Authors Note:
Thank you all for continuing to read this tale. I hope it's somewhat enjoyable, and I really appreciate those of you who are on this adventure with me.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Thursday
Keigo eased around in the bed, mindful of the edge he was getting rather close to. Enough that he could feel the coolness leaking up from the floor. He had to keep reminding himself it wasn't the double bed Rilo had back at the powerplant, which, to be honest, had barely fit both of them and his wings all at once. Thus, the single beds that the agency lodge were fine for him alone—
Well—
They were a considerable squeeze for two adults, plus wings. Not that he and Rilo tended to have space between each other when they slept anyway. He was beginning to wonder if they were two of the clingiest people on the planet, or maybe they were just magnets that snapped together. That thought made him smile against her soft hair. He did not mind being a magnet, nor did he mind being attached to someone.
Right now.
In this moment.
Nothing felt more comfortable, secure, and right. He pressed his lips gently to her forehead. As loathsome as the powerplant was in its mere existence, there would always be a small part of him that would forever treasure the evenings they had sitting and talking together into the late hours of the night, watching the city lights sparkle.
He'd find her a better home, a place for them both to settle. He frowned. Right. He was acting as if everything was solved and fixed and she wasn't dying in his arms as they lay here.
Carefully he eased himself out from beneath her, glancing at the nearby digital clock on the bedtable. Bubbles would be up soon, preparing for early morning patrol. If he was going to apologise for yesterday, now would be the best time to do so. He glanced down at Rilo and smiled wearily, propping his head up on a hand as he brushed her dulled cheeks with his fingers.
"You shone light into corners of my soul that I didn't even know had corners…"
He kissed her forehead before climbing carefully out from the mountain of blankets. He tucked them back around her, making sure none of the outside chill would get in. Stamping into his Endeavour slippers, Keigo headed for the door.
Her voice stalled him. Ah—damnit—he'd woken her.
"Keigo?" Rilo's blue eyes were all that remained illuminated, not even her distinct, beautiful markings that had once so intricately played beneath her skin had any glow remaining.
He paused at the door. "Just need to see Bubbles before she heads out for patrol."
"You apologising about yesterday?" she asked.
He clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah, I am."
Rilo nodded against the pillow. "Okay."
"I'll be back soon. Do you want anything from the lounge?"
"Hot coco."
"Wow. Not tea. Miracles happen."
Rilo snuggled deeper into the blankets. "I feel like something different."
"Alrighty then." He yanked open the door. "I shall return with hot coco for the frozen princess."
He tracked his way through the lodge, heading towards the lounge. In the distance, the light of Medusa's office was aglow, indicating the medi-hero had come in early. Really, the man was just as much a workaholic as Bubbles, but he actually took his allocated holidays. Switching on several dimmed lights around the lounge, Keigo made himself a coffee and dropped himself down in a seat, waiting for Bubbles arrival. He wasn't waiting long. The distinct sound of her heels clicking on the floor echoed through the quiet, dark agency and he glanced up, watching in amusement as she strolled straight past him.
She halted in mid-step, back-tracking and turning to stare at him.
"What are you doing up, shouldn't you be resting."
"Rilo requested coco." He pointed to the coffee machine.
"Okay. Well. You appear to have made yourself coffee."
"Indeed." Keigo sipped his coffee. "Observant as always, Bubbles. I have."
She gave a dramatic sigh and stomped on by dramatically, the heels of her hero costume clicking loudly against the floor. Unlike himself and Canary, whose costumes were entirely designed by Jeanie, Bubbles had input into hers. Which really, wasn't that surprising, considering her personality and peculiarity to feeling proud of her hero status. She wouldn't have said she was proud of being a hero out loud, but she very much was proud of the work she'd done to achieve the status, and the work required to maintain it.
He wasn't the only one who used the gym. He just enjoyed it. Bubbles had a love-hate relationship with her workout plan.
