Hizashi felt exhausted. It turned out that what he had thought to be a simple project rearranging his store turned into something far more complex. Oboro and a few of his contractor friends had come in to help get the small tables against the front windows of his store up with matching bar stools. He'd found a good deal from a group on Facebook for arm chairs that he'd had Oboro drag over after fumigating them. It was a rather laboring task to tear apart the shop that he had functioning for three years now.
To rip and stripe it all down just to make some chairs and a table fit in the back of his store like a nook. Then came the task of not only getting the bookcases back into place along the middle of his store but getting every single book placed back on the shelf. He had been absolutely exhausted after dragging their bookcases back into the store as he got the decorations placed back into place. From there, he'd decided to pull a late night with Nemuri and Oboro heading over to his place to watch the boys.
It was these late nights that, with Taishiro's help, he began to put his shop back together. To drag the bookcases back into place without them suffocating the new set up in the back. To begin stacking the books back onto the shelves when he had inevitably dismissed Taishiro who had seemed exhausted. He had given him fifty dollars towards a dinner which the blonde accepted after many questionings on if he was sure. Once he took off, he had done his best to power through to get as many books back on the shelf the he could.
It was a simple project that had his store looking different. He hadn't known how to feel at the sight of those tables in his windows or the new times listed on the front window as well. It all felt strange. Like he wasn't moving on but rather moving up this invisible ladder he hadn't known he'd been standing on precariously. A ladder he hadn't been aware of until he was moving up it. He was excited with the new changes to his store but he couldn't help but be thankful he had chosen to change everything up now.
Now when he was stable as he could be when it came to running a store. He had been over the moon delighted that he'd managed to get even half the books on the shelf but he flinched at the thought of the remaining books that his employees would have to put back up. He hadn't gotten them all on but he ended up leaving around eleven-thirty before locking up the shop. When he'd driven home in a fog of that exhaustion; he was grateful that he hadn't fall asleep at the wheel with how sleepy he had felt.
When he returned home he found a note from Nemuri and Oboro that they'd run out to the corner store and would be back shortly. He had sent her a text letting her and Oboro go home instead now that he was home when he'd trudged to his bedroom. Where he had found that Izuku and Hitoshi had, in his absence, taken over his bed. Together, they had curled up on his bed with the bedside lamps on to replace their usual nightlight in their bedroom. They had looked utterly sweet sleeping on his bed with their pink cheeks.
Looking more serene than he'd seen them be since they were sick. He'd taken his shoes off when he managed to coax himself into the shower. Into a pair of pajama's. He still could recall how Hitoshi had woken slightly with lashes trembling as his small hands reached for him. A whine in his voice when he got that quiet, heartwarming mumble of "Daddy" as he climbed into bed with them rather than toting them to their rooms. There were simply some nights he didn't have the energy for it and he didn't have it that night.
He'd been absolutely exhausted the following day when he woke early to get the boys ready for school. To get their breakfast and lunch boxes out for them before waiting outside at the bus stop where they chased after leaves. After they were safely on the bus he'd gone back to the store where he helped his employees with getting books back on shelves. Tidying up the wild disarray of his store after all the books were back in place. From there it was merely a matter of decorating the shop once more with the Halloween decorations.
It had been exhausting but at least he'd gotten home on time to the boys eating dinner and Nemuri shoving him into a chair to eat. Rearranging, fixing, and fitting things for his shop had taken longer than he anticipated as he put last minute touches on everything. And now? Now all he had to do was wait for the tables to be declared safe by a safety instructor. He always agreed that staying above board was the way to go. To let someone know what he was doing and how he was shaping his shop was a pain in the ass.
But he'd rather make sure everything was safe before he went ahead and started letting people sit in the bar stools. One afternoon he brought the boys with him, and they ran about the shop with a sparkle to their gazes as they threw themselves on the arm chairs. Begged to be lifted up onto the bar stools with giggles of delight that had him smiling. And of course, the decorations were a hit with the boys who seemed to adore the "spooky" decorations he had lying about the shop. Even the ones that they saw at home.
