Chapter Seventy-Four: My Hero
Aisla…you inspire me every day to be a better man, a better hero, and someone worthy of your love and praise. You say I'm your hero, but you're the one who saved me. Without you, I don't know where I'd be right now. Without you, I wouldn't be the person my family can be proud of today.
As they all sat down at the dinner table, Katsuki thought about Aisla's impassioned words. She'd defended him when his grandfather tried to say he wasn't as "sweet" as his mother and Aisla both claimed he was. Katsuki didn't think he was sweet at all, but Aisla was constantly telling him otherwise, which always made him feel like maybe he wasn't so bad after all. When his grandfather had reminded him how terrible he'd always been, he wanted to curl up inside of himself and disappear. The man was right, Katsuki was a shithead. Or, he used to believe that. Now, with those ocean blue eyes regarding him like a precious treasure rather than useless scum, he wanted to stand tall, and tell the world that he was good.
As far as introductions went, Katsuki thought this meeting was going better than he'd anticipated. Aisla thought he'd changed for the better, but she was also a lot stronger and more sure of herself than she'd been when they'd first met. A year ago, Aisla might have cowered under his grandfather's cruel and hurtful words. They had both been through so much, though, and Aisla came out stronger because of it. She was able to stand up for not only herself but the people she cared about, too. She really was remarkable, and Katsuki loved her even more because of it.
Katsuki had been right about dinner. His mother's "famous" tonkotsu ramen was served in their fancy China dishes, the ones saved for important guests. They didn't bring them out very often since company was a rarity, but he appreciated that his parents felt that Aisla was important enough to earn their fine China.
The soup was by far his mother's best creation, even if it couldn't stand up to real tonkotsu ramen. It was flavorful and impressive in its own right, however, and he always loved it when she took the time to make it for him as a kid. As he sipped some of the broth now, he was brought back to a time when he was still young and naïve and he had a lot less of a temper. He'd always been kind of a handful, but he remembered a time when he was a lot more mellow.
"Thank you for the soup, Mama! I love when you cook for me!"
"You're welcome, sweet boy. Eat as much as you like."
"When I grow up, I'm going to be a great cook, too!"
"Of course, you will, Katsuki! You're going to do great things. I just know it."
He didn't even realize he was smiling at the memory until he saw his mother giving him a knowing grin of her own across the table as if she, too, was reliving that time. Back then, he thought his mother was the greatest person in the world, besides All Might. He remembered following her around the house like a duckling as she'd do chores, trying to mimic her actions. She used to hum when she cleaned, too. Maybe that was why he found Aisla's habit so comforting, it reminded him of better times when he was happy and content in his life. Before he'd discovered his quirk, he'd been a lot less of a hothead. He couldn't remember the exact day or event that caused the change, but suddenly he'd felt this anger inside of him, and he'd never really been the same after that.
Glancing over at the beautiful girl at his side, he wondered how someone as sweet and pure as her was able to see past his façade and look inside of him. Even as little as a year ago, Katsuki had still been an angry, rageful asshole who treated others like garbage, Aisla included. Yet, somehow that hadn't mattered to her.
He recalled the first time he'd met her. He'd shouted at her to "go away," but she'd simply looked at him and offered up her given name without flinching at his shouted command. Thinking about that now, and all the other times he'd been a jerk to her, he couldn't understand why she'd kept trying to befriend him. She was tenacious, that was true, but even the most determined person in the world shouldn't have wasted their time on someone as brash as he was.
His eyes shifted down to her pretty lips, which glistened with juice from the soup, and brought forth another memory. They'd been on the bus on their way home from the fair, and Aisla had unapologetically leaned over to peck his cheek. She'd been bold even back then, he realized now. Katsuki had always been the coward. That small action had him boiling with rage for days afterward, as he felt the lingering effects of her lust charm. He knew now that it was his own body reacting to hers. He'd liked her, and he'd been too stubborn to see that. Attraction to a girl had never been something that crossed Katsuki's mind before Aisla came around. He'd only ever been focused on becoming a hero, and holding onto grudges that meant nothing to him now.
Deku… he thought with only the slightest tinge of irritation. He knew better than to think he hated that boy. It was never about hate, not even back when they were in junior high and Katsuki had bullied the other boy he saw as a quirkless loser. "Deku" was a name he'd given him as a way to make fun of him and make him feel inferior to Katsuki, but now he wore the name proudly. He was secretly glad the nickname had stuck, but not for the reasons he allowed to leave his lips. He would say that he couldn't stand Deku, that he was a loser and a fraud, but that wasn't true. Katsuki knew that, Deku knew that, and Aisla knew it, too.