With considerable gusto, she stole into Canary's section of the kitchenette, finding his extremely sugary cereal and poured herself an enormous bowl of the hideous stuff. Let it be said, none of them in the Hawks' agency had a good diet. They were all just as lazy as each other—even Bubbles, in her own way.
There was a reason he'd hired each of them.
"Wow, little-miss-goodie-good-shoes stealing poor Canary's cereal." Keigo kicked back in his chair.
Bubbles carried over the bowl and her steaming tea. "Canary will survive."
"Hm." Keigo sipped his coffee.
"How is Rilo this morning?" Bubbles asked.
"Ah. Well. I just left her in bed, so…hard to tell." Keigo shrugged. "I'm thinking of giving Jeanie a ring though."
"Best Jeanist?" Bubbles frowned, pausing from sipping her tea.
"He might be able to ease the pressure the mods causing." Keigo sighed, sinking lower in his chair. "It'll be a long shot, he hates doing medical work, but he is capable of it, and I'd rather ask him than go to outside sources."
"I didn't know Best Jeanist's quirk was a medical one."
"Well…" Keigo raised his hands. "According to Jeanie, the way he see's the body is just a bunch of fibres all spun together. He doesn't like delving that deeply into the area because of how dangerous a field it is for him, how easily it would be to unravel someone on the atomic level. I think he said once, that if he figured that out, there wouldn't be a way to stop it, so, he decided he should never do it…and that…that's what made him a hero, not a villain, since we're just two sides of the same coin that can be easily flipped." Keigo shrugged.
"Gosh…" Bubbles puffed out. "You A-listers really go all out. I'm starting to feel kind of glad I'm just a D-rank."
Keigo chuckled. "Don't cut yourself short. Your defence capabilities are one of the reasons why I can go all out in the city. We all have our quirks, it's just matter of figuring out what the best uses for them are."
"Not powering cities." Bubbles grumbled into her mug.
"Still reeling from it?"
She slapped her mug down. "Yes. Gosh. Anyway, do you really think Best Jeanist can help Rilo?"
"He'd help, yeah."
"You can't bring in that unregistered friend of yours?"
Keigo shook his head. "The moment I do that, I have a feeling they'll have to go underground again. Running from the register is difficult when you help heroes."
"Right, so, that's the final phase." Bubbles hummed around her spoon. "You do love complicating life, Hawks."
He studied her across the table. She did her makeup, or, perhaps it was more of a hero mask as it completely changed her appearance from her natural look. He had no idea what cosmetics female heroines used that set so firm, even in when sweating in battle, but somehow, whatever it was they plastered on their faces, remained intact.
"What is it?" Bubbles worried. She touched her face. "Is there something on my face?"
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Bubbles." Keigo reached across the table, taking her hand. "I shouldn't have reacted how I did yesterday—"
"No. Oh my gosh, Hawks." Bubbles yanked her hand away. "Why are you apologising."
"I wasn't regulating my emotions well, and I took it out on you. I'm pretty sure I scared you."
She flicked her eyes away, indicating that yes, he had.
"I don't think I've ever lost my temper with you before, and, obviously, it's not something a boss should do." He eased forward on his arms.
Bubbles breathed out. "You're telling me, that was you losing your temper."
"Ah. Yes."
"So…all those times you've yelled at me, or shouted something at me…" Bubbles voice slowly trailed off. "That's…that's…you…you've never actually been upset."
"Ever felt scared when I've shouted at you for being an intrusive, annoying workaholic?" He propped his chin up on a hand.
"No." She whispered. "Oh my gosh, no."
"Ever felt your fight or flight response kick in when I yell at Canary for doing something unbelievably stupid, like dive-bombing off the agencies top level."
"No."
"That's because I'm not actually losing control of my emotions, Bubbles. I'm just pitching my tone to throw my voice." He pointed between them both. "You've never felt confronted by those situations, because I've never actually been upset, or if I was, I would have regulated it and taken my frustrations out privately."