They delighted in returning home for they got to see the decorations laid out on the front of the house. That he had Shouta to thank for. God, that afternoon felt like forever ago when in reality it was a mere six days ago. He didn't go out of his way to piece that afternoon apart but there was a kindness to Shouta that afternoon. A chivalry that had left him red faced when the black-haired man had finished with the front of the house. Joining him and Eri in the backyard where he decorated the back porch for him.
All without asking for payment but he had sprung the money to order them lunch despite Shouta's refusals. They happily ate on the back porch when he'd gotten to admire the rosy blush on Shouta's cheeks. After lunch, he'd done his best to walk Shouta through the recipe for the vanilla milk. Showing him the right way to make it before filling up his thermos. It was only after he got this finished did his mothers declare they were keeping the boys for the night. God, knows he'd been more than fine with that.
And he'd been so content wearing his coat that he'd gone red faced when Shouta had asked for it back. He couldn't help but regret handing it back but after but he knew better than to insist keeping or washing it when there was nothing on in. And after saying goodbye to Shouta? He'd been about ready to explode out of his own skin at the sudden change between them after that coat. He'd been so content inside of it with that musky vanilla cologne weakly filling his lungs with each breath he took without Shouta noticing.
The next morning the boys had been returned home where Izuku squealed over the sight of the decorations outside. Hitoshi adored the left over cobweb framing their door frame when they'd come inside. Izuku seemed to delight in the cobwebs that he had left over which he used to decorate the doorframe of their bedroom. And then his indigo-haired son had insisted on putting small spiders inside of the cobweb much to his dismay.
Shouta had a damn good laugh when he was chatting to the black-haired man about it with dismay about his next shopping adventure with Hitoshi and Izuku. He hadn't heard Shouta roar with laughter harder than when he came home and had cried on the phone about his sons' picks for the spiders. Two tubes of glow in the dark spiders that he had to help hang in the cobwebs. It had him wailing into the phone while the black-haired man had cackled with such devious delight. As if it were absolutely hilarious to him.
It was, strangely enough, becoming more of a common occurrence where he'd sit down for the night with Shouta on his phone. Even if he had seen the man six days ago, he found himself talking with him nightly whether that was while he was sweeping and mopping or doing the laundry. If he was getting ready for the night. Cleaning up after dinner. He hadn't thought twice about it in the six days but just hearing Shouta's voice left him feeling strangely comforted. A bit bashful. As if he were still embarrassed after that afternoon.
He felt strangely bashful around the black-haired man after wearing his coat but he couldn't deny he replayed it over and over. The moment Shouta draped it around his shoulders. The musky vanilla scent that clung weakly to the fabric that was without a doubt his cologne. How small it made him feel wearing it. How red Shouta had turned when he'd handed him it or how red he was when he handed it back. There was a shyness to talking to Shouta that hadn't been there before. It left him feeling weird.
Like there was something more when there was nothing more. Shouta was his friend. A friend who offered up his coat when he saw that he was cold. Nothing more and nothing less. It was becoming a damn chant in his head because he knew it to be true. He was embarrassed. A bit bashful. But could anyone blame him for that? After all, when was the last time he had a man do something so chivalrous for him? When was the last time any man had done that for him? The last time he had that had been a long time ago.
Back when he was dating an older man, he'd had car doors opened for him and coats draped over him. However, he couldn't help but flinch at the memories of his twenty-year-old self dating a thirty-five-year-old man. He knew it was a rather impressive age gap with the man that he would never understand looking over. He would never understand what the hell was wrong with him during that period of his life. The age gap was a whopping fifteen years and yet he'd still dated someone much older than himself.
But that had to of been the last time that he had something chivalrous done for him. Perhaps that's why Shouta's display of it left him red faced. But why had he smelled the sleeves? Why had he huffed his cologne like it was the richest scent he'd ever smelled in his entire life? It still left him pink in the cheeks to recall that scent. The way he'd shamelessly lifted the sleeves up to smell the cologne better. He couldn't deny that the sound of Shouta's voice just brought back memories of that day that was an exact week ago.
He didn't know what to do with himself but the consensus on the call that night with Nemuri, Oboro and Tensei was that it wasn't anything to overthink. He merely acted impulsively to his curiosity and Shouta had done a nice thing for him. Nothing more and nothing less. And he had to agree that perhaps he was panicking and overthinking the scenario. That he had reacted with too much panic over something nice. Something sweet in fact. He would never have assumed a rather slick move like that from someone like Shouta.