"I hate Deku," he'd said after he and Deku had fought after the provisional licensing exams.
"I don't think that's true," Aisla had disagreed. "I think you admire him."
She knew him, better than his so-called friends back in junior high, and better than his own family did. Aisla saw him for the person he wanted to be, even if he hadn't reached his true potential just yet. With her by his side, he knew that someday in the distant future, he would reach that goal and he would soar.
"Katsuki!" his mother suddenly barked, pulling him from his thoughts. "I asked you what you think of the ramen!"
"Oh," he said, wondering how he'd gotten so lost in thought that he hadn't heard his mother's loud voice. "It's great. I love ramen."
"Once more with feeling, son!" she insisted.
He sighed. "I LOVE THE RAMEN, MOTHER," he repeated, louder but just as flatly. Beside him, Aisla failed to stifle a giggle at his expense.
"I think it's amazing, Mitsuki!" Aisla proclaimed, ever the teacher's pet.
His mother sat up straighter and took on a look of pride. "Thank you, Aisla. At least someone at this table knows how to make the chef feel good."
"This dinner is delightful, hun," his father told her, then tried to peck her cheek, but his mother swatted him away.
"Don't put your greasy lips on me, Masaru!"
"Stop flirting at the table," Katsuki begged. "It's disgusting."
"Son, if you think this is flirting, then you're doing it wrong," his mother said seriously, then leaned over and whispered something into his father's ear that made him instantly glow bright red.
"M-Mitsuki!" he stammered.
Katsuki's lips twisted in disgust. "God, get a room!"
"Don't tempt us, son," she retorted with a wink.
"So what are you doing for extra curriculars?" his grandfather asked, thankfully changing the uncomfortable subject before Katsuki died from embarrassment. Was that what people saw when they looked at him and Aisla? If so, he was never going to show his face again.
Aisla's hand came to rest on his knee, as if she knew what he was thinking and was reassuring him that it was going to be okay.
"I don't have time for that sort of commitment," Katsuki answered, as he slid a hand over Aisla's. "I already have too much to deal with. I have school, hero work, and training. Plus I have that Work Study with Endeavor."
"Oh?" asked his grandfather curiously. "Tell me about that." He took a bite of noodles, then set the chopsticks down as he waited for Katsuki to speak.
"Endeavor is the number one hero now," Katuski reminded him. For some reason, he thought it was important to lay that out there, just in case his grandfather forgot that an important hero was helping out his grandson. Maybe that would get him off his back a little more. Miraculously, he'd been a lot less of a nuisance lately regarding Katsuki's grades. He wasn't sure if his grandfather still wanted to take him overseas with him, but he was at least making an effort to pretend he wasn't a total ass in the meantime.
"Yes, I know." His grandfather waved him off. "Tell me what you've been doing with him."
Katsuki gave him a brief rundown of what he'd been doing since he started working at the Endeavor Agency, though he left out the part about being forced to go to an uncomfortable dinner at his house, and chasing his ungrateful son down a city street because the pro hero had suddenly frozen.
"It sounds so impressive when you talk about it!" Aisla exclaimed, eyes alight with excitement. "You're doing so many cool things, Katsuki. You're lucky to be training under such a powerful hero!"
I know what you're doing, he silently accused. Aisla had already heard these stories. Right now, she was trying to make Katsuki seem better than he was so his grandfather would think he was doing a good job. She knew the man was trying to take Katsuki away from her, so she was doing everything she could to make sure that didn't happen. Hyping up Katsuki's Work Study probably wasn't going to make a difference, but he wasn't going to tell her that. He appreciated that she wanted to help him.
"Aisla, I need your help. Please, it has to be you."
The painfully embarrassing words came back to him, the ones he'd implored to her months ago after he confided in her about his grandfather's deal. Apparently, she was making good on her offer to help. The thought made him want to smile, though he pushed the expression down lest his grandfather think it was meant for his benefit.
"So, you've been battling against villains alongside the number one hero…" his grandfather reiterated slowly. "I believe that's a good step toward a future in which you become the next number one hero. Keep up the good work, my boy."
"I will be the number one hero," Katuski promised. "You'll see."
"I don't doubt it," his father agreed with a smile. "You've always been exceptional."
"I agree," Aisla said softly, hand squeezing his under the table.
When they finished eating, his mother ushered Aisla into the kitchen with her to help with cleanup. He tried to protest on her behalf, but she insisted on helping. He didn't argue with her, even if he hated being left alone with his asshole great-grandfather. His dad had already left the room to finish up some last minute work duties, so it was just Katsuki, his grandfather, and his trio of men in black occupying the living room.