Bubbles slumped backwards. "I feel like I've never known you, at all."
"Well, you've known a version of me." He smiled. "The same way I know a version of you, that is different from the version of you that your brother knows, and your father knows."
She nodded slowly.
"And yesterday," Keigo tipped his head to the side. "You met a version of met that I would have rather you never met, but, I'm not perfect."
Bubbles opened her mouth to protest. He held up a hand, stalling her. "Bubbles, I'm your boss. In the end, it does come back to me, okay. I'm responsible for how I react, and I shouldn't have put you in a position to look after Rilo for me."
"What? No! Okay. No." Bubbles slapped her hand down on the table. "Hawks. You came to us…finally…for help, and I should have been the first person to jump up and offer my hand to you, instead, I hurt you."
He tried to interject. Bubbles held out a finger to halt him.
"As someone who has prided herself in respecting authority, respecting governmental institutions, respecting the very idea of heroes, my entire life…Hawks…I should have been appalled, and disgusted at everything you gave us, instead, I thought only of myself." She breathed in deeply. "This has been truly eye-opening for me. It has made me realise I have so much more to learn, and that I need to become flexible."
She reached for his hands, clasping them.
"If our government is truly no longer for the people, and hasn't been for all this time…then…then as a hero…it is my duty to be for the people."
Keigo smiled, twisting his hands around to grasp hers. "Oh, Bubbles, never do stop being so brilliant."
She finally blushed and yanked their hands apart. "Okay, that's enough. I don't need a flirty fly-boy to tell me how amazing I am. I am aware I am awesome."
Keigo scoffed. "Flirty fly-boy. Wow. Genius insult there."
"Don't you have a pretty little wife you're supposed to keeping warm?" Bubbles narrowed her eyes at him.
"I do." Keigo heaved himself out of his chair, heading to the coffee machine to crank it on. "Thanks for reminding me about the hot coco I promised her."
Bubbles dragged her chair back. "Are you taking Tsubame's kids to school?"
"Yep. I'll head out on patrol afterwards, so…" he glanced down at his watch. "You can take a four hour break over lunch, and I'll rotate on again in the afternoon."
Bubbles sighed. "Won't be much of a break with all this work for the Convention. You better make sure you and Rilo are packed."
"Yes, Mother." Keigo lifted two hot mugs.
Bubbles scoffed. "I mean it. I do not want you coming to me Saturday morning complaining that you forgot your lucky boots."
"Nope. Got those packed." He winked. "Rilo even had them all fixed and shined."
"She did. Oh…that is so sweet." Bubbles clasped her cheeks. "Maybe I won't have to worry about you as much."
"Pff." He strolled past her. "I pay you to worry."
"Oh, gee, thanks for that job description."
"You're welcome." Keigo flashed her a grin.
"Hawks…"
He paused from heading back to the lodge, looking back at her. She was twisting her hands together. "Yeah?"
"Thank you…for…for trusting me."
Keigo inclined his head. "Thank you for putting up with me."
They split, heading in opposite directions.
Someday—
Someday she was going to learn just how broken hero society truly was.
Someday she was going to learn just how broken he was.
Someday she'd learn how he'd funded the startup of their agency, and the first few instalments of her pay checks.
He wondered if she'd manage learning the truth, or if it would break her.
Sometimes—
Somethings—
They were just best left in the darkness.
Keigo leant against the door into his room, easing it open to peer inside. Through the darkness, Rilo's illumed eyes flickered like globes. He heard the rustling of bed sheets and suddenly, the bed lamp was switched on.
"Hey, babe." He knocked the door shut with a foot.
Rilo cuddled back into a blanket. "Is Bubbles okay?"
"I think everything will be alright. She's worked it out in her head, and I apologised for calcifying my wings at her." He eased the two mugs down on the bedside table before hitched himself into the bed. It took several minutes to tuck his wings into a comfortable position in the tight space, but eventually he was settled, and Rilo was nestled in his lap. He handed over one of the mugs to her.
