsuki to his core. "I'm not gonna stop being a hero just cause I date someone. The older me certainly didn't."
"But what if he could have been better, gone further, if he didn't. If he didn't have to consider his husband, or his kids, or anything?"
"Being with someone isn't a reason to stop fighting Bakugou" Kirishima says immediately, like it's obvious. Like it's something Katsuki should know and not a fucking epiphany he's having right this second. "They're a person to fight for."
Katsuki lets the words permeate through him, shaking him from within. Changing him from the inside out.
"And how-" he chokes, swallows. Clenches his fists, unclenchs, trys again. "How do you know if they're the right person?" His hands shake as his long held resolve crumbles around him.
"Well, if they ever try to stop you being the top hero then you know they're not the right person."
And fuck, fuck, fuck it all! Because Kirishima is right. He's so fucking right! All this time Katsuki's been thinking that having a relationship, being with Kirishima, wanting to be with Kirishima, would be like having another goal. Something he has to work at, to fight for, and once he had it, someone he would have to fight against. To dominate, least they force you to become less of yourself. To compromise on your existence.
But Kirishima has never been someone for Katsuki to fight against, he's always been someone to fight with. And Katsuki wants to fight.
And well, Katsuki might not know about kids. The thought of having a child is distant and honestly utterly terrifying at this time in his life, but if his future him chose to do it, to have a family with this silly, honest, dense, brilliant sunshine boy in front of him, Katsuki is damn well sure it was his own fucking decision. No one, not even Kirishima, could make Katsuki do what he didn't want to do. He would rather die. So maybe he's been thinking about this too much. Maybe he should have just gone for it with reckless courage from the get go. With the confidence that he is Bakugou fucking Katsuki and he can do anything if he puts his mind to it.
Including fucking sweeping Kirishima off his feet and being the best fucking boyfriend ever. Life's a fucking competition, and Katsuki's gonna win!
He must have been quiet too long because Kirishima crawls forward, head tilted curiously like a puppy. Trying to catch Katsuki's eyes from beneath his bangs.
"You okay bro?"
"Kirishima!" Katsuki yells jumping to his feet as his thoughts coalesce, resolve hardening, heart burning with renewed feeling.
The redhead falls back in surprise as his sudden shout. Katsuki glares down at him, Kirishima looking back with startled puzzlement. His fists are sweating and he clenches them to stop the faint shaking he can feel. He's fucking doing this. No more second guessing, no more excuses.
No more being a fucking coward.
"Kirishima! I-do you-fuck! Coffee!" Katsuki bites out. "Fucking, lets get coffee!" Because that's what people did right? Fuck if Katsuki knew. He had a sudden, sharp and stupid pang of regret for never joining his Dad in watching his shitty rom-coms.
"What? Now?"
"What? No, not now you idiot! I mean, later. Tomor-no, fuck, it's Wednesday. Saturday. Lets get coffee on Saturday!"
"Dude, I don't? What are you even talking about? Why do we need to-"
" . ." snarls Katsuki, taking once menacing step forward and digging for patience he doesn't have. "Saturday, coffee. You. Me. Alone."
Katsuki watches the redhead pause. Watches with baited breath as realization washes over Kirishima's face. The troubled frown of his brow smoothing out as his face goes slack in shock. Slowly, hesitantly, Kirishima smiles, until every sharp tooth is on display.
Kirishima scrambles to his feet, rocking forward to invade Katsuki's space, just a hairs breath from touching him. The heat from his body sets Katsuki's skin on fire.
"Yes! Yeah! Totally!" he shouts, right in Katsuki's face, matching him in volume. His eyes sparkle, hands making an abortive movement like he's going to hug Katsuki, and the blond doesn't know whether he feels more relived or disappointed when he doesn't.
"I-I would like that," Kirishima says, bashful flush spreading delicately over his nose.
"Good," states Katsuki. They stay staring at each other, Kirishima beaming and Katsuki pouting, for a small eternity. Katsuki's heart is racing, wondering what he's meant to do now.
His eyes catch the stupid sight that is Kirishima's flexing arm clock. Its past eleven, way past his normal bed time. He's going to be fucking wrecked in class tomorrow.
"Saturday then. Three. Don't be fucking late." Katsuki repeats, backing away slowly to leave.
"Wouldn't dream of it," chirps Kirishima, walking him the three feet to the door. What a fucking gentleman.
They both hesitate in the doorway, anticipation bubbling in Katsuki's stomach. Should he do something? Would that be to soon? They haven't even been on a fucking date yet!
Fuck, fuck, he's gonna be bad at this. Katsuki hates being bad at things. Fuck it, he's gonna watch all his Dads sappy rom-coms before Saturday.
"I'm gonna romance you to till you bleed" Katsuki threatens darkly. Kirishima's face lights up in a blush. He squirms happily.
"Yes, please!" he shouts.
Katsuki snorts, what a fucking weirdo. He stomps his way to his own room, slamming the door closed before Kirishima sees his own stupid grin, but not before seeing Kirishima fist pump the air and squeal like a little girl.