"So," his grandfather started as he leaned back in his stupid red arm chair and held his stupid mangy fleabag in his arms. "I guess I was wrong, Katsuki."
He narrowed his eyes, not believing whatever sorry excuse for an apology this was. "Wrong about what?"
He pet the cat's wiry fur as he spoke, oblivious to how disgusting it was. "About Aisla. She seems to be good for you. Your grades are improving, but so is your attitude. I see the way you look at her, Katsuki. It's the same look your father wears when he looks at your mother. You're in love."
"Yeah, I already said I was," he snapped, feeling irritation but not sure why.
"That you did," he acknowledged. "I don't think I've ever heard you utter those words, not even to your own mother."
Katsuki's fists clenched. "Are you trying to say I don't love my own mom?"
He waved a dismissive hand. "No, no, of course not. Don't be a fool. I merely meant to say that you aren't exactly the affectionate type. You don't express your feelings the same way a normal person does. Now, don't give me that look, you know it's true. Something about this girl brings out a softer side of you. You're less temperamental, and you're able to express your emotions in healthier ways. It's nice to see."
Katsuki relaxed slightly. "Well, thanks, I guess."
"You really love that girl, don't you?" he asked. Katsuki nodded. "In that case…so long as your grades continue to show improvement, and your hero training doesn't decline…" he held out a hand, "our deal will be off."
Katsuki's eyes widened. "What? Seriously? Why?"
"Because of that girl in there." He gestured toward the kitchen door where Aisla and his mother were doing dishes. "She brings out the best in you, Katsuki, and if you're happy and thriving, then that's all I really want for you."
Katsuki listened intently as his grandfather spoke, waiting for him to say that he was only joking and Katsuki would be moving to America soon so he'd better pack his bags now.
"I don't want to ruin your life or make you miserable by forcing you to come live with me," he continued. "I only want you to be the best that you can be, and with the help of that young lady, I can already see that you're moving toward something extraordinary. I don't want to take that away from you. I will continue to check in with you periodically, so make sure you're still doing everything you can to surpass your classmates."
Katsuki wasn't sure what to say to all that, so all he said was, "Thank you," and hoped that would be enough.
A minute later, Aisla walked back into the room with a pleased smile on her face, as if she'd enjoyed whatever she'd just been doing with his mother. He hoped their conversation hadn't involved him, though he suspected it had. His mom had been all too eager to scoop Aisla up and get her alone for a while. Besides, it didn't take half an hour to wash five bowls and spoons. They must have been standing around talking. He could only imagine what his mother wanted to say to Aisla behind his back.
"Katsuki~" she trilled as she skipped over to him. Again, he couldn't stop his eyes from devouring her body in that cute little dress she wore. The way the fabric hugged her breasts and exposed her delicate shoulders, and the way her slender legs moved beneath the skirt as she came closer, bringing attention to the hidden area just out of his view. His eyes shifted slightly to the jangling bracelet on her left wrist, then glided back up to meet knowing blue eyes.
I see you, they seemed to say.
I know, he silently replied.
He stood up and took her hand in his, pulling her behind him as he started for the door.
"Where are you going, boy?" his grandfather called out to him.
He turned a grin over his shoulder. "I'm going to show Aisla around the house. We'll be back soon." He tugged her through the door, then kicked it shut behind him before breathing a sigh of relief.
"Were you anxious to get out of there?" she asked as he led her up the stairs.
"It wasn't so bad," he answered honestly. "He told me I don't have to go to America with him."
Aisla pulled him to a stop and stared up at him with wide, shimmering eyes. "Katsuki, that's amazing!" she exclaimed. "I knew you could do it! You proved to him that you were worthy after all!"
No, he silently disagreed as she threw her arms around him and settled her cheek against his chest, it's all because of you, Aisla. It's always because of you.
"Come on." He pulled away, taking her hand and leading her down the hallway at the top of the landing. He paused in front of a door on the left, then pushed it open and stepped inside. He let the door close softly behind them before flicking on a light switch.
"Wow," Aisla noted as she stepped farther inside and started looking around. "Is this your old bedroom?"
"Yeah," he replied with a twinge of embarrassment. "I thought you might want to see it."
She nodded wordlessly as she took in the different items in the room. He didn't have much: A bed stationed in the to left corner with a small end table beside it, a small dresser next to the door, and a desk across from the bed, filled with various papers, books, and other items he'd never put away when he still lived here.