"Hm, you calcify your wings at me all the time."
"Yeah. Different reason, sweetheart." He smirked into the rim of his own mug. "Bubbles only ever sees the violent hunter mode of me, not the, I want to fuck you mode. While they are similar, they're also very different."
She laughed. "One would hope so."
He kissed her neck. "Well, you're the only one who triggers one of them."
Rilo sipped her coco. "Oh gosh, I just cannot guess which one."
"Stop teasing, drink your coco and get some more rest."
"Resting is all I do." Rilo sighed despondently.
Keigo brushed her cheek. "Make the most of it, babe. Things will change, I promise."
000000
Haia rode on his shoulders, bouncing with excitement. Hawks flinch at having his hair near ripped from the scalp by the enthusiastic boy. Etio and Jaku walked either side of him, and Tsubame was trying to keep up with them while she organized something via her mobile for some meeting she was probably already running late for. Hawk really couldn't care less about it.
"I'm so bummed we can't come, Hawks." Etio looked up at him.
"Yeah. I mean…this is…it's like, you're like, our uncle, and you're getting promoted in front of the whole of Japan and we're not going to be there!" Jaku flung out his arms. "It's super lame."
Hawks chuckled. "You'll honestly get a better view of the whole thing on the tele."
"That's not the same as going along to support you." Etio insisted.
"I promise, I have plenty of support." Hawks assured.
"You won't feel lonely all by yourself?" Jaku worried.
"What? Is that what you're concerned about?" Hawks halted their walking. "Seesh, you brats really need to stop with all this adulting concerns and start acting your age."
Etio glanced towards Tsubame, lost in her phone conversation. "Yeah…nah…that's not going to happen any time soon, Hawks."
Hawks sighed. "I get it, kiddo. I do."
"So, you won't be lonely?" Jaku asked again.
Okay. Obviously the brats where focusing in on this. He had to wonder what Tsubame had said to trigger this reaction in them.
Heaving Haia off his shoulders, Hawks settled the boy down between his brothers and crouched, nestling the three up in his wings. "I want you guys to watch the ranking ceremony really carefully, okay." He clasped Haia's cheek tightly, making the boy giggle. Hawks looked up at Etio. "Make sure your Mum's watching too, yeah."
Etio nodded.
Pressing a hand to Jaku's shoulder, Hawks smiled at the preteen. "I promise, Jaku. I'm not lonely. I'm in love with an amazing woman."
Jaku frowned. "Mum thought you were lying."
Hawks shook his head. "I'm not."
"Why does she always think you're lying?" Jaku huffed.
"Ah…maybe because I was a little brat when I was sixteen, and it is possible she's never been able to move past that and realise that I'm not sixteen anymore, but, you know, I'm working on it. I think she's improving."
Etio shouldered his school bag. "Yeah. I think she's improving too. We might even manage okay with Dad coming home over Spring Break."
"I'm glad you're positive about it, Etio." Hawks ruffled the teen's hair. "Alright. Off you guys go. Do school things." He made a flicking motion with his wings.
Jaku took Haia's hand, heading through the gates of their school and Etio continued on, waving as he vanished into the morning crowd.
Hawks bounced up, looking over his shoulder to Tsubame still on the phone. Well—it looked like it was going to be one of those types of mornings. He grinned. The types of morning patrol when he got to bother Tsubame like a brat, so much so, that she'd let him go for an extra-long coffee break.
Hawks clapped his hands. "Challenge accepted."
Yeah—
So much for proving he'd grown up.
Fuck that.
0000
Rilo squeaked in shock as the window snapped open and Keigo dived through, landing with a bounce just before he collided with the wall. He lay on the floor, hair and wings utterly frazzled from his landing. He flipped his visor up, and gave a gleeful whoop.
"Keigo!" Rilo scrambled out of her nest on the bed. "Are you alright?"