It was a strange breath of air to see the black-haired man being so sweet to him. He didn't know how to feel about it but if his friends said not to overthink this then should he? What would Shouta say if he knew that he was freaking out at just about every nice gesture done to him? That he went over their interactions a million times after they were over? That he was running around trying to find something in the hopes of finding something when there was nothing? Shouta would be in his rights to end their friendship.
And sitting in his small office reflecting on it? He knew that there was no big deal. That he appreciated that kind gesture of his but he couldn't shake that shy embarrassment he felt when he thought about it. He didn't understand why he felt the need to overthink everything with Shouta. He hadn't been this reactive in a very long time. And he knew that if he could just get past this odd embarrassment and this weird ball of emotions in his chest then he'd be fine. He was just being an overthinker. He knew it was that.
Leaning back in his chair, he lifted his hands up to rub over his face with fingers slipping beneath his glasses. Grinding fervently into his eyes with a yawn bubbling up his throat and breaking out of him despite his best efforts to swallow it down. He felt tired. He wanted to go down for a nap with the boys who had long since outgrown their napping day. It didn't stop them from sitting on the bed with him at home with the cats, him, Izuku and Hitoshi locked behind his bedroom doors. It was never that he didn't trust them to be alone.
It was a safety precaution he had when he didn't want to bother Nemuri, his sisters or Oboro. His boys were six-years-old which meant that he needed to have some precautions in place for nap time. He wanted so badly to take a nap. It had taken them about a week to get the tables in. To get the store rearranged top to bottom, and supposedly the building inspector would be coming on Thursday. Sliding his hands down, his fingers tugged at his cheeks when he managed to swallow down another yawn.
He then leaned back in his seat to gaze around his small office space. When he'd been redecorating the front room, he'd decided to finally do something about his office space. He'd never had needed to use it given how he was manning the store on his own but now that he had three workers? Well, it gave him time to fuss around with his office. He painted the walls a light shade of yellow, bought a few plants, and hung shelves up of his own personal favorite books. Something to make the space a bit more open.
Cheerful. Welcoming. His desk held his laptop, a name tag on the front of the desk with his name on it. Four picture frames of him, Izuku, Hitoshi, and one with the three of them together. His laptop sat in the center of the desk with his email up and his laptop bag resting on the floor by the side of his desk. He hadn't done much to the room given how winter would be creeping in in a matter of time. He didn't want to go crazy buying plants, even if he did have a bit of a green thumb. Plants are delicate after all.
He stared around his office with its soft yellow walls that felt comforting. A pale yellow that he adored that was like a soft candle. It was by far the best thing about decorating his office. He'd have to look into getting someone out to look at his window behind him. There was a draft that would kill off his plants with the dropping temperature and he didn't want that to happen. Not when he adored his plants. Sighing out quietly to himself, he rolled his fingers lightly over the mouse pad to open a new tab with his email.
He'd ask Taishiro first if he knew anyone who worked with windows. Or perhaps even Oboro knew someone given how he got a few contractors to make sure the tables were securely in place against the windows. He hummed quietly as his email loaded up for him to which he began to go through his emails after it loaded up. He scrolled through and began to click on the useless ads of his email that he deleted without humoring opening them. After ridding his email of the clutter, he looked over his remaining emails with a low hum.
He then closed the tab and reached out to pick up his phone. Two fifty-five. He had promised Hitoshi and Izuku that he would take them shopping today for their Halloween costumes. While he knew they'd be walking away with more than just costumes, he couldn't deny the pleading look to his sons had torn at his heart. Left him feeling saddened that they had to beg to go today. He'd brought them out the previous day to choose a handful of pumpkins that drained his wallet a bit in terms of money.
He'd promised today that not only would they go out to look at costumes but that they also would carve the pumpkins together. He'd been so busy lately he swore he was hardly home, and he felt awful for his boys. With the extended time to his opening and closing hours, he couldn't help that stab of guilt. The rush of it when he would come home to Nemuri and Oboro curled on the couch and both boys in bed already. He had to rectify it. He was hardly a workaholic but he couldn't deny he'd been busy this week.