In the privacy of his own room, Katsuki's tempted to do the same. Instead he collapses back onto his bed, covering his blush with his arms and kicking his feet. Adrenaline surging through his system and excited anticipation bubbling in his blood.
"Fuuuuuuccckkkkkk" he says lowly. He cant fucking wait for Saturday.
—
Eijiro shifted, heaving the lump that was his youngest further up the bed, and giving Katsuki the room to slide in and press his freezing feet to Eijiro's shins.
The moment the redhead had groggily snapped back to his own home the wind had been knocked out of him by his sons pointy head. The young boy hugging him tightly and pressing firmly into his stomach. The rest of the evening had been spent alternating between calming the toddler down and trying not to throw up. Now Eijiro was more than ready to pass out.
A calloused, warm palm pushed through his slightly matted hair, short fingers scrubbing at Eijiro's scalp. Still slightly rough even after all these years, but no less loving. Feeling pleasant tingles race down his spine and hearing the soft gentle snores of his son Eijiro lets the feeling of 'home' sink into him. He was asleep in seconds.
By the time Eijiro woke up the sun was high in the sky, the birds singing and the patter of small running feet echoing throughout the house. His son was gone, the curtains were open a crack to let the light in, and a cup of coffee waved warm wisps of aroma into the air from the side table. Katsuki was sitting beside him, reading glasses perched on the edge of his nose as he scanned through his emails. Eijiro's arm was thrown carelessly across his lap. The blond had yet to change out of his pajama pants.
A lazy day then.
Eijiro curled himself tighter into his husbands warmth, nuzzling at his hip to let him know he was awake. A hand fell into his hair and started to massage his scalp. If he was a cat Eijiro would have purred.
"What time is it?" he said.
"Past ten. I called the agency, Denki agreed to fill in for the day. I'm on call."
Eijiro hummed, placing a kiss against that taught stomach. Nibbling slightly and wondering lazily if he could interest Katsuki in a little fun before they were inevitably interrupted by a villain attack or a toddler tantrum.
Katsuki flicked his ear. "Stop that. Did going back in time make you a teenager again?"
"We can be quick."
Katsuki snorted, "We're not that quick. Not anymore."
Eijiro sighed, but Katsuki had a point. As much as Eijiro hated to admit it, and they strived to keep themselves fighting fit, they were getting old. With busy lives and responsibilities. Impulse was something left to their younger selves. Not to say that he and Katsuki never affirmed their commitment to each other in physical ways, but these things tended to take a bit more planning than they used to.
Eijiro rolled over, throwing an arm over his eyes when the sun cut into his vision. He was still faintly dehydrated, with the promise of an annoying headache pulsing just behind his eyes if he were to get up. There was a shifting of the sheets and a clack as Katsuki took off his glasses and placed them on the bedside table. Eijiro figured he was getting up, so was pleasantly surprised to find a weight settling over his chest.
Katsuki pressed his face into the hollow of Eijiro's throat, pillowing his cheek on Eijiro's left pec. Automatically Eijiro's free hand curled around that trim waist, spreading wide over the blond's lower back. Katsuki sighed and Eijiro felt peace settle into his bones with the exhalation. Everything, in this moment, was perfect.
"Young you was cute" said Katsuki without prompting. "Snappy. Blushed a lot. The kids liked him."
Eijiro snorted, "run him ragged did they?"
"Nah. He was a fucking natural. Played horsey and tea party and everything."
Eijiro couldn't help but let out a breathy huff of laughter. His little girl had probably ran poor younger him into the ground with her demands. She got her bossiness from her grandmother.
Katsuki blinked lazily, tracing the line between Eijiro pecs and further down his abs. Peppering short kisses over any scar he could reach. Eijiro felt a small flutter start up in his stomach. He pressed a kiss to Katsuki's head.
"Thought we weren't gonna do that?"
Katsuki pressed one last kiss over his heart before settling down. "We're not," his normally gruff voice was rumbly and warm against Eijiro's skin. The redhead ran a hand through his blond fuzzy hair, returning the scalp massage.
"So how was it? Being back in the past? Was there anything different?"
"Not that I noticed. I mostly just sat around in the classroom all day. You know Aizawa, he wouldn't let me out of his sight. Got to help out with training though. I forgot just how bad we all were in the beginning."
Katsuki bit him playfully. "Who are you calling bad? I was fucking fantastic."
"Sure you were, babe. Sure you were. Not manic at all. It must have been some other explosive blond pinned underneath me."
Another bite, this time with more teeth. "It better not have been" growled Katsuki, curling a possessive hand around Eijiro's neck. "Roughed him up a bit, did you?"
"Just a bit" Eijiro ran a hand through his hair, squinting at the sun before caressing a long line down Katsuki's spine. Just wanting to revel in touching him. "I might have been a bit to hard on him. I forget how aggravating it is, being in the wrong dimension."
"Heh, you're a fucking nightmare when your cranky" said Katsuki, smiling like he found the thought funny. He leaned up on one elbow, hovering over Eijiro, red eyes glinting with mirth. "Roughed him up and then preached to him afterwords I bet? Got all impatient dad on his ass."