"Oh yeah. Just amazed I threaded that needle, haven't done that in a while."
Rilo looked to the window. Right, he meant diving through a small space.
"Do you ever just stop to think maybe you shouldn't?" She stood over him, hands on her hips.
He scoffed up at her, and by the way his eyes narrowed in on the placements of her hands, she should have known where his mind was. "Two words. Sky. Sex."
Rilo pouted. "Okay. That's not fair."
"Not all is fair in love and war, babe." He made a peace sign with his fingers.
"What are you doing back? Aren't you supposed to be on patrol?"
Keigo heaved himself up. "I managed to convince Tsubame to let me go for a half hour coffee break."
Rilo nursed her head. "That poor woman, it's no wonder she thinks you're a giant child."
"I know, did rather shoot myself in the foot with that one, didn't I." He heaved her up and Rilo wrapped herself around him as he thumped down on the bed. The way he kissed her had changed. It wasn't that he had grown gentler, for that side of him had always been there. No—it was the slightest tremble in his touch, and the look of pained sorrow that he tried to twist up inside and hide away around everyone else, only for it to completely unravel in front of her.
His actions weren't just for her benefit. He was here for his own peace of mind, she knew that. He'd told her he was being selfish—wanting things he could not have. Desiring warmth, affection, comfort.
If she dug down deep enough, he would whisper that he still felt unworthy of such things. That if he held them—held her—it'd all crumble apart and slip between his fingers. No matter how well put together he seemed, deep down inside, the sinister voice of a terrifying woman she had never met, still whispered doubt into his mind.
"Rilo, tell me it's going to be okay," he murmured.
"It'll be okay." She draped her arms over his shoulders, hugging him. She snuggled deeper into the plush wool of his jacket. "Ohhh, Keigo, you're so warm."
He laughed at her happy giggle.
"That's all I am now, is it, a hot-water bottle."
"Ah, yeah, pretty much." Rilo held his cheeks, brushing them softly. Her gaze shifted to the side.
"Rilo?"
"Sorry…I just…I miss it, you know. I miss my spark."
"It's still there, babe." He pressed their foreheads together. "Nothing, and no one, can take a quirk away from us. Keep fighting, yeah."
Rilo nodded. She moulded into the warmth he offered. Even the heat of his gloved hands made the icy chill in her chest seem a little less oppressive.
"Okay. Okay. That's my alarm to go." Keigo mumbled through their kiss, tapping his beeping watch against his thigh to silence it. With great reluctance Rilo crawled off his lap and he tucked her back into her blanket fort. She smirked up at him as he crouched on the bed in front of her, hesitating to leave as he brushed her cheeks.
"You need to go, Mr. Hero."
"I know." He backflipped off the bed, landing easily on his feet. "Any requests for dinner?"
"Hm, really, really hot ramen." Rilo made a bowl with her hands.
"Pretty sure that's something I'm capable of providing." He hoisted himself out the window. "Love you, babe."
Rilo watched as he just let himself drop before he swooped up in a twirl and was gone in a single, upward thrust of his wings. She clutched at her pendant and lifted the feather to her lips. "You goose," she whispered against it. "I love you too." She closed her eyes, feeling both the pendant she held vibrate, and her waist chain.
He was never far.
0000
Izuku stared at the ticket in his hand. Less of a ticket, more of an all-access pass. He'd managed to get Eijiro's ticket upgraded, which had resulted in a considerable amount of being squeezed by a guy who would probably, someday, be capable of crushing bones with a punch.
He'd mentioned that, which had only resulted in Eijiro laughing about his wild imagination. It was such a shame that Eijiro really didn't think very highly of his awesome quirk. Izuku crinkled his nose up.
He was going to have to add Eijiro's lack of confidence to his list of things to fix.
It was growing rather long.
Right now—
He stared at the ticket in his hand.
He was trying to tackle one of the things on his list.