And he had to admit to himself that he misses playing with them in the backyard. When he would lay them down for bed. That he missed their giggles and squirms beneath the blanket with feet kicking up when he ordered them to go to sleep. There was nothing more he wanted than to be a good father to both of his sons. He didn't want to be negligent. He didn't want to be missing these nights and their developmental steps. They were growing faster than he liked and that was just the way of all children.
They grew in the blink of an eye it seemed. He was going to have to measure them when he got home; their heads rested against his waist rather than his hips. They were growing fast. He wanted nothing more than to relish the time he had with his six-year-old sons before they grew up on him. Children grew up fast; that much he knew from his experiences with Hitoshi and Izuku. With Eri. Children seemed to flourish quickly as they grew and he knew that the boys weren't going to change in a week, he felt desperate to be more active.
They were always running out to his mothers' home or to play with friends at their home. He'd been more than delighted to welcome them home after their night at his mothers' home and God knows he adored playing with them. He wanted nothing more than to be a present father and he liked to believe that he was. But he was letting himself get all tied up in his back and forth wonderings over Shouta. The time he spent at work while they were in school or the late nights he was pulling just to make sure he had no work.
Doing his best to make sure that everything was in order for the next day. To make sure his schedule was clear as possible so he could spend time at home without worrying. So, if to be present he was going out shopping with his boys then so be it. He wasn't going to deprive all of them of a good time this afternoon with carving and costume shopping. Especially when he could effortlessly place his trust in Taishiro's hands for the remainder of his shift. Trust him enough to go ahead and lock up the store for him tonight.
There was so much on his plate that it left him exhausted by the end of the day. He'd much rather be physically exhausted to the point that he was knocking out when his head hit the bed than let himself be emotionally exhausted. He didn't know what to do with himself half the time to shake the feeling plaguing him. That pesky emotion that told him that he was hyper fixating on the odd emotions he felt when he was around Shouta. He wanted to stop hyper-fixating on them but he felt helpless against it.
Like he couldn't stop. When he was a child, back before he had been diagnosed with ADHD, he had always had a problem regulating his emotions. His schedules and train of thought. He'd always had a problem with focusing too little on one thing and too much on an unrelated thing. He had suffered a few years like that; making his anthills, his molehills and mountains. He'd always been too worried about how he felt; if the emotions he felt were genuine or fleeting. But once he had been diagnosed? Seen a therapist?
He had been put on a medication that helped solve his problems. That helped him to focus on the right things rather than the things that had nothing to do with a situation. It kept him from making up scenarios at night that often left him teary eyed and whimpering into his pillow. As an adult, he had more tools than he knew what to do with when it came to managing his anxiety. His wild emotions that often clawed through the effect of his medication. He knew he was anxious he would do something wrong.
Say something wrong to Shouta. He didn't know what his emotions were outside of joy and delight when he was talking to the black-haired man. Even his boys seemed to like Shouta very much when he came round or when they heard him on the phone. It was like they had a new Uncle that they wanted to talk to whenever they had the chance too. It was unbearably sweet. But he wished he could understand why it was that he was so fixated on one man like this. What about his emotions that left him twisted up.
He couldn't help but wonder if it was because he indeed found him attractive. Handsome. If he was just being overly friendly to keep Shouta as his friends. He didn't think he had romantic feelings for him but there was something that for the life of him he couldn't detangle. He couldn't understand what that ball of emotion was in his chest when he saw the black-haired man. Or when he was talking to him on the phone. Texting back and forth. He thought about calling up his old therapist to see if he could help.
After all, his therapist had helped him through his few years of alcoholism. To see if a professional could help him figure out the emotions that seemed to ball up further in his chest. It wasn't healthy to sit around pining over one man, was it? He had his life to live. He has his store to run. Both of his children need his love and attention to grow up healthy boys with easy understandings of love. Healthy relationships. He was twenty-six-year's old; when was he going to stop acting like a teenager with a crush?