The bed still bore his navy blue sheets he'd left behind, with the matching comforter pulled tightly around it. A single pillow sat at its top, with an All Might figurine leaning against it that he definitely hadn't left there. He felt his cheeks heat and hoped Aisla didn't comment on it or he'd die from embarrassment.
"I love this." She was holding a framed photo that sat on his desk, one of Katsuki and his parents at the beach several years ago. His parents were both bent over with matching smiles, and Katsuki stood between them with a pout because a wave had just crashed over his sandcastle a moment before. He didn't know why he'd kept that photo, but for some reason the memory always made him smile.
"What do you like about it?" he asked as he came to stand behind her.
"I love seeing you with your family," she explained as she pressed a finger against the glass right over his chest. "You all look so happy together."
Katsuki scoffed and snatched the picture from her, setting it back down on the desk. "I was crying two minutes before this was taken. I'm pouting in that picture."
"Your eyes are twinkling," she said softly as she gazed up at him. "Just like they are right now, and the same way they do whenever you talk about your parents." She turned to face him and placed a hand over his chest. "You love them, Katsuki. I can tell."
"I love you," he retorted, then leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss.
"Katsuki…" she sighed into his mouth as her fingers glided up and down his chest, feeling muscles and inviting heat into his skin. He shuddered and pressed his lips more firmly against hers, pulling a delicious moan from her throat. His arms encircled her and brought her even closer so that her breasts were flush against him. He wished they didn't have the constraint of clothing between them so he could feel them on his bare skin.
He wanted to peel the dress from her body right now, family members be damned. He could lock the door, throw Aisla onto his bed, then ravish her body as he'd wanted to do that morning. The temptation was strong, but he knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to do that with his grandfather downstairs. That was all he needed was for that old fossil to know he was screwing his girlfriend. Even if they had their suspicions, there was no proof that he and Aisla had gone that far, so they couldn't do anything about it. But if they were doing it in his own bedroom, there would be no excusing the locked door.
"Katsuki…" Aisla moaned against his mouth, making another tremble go through him. "Tell me you love me again. Please?"
"I love you, Aisla," he proclaimed at once. "I promise you, I love—God!" he moaned through clenched teeth as Aisla's wandering fingers suddenly pinched his nipples through his shirt as her teeth clamped down on his bottom lip. She tugged the lip into her mouth and sucked while simultaneously twisting the sensitive buds on his chest. Never in his life had he considered this would be something he'd be into until this girl started touching him there. Maybe it was a weird kink of his, or maybe it was just Aisla that could do literally anything to make him aroused.
"I love when you make that sound," she purred against his lips. "You're so sexy, Katsuki. Yes, keep touching me like that, please…"
He groaned in response to her squirming hips and seductive tone. He didn't even realize his hand had moved until she bucked against it, bringing attention to the obvious heat beneath her skirt. His fingers dipped lower of their own accord, seeking the wetness he knew would be there.
"Katsuki!" his mother suddenly shouted from the hallway, forcing them to break apart so abruptly, he accidentally shoved her against the wall.
"Sorry!" he muttered, just as his mother pushed into the room.
"There you two are," she said, seemingly oblivious to the makeout session that had just taken place right over her head. "It's getting late, and you need to get back to school before curfew. Come on, now!"
She ushered them out the door and led them downstairs where his father and grandfather were chatting. Katsuki had wanted to show Aisla more of the house than just his bedroom, but he supposed there would be time for a tour another day. He was suddenly very eager to get out of this house and back to their dorm.
"Katsuki," his grandfather greeted with a nod when they entered the formal living area. "Come give me a hug." He held open one arm while balancing his cat in the other.
Katsuki bristled. "Hell no! I'm not putting my arms anywhere near you!"
"How about you then?" he offered, shifting his arm toward Aisla, whose eyes went wide.
"M-me, sir?"
"Yes, yes. Come give Grandpa a hug, little girl," he beckoned her over with a hand.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER, YOU OLD PERV!" Katsuki roared, gripping Aisla by the wrist when she tried to move forward. "YOU SOUND LIKE A CREEP RIGHT NOW!"
The old man shrugged. "I'm just being friendly to your little girlfriend. Don't you want us to get along?"
"NO!" Katsuki pulled Aisla toward the door. "We're leaving. Goodbye, Gramps."
"What about your mother?!" She suddenly wrapped him up in a crushing embrace and left a sloppy kiss on his cheek, making him growl in irritation.
"GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!"
"And you, of course!" Before he could stop her, his mother had pulled Aisla into a hug as well, much to her surprise. She didn't have time to return the embrace before his mother let her go and stepped back. "Thanks for coming! Be safe, kids~!" She offered Katsuki a knowing wink that he prayed had nothing to do with what just happened upstairs. If she really thought he and Aisla were sleeping together, he'd never talk to her again.