Kaachan.
Mum stood patiently beside him, dressed up in a pretty spring outfit that Dad had melted over while they walked out the door. Now the two of them stood just outside the Bakugo residence, and he was trying to work up his courage to approach the front porch.
"Okay." He thrust his shoulders back. "I can do this."
"Of course you can, sweetie." Mum smiled.
He ran for the door before he had a chance to backdown, and rung the doorbell. He sensed Mum come up behind him, probably to make sure he didn't bolt away the moment the door swung open. He certainly felt like he wanted to bolt, with his knees knocking together.
Gah—
Why was Kaachan more terrifying than the thought of a villain.
The door opened and Mrs. Bakugo appeared.
"Oh, Inko! How wonderful to see you!"
Mum covered her cheeks. "Hello Mitsuki. I am so sorry for not getting in touch with you sooner."
"Goodness, no. It sounds like you've had a lot on your plate lately." Mrs. Bakugo gave a delighted laugh.
Izuku looked to the side. Great. Now he was awkwardly stuck in the middle between the two mothers and their boring mum-talk. Bleh.
"Word is it your husband's returned." Mrs. Bakugo's eyebrows vanished beneath her blond hair.
Mum fanned herself.
She wasn't acting. Really—none of them had to act much for the cover-story—and he supposed that was the brilliant thing about it all—it kind of felt like it always had been his reality, and the life he'd lived before the sludge villain had been some sort of weird dream.
He was going to ask Hawks if it was a normal feeling or not.
"He has. Yes. Yes. He has. You'll…ah…I'm sure you'll get a chance to meet him soon." Mum smiled. "We'll have to invite you all around for dinner, yes. I am sure Hawks and Rilo would love to reciprocate, and show off their dumpling making skills."
"I mean, that is all they can really make." Izuku remarked.
Mum sighed. "I'm working on it."
"How is Hawks' doing?" Mrs. Bakugo asked. "He hasn't had any negative side effects from the treatment, has he?"
Mum shook her head. "No, none at all. I cannot thank you enough, Mitsuki, for helping him out, especially with this weekend coming up."
"You mean the Ranking Convention?" Mrs. Bakugo breathed in deeply. "Is he attending…oh…oh goodness…oh…how wonderful! Please, do pass on my congratulations."
"We will." Mum inclined her head. "Izuku…"
"Oh. Right…" Izuku shuffled. "Um. Mrs. Bakugo…is…um…Kaachan home, by any chance. I was…um…wanting to invite him to come to the Ranking Convention with me, and…a friend…Hawks got us tickets!"
Mrs. Bakugo stared at him for what seemed like eternity. He was sure it was in disbelief. Finally, she turned around and shouted back into the house.
"Katsuki! Get your arse down here! Little Izu wants to talk to you!"
From within the house, stomping was heard. Izuku winced as the thunderous thumping of Kaachan storming down the stairs vibrated through the front entrance. Looking utterly fit to pulverise him for daring to grace the front porch of his house—again—Kaachan shoved past Mrs. Bakugo.
"What do you want, nerd."
"Katsuki!" Mrs. Bakugo slapped Kaachan roughly over the back of the head.
"What! It's what he is."
"It's fine, Mrs. Bakugo." Izuku assured. Afterall, Kaachan was just as much a nerd as he was, they were competing for top spot in their year level. They were just as brilliant as each other. He was now pretty sure Kaachan only ridiculed him because he was so darn conflicted about his own brilliance, which was kind of sad really.
"Um. Kaachan…um…would you…er…like to…go…go to the Ranking Convention with me…er…um…and a friend of mine!" He thrust out the ticket.
Oh gosh—oh—gosh—oh gosh—
Take it!
Take it!
The ticket was taken from him, not by Kaachan, but my Mrs. Bakugo, because Kaachan looked like a frozen glitch in a computer game, just, standing there, unmoving. Welp—Izuku smiled inwardly—he'd broken Kaachan.