He couldn't moon over every man that treated him kindly, he knew that, and yet it didn't stop him from turning red. From blushing at the memory of that afternoon when he'd been given Shouta's coat. What he'd give to lean in to smell that musky vanilla cologne of his one more time. One more time to act foolishly before he decided to be an adult. He and Shouta were friends. He'd known the man for three months! How could he have this unnamable, choking ball of emotions that he couldn't understand?
What did he say to something like that? How did he go forward knowing that this ball of emotion seemed to grow bigger each time he interacted with Shouta? Would Nemuri understand? Would his mothers? He had been told not to overthink it, but he found himself all twisted up the further he thought on it. He couldn't deny that he liked the reprieve he had while he was working as it kept his hands busy. His mind busy. There was no possibility for him to think about something when there were other things that needed his attention.
When he was helping scrub Hitoshi's indigo locks or Izuku's green curls when they were in the tub. When his sons needed his attention more than some silly emotions he felt. When he was stacking the newest shipment of books onto the shelf with Taishiro or one of the younger employees working with him. He was more than determined to keep himself busy, so he didn't think about it. If he didn't think about it, then it wouldn't grow complicated. The roots he felt taking form in his chest would shrivel.
They'd diminish slightly if he could just keep himself busy with the work routine he had for himself. He just had to keep himself busy. He needed to step from that unnamable bunch of emotions in his chest and take a deep breath. And yet he couldn't shake the fear that no matter what he did that it would lead to the same thing. He would be sitting up, picking at his lips and nails trying to figure out that ball of emotion. To figure out why he was stressing out over one man when he had more important things to do.
No matter how hard he tried not too, he'd found in the past three months that Shouta cropped up effortlessly in his mind. He didn't' need to be actively thinking about him to know that one way or another Shouta would come to mind. He didn't understand why it was like this; why he thought so heavily on Shouta, but he did. The black-haired man came so easily to mind that he found himself thinking on what they'd talk about next. What they would do. He felt like tongue tied when he tried to rationalize their friendship.
That ball of muddled emotions was indecipherable. He was drowning trying to figure out how he felt about Shouta but why did he want to focus so heavily on it? Why did it matter how he felt when he had fun with him? He felt good. He felt like he had a good friendship going like he did with Nemuri and Oboro. In as little as three months Shouta Aizawa was quickly becoming his best friend. And he liked that Shouta quickly becoming another best friend. He was clearly close to Nemuri and Oboro which brought the group full circle.
Who cares if he felt like he was riding the fence line of uncertainty of that unnamable ball of emotion? He liked talking to the black-haired man so why was he trying to complicate it when it didn't need to be? After all, anyone can have a best friend who they feel closer to than anyone, can't they? He could feel far more comfortable around Shouta the way he did with Nemuri and Oboro were, couldn't he? He shifted in his chair with a squeak leaving it much to his surprise when he pushed away from his desk as he shut the laptop screen.
Grabbing the laptop, he slid over to grab the laptop bag he had half leaning against his desk on the floor. He lifted it up onto the desk where he slid the laptop into the bag then turned in his chair to unplug the charger. Pulling the warm brick up into his hand, he wadded the wire up carefully then slid it into the bag with his laptop. Grabbing at the small zipper, he zipped it shut quickly then opened his top drawer where he kept his wallet and keys. Standing up out of his chair with a buckle, he reached in for his wallet.
Slipping it into his back pocket, he slipped his finger into the metal loop of his motorcycle keys that he gave a playful spin. He walked around his desk to his heavy coat he had hanging up on the wall with his bike helmet. Soon enough it'd be too cold to ride his bike and he wanted to make the most of it. He slid his arms into the sleeves of his coat and zipped it up when he grabbed his helmet off the wall. Walking back to his desk, he scooped his phone up into his pocket when he took a deep breath as he glanced around his office space.
He wanted to do something more with it. Maybe Izuku and Hitoshi would have ideas for it when he brought them here to see it. He smiled softly at the thought as he placed his helmet down briefly. Grabbing at his laptop bag, he swung the strap over his head to his left shoulder. Fussing with the placement of it across his chest, he then fussed with his coat zipper. Tucking it up close to his throat as he could get it to ensure he'd stay somewhat warm on his drive home. God, where had summer gone? How did it leave so fast?