"Shall I escort you two back to school?" asked his grandfather, already stepping forward.
"But Grandfather, you promised to make me your famous pudding," his mother whined. Katsuki rolled his eyes at her antics, but fortunately no one noticed. His grandfather looked like he was considering her words for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.
"Yes, I suppose I'll wait here. Chris!" he barked at his driver. "Make sure my grandson and his lady get back to UA safely."
Chris nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll take them right away."
Once they were in the car, Katsuki breathed a tired sigh. "God, that was awful."
"It wasn't so bad," Aisla disagreed. She sat beside him, scrolling idly through messages on her phone. He peered over her shoulder, unable to resist the urge to see what had her attention.
"Who's H.S.?" he asked, pointing at the thread.
"Huh?" She looked up at him then back down at the phone. "Oh, that's Shinso. He was texting me earlier because Mr. Aizawa wanted me at practice tonight."
"Mr. Aizawa is the one who signed our permission forms to leave campus tonight!" he snapped irritably.
Aisla shrugged. "I don't know, I guess he forgot about that. I told Shinso to tell him I already had plans."
"Then, what the hell does he want now?" he asked, pointing to the screen once more.
"Oh, Shinso was just telling me that Mr. Aizawa was in a bad mood all night," she answered with a giggle. "He apparently got his ass handed to him. His words, not mine. He also said that Mr. Aizawa told him we would be in big trouble if we came back late again."
Katsuki groaned. "Good lord, that man is a pain in my ass. Why is he your favorite hero, again?"
"Well—"
"Never mind, don't answer that." He'd already heard her weird over-the-top love confession or whatever about how Eraser Head changed her life. He didn't need to hear it again.
"Katsuki," she murmured, setting her phone down in favor of taking his hand in hers. She turned toward him as much as she could with the restraining belt between them. "You know I mean what I said earlier, right?"
"About what?"
She reached forward and brushed her fingers across his jaw. "About you being my favorite hero? I meant it. I trust you, Katsuki, more than anyone else. I know that if anything ever happens to me, you'll be the one to save me. And if anything happens to you…" She trailed off, then her eyes shifted to the side. "Well, there's probably not much I could do, honestly…"
"What are you talking about? You do so much!" he told her fiercely. "That quirk of yours will do great things and save tons of people. I just know it."
She looked back up at him with a small smile. "Thanks, Katsuki." He didn't think she believed him, but that was okay for now. He would show her just how useful she could be. He would show her that she could be his hero, too.
"You're my favorite hero, Katsuki."
And you're mine, Aisla Haru.
A/N: Hello! Thank you all for reading this chapter! I hope it was a good one. I liked bringing back the part from Aisla's chapter when she was messaging Shinso, and seeing how that looked from Katsuki's POV. I don't think he's amused lol. Poor Katsuki. Besides that, I really wanted to show a completely different dynamic between this chapter and the one from way back during Aisla's birthday. As I mentioned in a previous chapter, it is important to me to show how much the relationship between Katsuki and Aisla has changed over the last few months. Katsuki has been a lot more open to not only physical representation of Aisla's love, but also vocal. Aisla standing up for him and proclaiming to everyone that he is good and he is worth it was so important for him to hear, but it was even more important for him to accept it. For Katsuki to take a second to hear her words and believe in them is a huge step forward for him. A few months ago, he probably wouldn't have been like that. We all know how he is about praise and the like. He knows he's hot shit, but he doesn't want anyone else telling him that. I think the reason for that may be because he's insecure. He acts tough and like nothing in the world bothers him, but inside he's just as insecure and unsure about himself as the rest of us. I like the idea of him breaking out of his shell a little bit at a time, which was a big reason I wanted to write this fic.
Reviews:
encre d'esprit: He IS a stick in the mud! But thank you for saying that! The relationship between not only Katsuki and Hironori but also Aisla and Hironori wasn't important to me at first, but it became clear that something needed to happen between two important people in Katsuki's life. If he really wants to be with Aisla long term, then his grandfather needs to be on board with that and not hold this threat of moving to America over his head out of spite. He's not TOTALLY unreasonable, but he's still an asshole and I wouldn't want him as a grandpa lmao. However, as I mentioned before, he has certainly grown on me and become one of my favorite characters!
kibaschick: Aww thank you for that! I always look forward to seeing your name in the reviews! I know this story has been a LONG one, so I'm so excited to see those of you who stick around for this long. I also love Mitsuki! She's a great character! And seeing her with Katsuki is always fun!