"Will you be attending, Inko?" Mrs. Bakugo asked.
"Unfortunately, no." Mum shook her head. "Babies do not stop being born just because heroes get ranked, so, a midwifes job never ceases…though…Yagi thought it was rather sweet, called me a special type of hero." Mum pretty much glowed from the praise still.
"So you'll be attending alone, Izuku?" Mrs. Bakugo frowned.
"Oh, well, Dad will be there." Izuku gave a grin. That was going to be the best, getting full permission to run right up to All-Might and had freaking out everyone. Dad was already having a hard time not laughing about it. "And so will Hawks and Rilo," he added.
"But they will be working." Mum huffed. "However, I am quite sure the boys are respectable enough to handle themselves. Izuku knows the consequences of mucking about under Hawks' name."
Izuku folded over dramatically. "Did you have to bring that up, Mum."
"I did."
Izuku rubbed his neck. "Anyway. I'll be responsible for looking after Rilo, so, there is that."
"Hm. True." Inko's hand settled on his head.
"Is she alright?" Mrs. Bakugo worried. "She mentioned her quirk was giving her trouble?"
Inko shook her head despondently. "It's a long story, Mitsuki, but, if Katsuki was around to lend a hand if Rilo did faint, I'd feel considerably better."
"So, it's more like we're babysitting your sick sister." Kaachan finally spoke up.
"Ah, yep." Izuku shrugged. "Or we're bodyguards. I like bodyguards, that sounds so much cooler."
"Why the fuck would she need bodyguards?"
Izuku tipped his head to the side, and smiled sweetly. "Oh, you'll find out tomorrow, if you come."
Mitsuki looked down at Kaachan. "Well, Katsuki? I'll let you go, but you must behave yourself. If you do anything, and I mean anything, I'll take away your gaming privileges. I have Hawks' number, remember."
Kaachan shuffled, looking away. "Fine," he grumbled.
Izuku beamed. "That's great Kaachan! We're going to have so much fun, and you're going to meet Eijiro! He's just the best!"
"I don't need to meet anymore nerds."
"He's not a nerd. Technically, you're more of a nerd than him."
"Whatever, nerd." Kaachan stomped back inside.
Izuku called out. "I'll pick you up tomorrow after school! We're having a sleep over!"
"Whatever."
"Make sure you bring your best smile, Kaachan."
"Shut the f—"
"Katsuki!" Mrs. Bakugo shouted. "I am so sorry." She sighed.
"It's fine." Mum waved. "I mean, you've Hawks, yes? I imagine he presented himself rather sweetly to you."
"Oh goodness, yes. Of course. He was a darling."
"It's all a lie." Mum scoffed. "He is a hellion." She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, no idea why Yagi let him marry our daughter."
Izuku looked up at her. "You're acting like Dad had much say in the matter by then. Pretty sure sis and Hawks totally decided it all on their own, kinda reminds me of this other couple I know—"
Mum covered his mouth.
Mrs. Bakugo laughed. "Well don't you seem have your hands full with a rowdy bunch."
Izuku gave a cheerful grin.
"Oh, dear…" Mum covered her face.
"Inko?" Mitsuki looked concerned.
Mum breathed in deeply, righting herself and brushing at her dress. "You'll find out over the weekend." She offered. "I expect you'll probably even come barging into my house about it. Come on, Izuku, we promised your father we'd get him dinner on the way home. Thank you, Mitsuki, for your time."
Mrs. Bakugo looked down and Izuku felt her eyes on him. "Thank you, Izuku, for persisting with Katsuki."
"It's what friends do, Mrs. Bakugo." Izuku smiled.
He followed Mum back out onto the street, and together they headed out. Dad had a late night patrol, something he was finding increasingly difficult to do with his decorating condition but, if Izuku was being honest, he really thought All-Might had improved a little since Mum had been feeding him decent meals.