After all, there was nothing he adored more than riding on his bike. It was his favorite option when he didn't have to drive the car around town. But with fall in full swing, winter wouldn't be far behind it. Soon enough the roads would be too wet and the air too cold for him to ride his bike without bulking up and God knows that was insufferable. He was sure that he could live through the winter without his bike, but he'd be itching for it. He had to make the most of his bike now before it was too cold. Too wet.
The last thing he wanted was to possibly wipe it out while he was on it. It was a birthday gift from Nemuri and Oboro and he planned to keep that bike in as pristine condition as he could. It was his pride and joy. It was third on his list after Izuku and Hitoshi. He fussed with his strap placement once again when he scooped up his phone and helmet. He then walked out across the room with his helmet swinging from his hand as he checked his phone quickly for texts. To make sure to answer now before he hopped on his bike.
Anything from Nemuri, Oboro, or Shouta only to find none. Good. He slid his phone into his back pocket when he reached out to tug open the small door of his office and stepping into the break room. From his angle he could see Taishiro chattering cheerfully to a customer who giggled at the blonde before he caught the jingle of the doorbells. When he had first met Taishiro, he couldn't deny that he'd been a bit skeptical. He worried. After all, the man was only twenty five and he himself twenty-six-year's old.
He had half expected problems from the other blonde. He half expected a tension given he was only one year older than Taishiro, but the man seemed cheerful. Happy. Willing to listen to his opinions and him to his. Hell, it was Taishiro's suggestion to decorate the shop! He was only glad they didn't butt heads but to be fair? The other blonde was sweet. Cheerful. He was adorable and he absolutely loved having Taishiro around the store when he was in. The other blonde was like a hungry little sun spot.
Honestly, if he had the chance too, he was sure Taishiro may just be his type. Even if he was on the bigger side, he couldn't deny that the man was attractive. To be attractive was a matter of preference to the one gazing at them and who was he to be stingy over some rolls? A big belly? If anything, it merely made Taishiro who he was and he had been nothing short of delighted to be talking to the other blonde when he had the chance too. Another friend in the making if he was honest with himself and he loves it.
It had him smiling to himself when he fussed with his strap again, his keys held securely in his hand when he made his way across the break room. Taishiro turned to look over only to beam brilliantly at him. A wide, sweet smile that had him smiling back instinctively at the other blonde. He'd have never thought that he'd find himself wanting to be friends with a man more. He was loud, boisterous, but so unbelievably sweet when given the chance. He was also, apparently, friends with the Kirishima's and another family.
He couldn't recall their name, but they were also another member of the mom group that he'd yet to meet. He made his way around the larger blonde who happily squished himself forward far as he could without being in his way when he found himself wavering. Hesitating when he faced the door where his bike was parked outside. Glinting with the sunlight shining down on it with leaves scuttling over the sidewalk. He turned to Taishiro who was staring at him curiously with those large yellow eyes of his.
As if he were waiting for him to say something to him. And his lips were parting silently. What did he want to say? He didn't want to have another talk about Shouta. He'd had so many in the past two weeks that he felt himself burning out trying to figure his feelings out. Like a dog chasing after their tail, they would eventually catch it, or they would tire of it. And when was the last time he interacted with any of his friends without worrying about it dissolving into a talk about Shouta? It had been quite a while.
He really ought to limit it before Nemuri assumed he was in love with him. Before he felt himself burning out from a friendship that he truly did adore having with the black-haired man. He would ruin it all if he didn't stop doing what he was doing. And he cleared his throat, licking his lips before placing his helmet on the edge of the counter. Then he smiled at the larger blonde who blinked at him again curiously. Wide yellow eyes flicking over him before flicking to the door that jingled open with a small group of customers.
"Hey, I just want to check in and make sure that you're doing okay. I know this isn't the toughest job in the world, but I just feel the need to check in with you now and again, you know? I'm gonna be checking in on the other two when they're working too. I don't want to be some distance, dickhead of a boss somehow, you know?" Shifting slightly in his place, he then cleared his throat before smiling softly at the man. "I know this is an easy job but still, I like to check in on you guys to make sure everything is alright."