"Fuck, I totally dad'ed him, didn't I?"
Katsuki's smile grew teeth. "Sounds like it. He must have hated you" he said with a chuckle. Eijiro pinched him.
"Don't laugh. I was trying to help. He was being a stubborn little shit."
"I was a fucking delight" said Katsuki with a straight face. Drawing a snort from Eijiro.
"Sure you were Katsu."
"Well, whatever" Katsuki said, dropping to land once more on Eijiro's chest and pushing the air from him. "You loved me anyway."
Eijiro hummed, hugging Katsuki to him fully and squeezing. "Yeah I do" he whispered, kissing the crown of blond hair, slightly lighter now than it had been in their teens. Though Katsuki would explode anyone who dared to even insinuate he was going gray.
Eijiro didn't tell him but he loved the change in colour. That it made Katsuki's hair shine when the sun was just right. Lighting him up and drawing Eijiro's eye all over again. Almost fortey years later and he was still a sap when it came to Katsuki, finding reasons to fall in love all over again. Eijiro had given up being embarrassed about it.
"Hey Katsuki?"
"What?" the blond grumbled, having almost nodded off.
"What made you change your mind?"
"What?" Katsuki repeated, this time more awake.
"About giving us a go? Younger you was pretty adamant it wasn't going to happen. I kind of snapped at him about it."
"He's a stupid teenager Eiji. He probably thought you had cooties or something. Or that it would ruin his reputation or some shit."
"See, that's what what I thought. But you-younger you-seemed to think that he wouldn't make it as a hero if he was in a relationship."
"Like I said, he was a stupid fucking teenager."
"Still, I know you. Once you decide something it takes a fucking force of nature to change your mind. So what made you decided to give us a go?"
Katsuki sat up again, eyes narrowed, frown crinkling his brow. Others might think the blond was angry but Eijiro knew this was simply Katsuki's thinking face. He traced those narrow brows lovingly with his eyes while he waited.
"I dunno" Katsuki mumbled after a time, curling over until he was pressing his forehead to Eijiro's. Lips almost brushing together with every breath. "I just realized that I could hardly call it victory if I had to give someone up to get it. I'm not that fucking weak. I wanted you and I wanted to be a hero. Why the fuck would I not have both?"
Eijiro grinned, lips spread wide over pointed teeth, electricity sparking through his heart. He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips firmly to Katsuki's. The blond melted into him, their lips meeting in an all to familiar rhythm. Well worn and memorized after all these years. A tongue here, a nibble there, pressure, warm palms on hot skin. Loving each other this way was easy.
Katsuki pulled back, separating them with a gasp, lower lip now wet with their combined saliva. Eijiro felt very much like a teenager again, making out with his boyfriend in their dorm room. Ignoring the fact that they were going to be late for school.
"Besides," continued Katsuki, panting just slightly. "Not like you were gonna do anything different. So why not fucking do it together?"
"Why fucking not indeed," purred Eijiro, heart warming along with his passion. He was so fucking lucky. "Hopefully me pissing off your younger self wont have ruined other me's chances."
"I fucking doubt it. If anything you showing up will probably get them together faster. Other me will be fucking pissed, knowing that another him went out and got you while he was still pussyfooting around."
Eijiro couldn't help laughing, feeling the last of his irritation and worries be washed away. He hoped Katsuki was right, though he supposed he should know. Eijiro just knew that the angry, defensive teenager Katsuki could be happy if he just let himself. Just as he was certain younger him wanted to make him happy.
And maybe it wouldn't work out, maybe those two would head towards a different future. Maybe their happiness wouldn't be the same as Eijiro's right now, with Katsuki strong, and warm, and alive pressed against him. With the sound of his children no doubt getting up to trouble downstairs. With pictures and videos galore of a large loving family littering the walls and tucked safely away in his wallet. Maybe instead they would travel the world, or go on to be even better heroes, save even more people. Or maybe they wouldn't do something so grand. Simply exists together, in quiet moments stolen between hectic days of Pro-Heroing. Finding in each other a port in the storm from the darker and more gritty realities of their chosen professions.
But Eijiro kind of hoped their future might look similar to his. If only because he thought they deserved to be happy and loved, as he knew himself to be.
"Your thinking something fucking sappy, aren't you? You've got that stupid look on your face."
"I love you" said Eijiro, firm and dripping with sincerity.
"Fucking knew it."
If there was one thing Eijiro missed about the past it was just how easy his husband used to blush when he was younger. Four decades of impassioned declarations had made even Katsuki accept those three little words without a blink.
Oh well, Eijiro had other ways to make him blush.
He curled his arms around Katsuki's back, flipping them and catching the blond by surprise. Before Katsuki could open his mouth Eijiro sealed it with his, dipping his tongue in with purpose. Hands trailing more firmly over supple skin, finding long known and well loved sensitive spots. He shimmied his hips to fit himself between Katsuki's legs, those thighs parting to accommodate him on instinct.
It was a beautiful morning.