He glanced down at himself. All-Might was all about clean, healthy living, while Hawks was fuck-it and live free. Really, he couldn't have asked for more different people to be influenced by. He was just going to have to take the best of both and squish it all together.
"Soooo…" Izuku bounced happily along beside Mum. "What do you think Mrs. Bakugo's reaction is going to be when she finds out Dad is All-Might?"
Mum tapped her chin. "She has known me the longest, ever since I moved here with you as a little baby. She helped me settle in and get my job at the hospital."
"Oh…" Izuku shuffled his feet.
"Mitsuki is rough around the edges, but she has a big heart." Mum beamed. "I imagine she is greatly appreciating your efforts with Katsuki. I know it is difficult for you, but sometimes, heroic deeds aren't big and flashy, they're the small things…that make up our lives."
Izuku nodded. He paused. "Um. Mum…"
She looked back at him.
"Did…did…you ever tell anyone about my real father?"
Mum brushed his hair aside. "Izuku, the only person who knows who your real father is, right now, is Yagi."
Izuku blinked rapidly. Okay. He hadn't expected that, but, it kind of made sense.
Mum wore an expression he'd never seen before. He didn't like it. She was remembering something that twisted her up inside.
"We've been alone in the world, just the two of us." Mum brushed at her tears. "It has been…such a relief to have people to trust."
"Oh Mum." Izuku hugged her tightly.
"You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me, Izuku." Mum held his cheeks. "Never forget that."
He had a feeling she was saying those words more for her own benefit than his own, but, he'd accept them nonetheless.
"I love you, Mum." Izuku squeezed her. "So much."
"I love you too, sweetie."
000000
Izuku looked up as All-Might leant into his bedroom from the doorway.
"I'm off on patrol, Izuku. I won't be back until late, so, I'll say goodnight now, son."
Izuku beamed. He was really liking their nightly ritual. "Goodnight Dad."
"I'm proud of you." All-Might tapped the doorframe. "It takes courage to continuously confront your fears."
"Thanks Dad. Um. Stay safe on patrol."
All-Might laughed. "Oh, it will most likely be quite uneventful."
"Don't jinx it." Izuku called out after him. The bedroom door clipped shut and Izuku listened to the heavy sound of footsteps leaving. He shuffled back into the covers of his bed, reaching for the small red book Hawks had given to him several weeks ago. He ran his fingers over the old leather cover, the embossed title worn down from countless hands doing the same motion.
"The Avian Aviator's Guide to A Good Life," Izuku murmured.
He hadn't had a chance to crack it open, due to exam study and other stresses, but finally, he was free to sink his teeth into the little pocketbook. The book felt different in his hands than others he'd held. It felt old, and precious, and so very—very loved.
Hawks had dogeared pages, and there were dozens of yellowed-aged paper sheets tucked away here and there, holding Hawks' coded handwriting. He'd also scrawled notes all over the interior text, also coded.
Izuku frowned at the code. It wasn't similar to anything Hawks had taught him, which meant it was a different form of coding entirely. He wondered if he was supposed to figure it out, or if it'd be rude to read Hawks' old notes.
Though—
Hawks had given him the book, and Hawks always told him he was smart—
Hawks would probably he rather impressed if he figured it out.
Izuku grinned. Challenge accepted.
He flipped to the first chapter.
"Chapter One…" Izuku held the book above his head, kicking his legs back and forth idly. "Don't mess with cats."
He flopped the book down.
Okay.
What—
He shook his head. No, he'd read on before he made a judgement.
"In this world, young avian, you will meet cats. They are those who have nine lives. You do not. Do not squander your one, precious life. Be wise in how you approach all that you do.
How do you be wise?
What is wisdom?
These, indeed, young avian, are questions you must ask yourself each and every day, so that you may learn not to mess with cats."
Izuku flopped the book down again and stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom, scattered with glow in the dark stars.
"Yeah…pretty sure Kaachan is a cat…"
He started laughing.