Taishiro blinked at him again before smiling at him with that soft sweetness to get him smiling back. God, the large blonde was too friendly for his own good with those smiles of his. Maybe if he wasn't so damned wrapped up in his weird feelings for Shouta, he should pay closer attention to his employees. His kids. God, he was a mess, wasn't he? "You're not a dickhead boss! If anything, you're very kind to your workers but I'm doing alright! Looking out for the younger ones when I possibly can, you know?"
"And I appreciate you doing that for me, Taishiro." He then paused before he reached up to nudge his glasses up. It was never the smartest to have his glasses on when he rode and would rather wear his contacts, but they were always a pain in the ass to put in and take out. But he should get in the habit of wearing them now and again, shouldn't he? "I'm glad to hear you're doing alright, though. I appreciate you more than you possibly know. Honestly, I can't imagine having better employees than I do right now."
"Aww, thank you! Oh! By the way, I didn't mean to snoop but these were sitting in the printer tray, so I gathered them up for you!" The other blonde turned away then held up the stack of his pamphlets he'd printed out waiting to be folded. His face flushed with a rush of warmth when he shifted his laptop bag to unzip it then take it from the blonde holding them out to him. That sweet smile curled on his lips as he worked his stack of papers into his bag before zipping it up again. "I hope that was alright?"
Fuck. There was no way Taishiro didn't gather these together and saw the transgender headliner on it. There was no way he didn't read it out of sheer curiosity. There was no way. He shifted before drumming his fingers nervously on his helmet and the edge of the desk when he took a breath. Might as well get this out of the way before they went any further as employee and boss or as friends. Bite the bullet with one and it might come easier with the others. "Does-Does it bother you? What's on the pamphlets?"
Taishiro blinked at him. Tilting his head slightly to the side with a waver to that smile before it dropped slightly into a crooked smile as blonde brows squeezed together. The other blonde then turned to face him with an arm braced on the counter. "Does what bother me? I mean, I feel it should bother you given that I basically scooped up personal papers without really thinking about it. If anything you should be rightly upset with me but what about the pamphlets are supposed to upset me?"
"That I'm trans? I just, um, would like to know now if it's going to bother you at all that I'm a transgender person because not everyone is cool with it, you know? And I'd like to know ahead of time if you're uncomfortable with that before going forward, alright?" Babbling. He was babbling rather nervously as he rubbed the pads of hsi fingers over the smooth helmet beneath it. He felt half ready to run out the door before he got that answer when Taishiro's smile returned. "So does that bother you at all, Taishiro?"
"It doesn't bother me one damn bit, Hizashi." He blinked at the other blonde with a shift in his chest. Like he was wheezing out, finally letting out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. He let out a breathless laugh then when the other blonde smiled softly at him. "That's your business. I apologize, though, for reading it but I think they're very nice if you're going for the casual angle for it! But no, it really doesn't bother me! I mean, it doesn't change who you are to me, you know? We're friends at this point, right?"
Letting out a wheezing laugh, he leaned forward with his forehead pressing to the back of his hand. He hadn't thought of coming out to Taishiro. He was right, after all, that they'd talked enough in both a professional setting and a casual, friendly one to be seen as friends now. And he hadn't thought once of coming out the other blonde but now that it was known? And he didn't care? He lifted his head up with a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, we are friends! Thank you, Taishiro! I haven't come out to anyone since I was a teen."
"Oh, I understand that! I was only one year under you, remember?" Taishiro then chuckled when he straightened up and leaned against the counter with his free hand now rather than on his arm when a sparkle formed in yellow eyes. An amusement to them that had his heart jumping in his chest when he smiled back. "I never knew you were transgender but again, it changes nothing. You're Hizashi and I'm Taishiro. You're my boss and friend. Besides, I don't see why my view should change about you."
"You never know with people and what they're views on the LGBTQ community is like, you know? But I appreciate you, Taishiro, more than you realize. I wasn't expecting to come out to anyone today but honestly this could've gone worse!" He then shifted as he tugged his helmet off of the counter to tuck beneath his arm with a sigh as he then reached down to adjust his back against his thigh slightly when he smiled at the other blonde. "But I'm glad you're cool with it! I mean, if you know me as a man then why should-"
"What's in your pants matter? It doesn't. You're a good man, Hizashi, and I think you need to focus on that more." Taishiro then glanced over when that small gaggle of customers came shuffling around the end of an aisle and he smiled at him once more. "I respect you, no matter how you present. You're a good person and I'd love to hang out with you properly! But why don't you head out? I thought I heard you mentioning getting home early to be with your kids. I can handle the store for the rest of the night!"
"Alright, just remember to count out the till tonight before closing up, okay?" Taishiro nodded at him then to which he smiled before turning away when he began making his way across the store with light thuds of his boots over the wooden floor as Taishiro cheerfully greeted the group. Tugging open the door with the bells jingling, he lifted his helmet up with a deep breath before sliding it on with a grunt. Walking over to his bike, he swung his leg over his seat, and he settled onto his bike with the keys held tightly to his palm.
Time to head home.
"I'm Superman, Dad!" He glanced over with a smile as he fussed with the tube of spiders, he'd been putting off for a damn week now. Standing on a small step ladder before the boys door, Izuku ran about his bedroom in his new Halloween costume. He'd chosen a Superman costume that he had refused to let go of when they were in the store. Carrying it all the way to the car then demanding to be put in it. It had him smiling when his son stopped before him with his cap thrown out as he lifted his arms.
"And I'm Batman!" And God if it didn't have him smiling wider when Hitoshi popped into view in his Batman outfit. Generic, American super hero's that the boys had insisted upon as his son adjusted his batman mask slightly. They were utterly adorable. He wanted to take pictures and post them online for his family to see but he refrained. Halloween would be better. "Do you like our costumes, Dad? Did you get a costume for yourself? Are you gonna dress up with us?"
"Of course I am! I'm not going to be a hero but that's okay because I have two of the best hero's right here!" Oh, it had Izuku and Hitoshi beaming with delight as they bounced on their toes before they took off running around their room; bouncing onto their bed with giggles of delight. The smell of cooking pumpkin seeds filled the house like a thick fog that had him inhaling deeply as he plucked the spiders one at a time to put into the cobweb. God, they were fucking freaky looking. He hated it.
But he kept tucking them into the cobwebs carefully as he made his way across the top of the doorway before making his way down the left side with a hum. His boys wanted spiders then he'd give them spiders, but God knows what he'll do if he looks under his bed one day and finds a glowing spider beneath it. Hitoshi came running past the doorway with his own cap fluttering with a giggle with Izuku hot behind him before he stopped to look up at him. "We're gonna put the candles in the pumpkins tonight, right, Dad?"
"Yes! We'll go down and do that as soon! When I'm done getting the spiders up, we'll go back down, okay?" Izuku nodded before taking off again with a flap of his superman cape to chase after his giggling brother leaving him to hurry along with his task. Quick but careful. He hated the sight of them, and he knew it'd spook him when he was walking out of their bedroom tonight after putting them down. It had him flinching when he worked two spiders into the cobwebs quickly when Hitoshi came to a stop before him.
"Okay! What are we having for dinner tonight?" Tiny hands came up to grab onto his waist with purple eyes widening behind that batman mask. It had him smiling down at his son who held onto his waist fervently when he popped up onto his toes with a whine when Izuku came up behind him with wide green eyes. He knew what was coming. He just knew it and it had him chuckling. "Can we get pizza? Please, Dad? We never get pizza! I want pizza tonight and so does Zu! Please? Please, please, please? Pleeeaaaaaaassseeeee, Dad?"
"Geez Louise, Toshi, I haven't even given an answer yet!" He grinned down at his wide eyed sons staring up at him pleadingly with lower lips jutting out which had him snickering. Did they have this planned out? Or did this come on the spur of the moment? He reached up to work a few more spiders into the webbing as he finished trailing them down the right side of the door. It'd be fine not to slave over a hot stove, right? "Fine, fine! Put those puppy dog pouts away! We can get pizza tonight! So long as you try the pumpkin seeds!"
"Okay! Okay, let's go downstairs, Zu!" Hitoshi then squeezed past him to run down the hallway in a flurry of thuds when Izuku squeezed past him as well. Flying after his brother who was rushing down the stairs carefully together and he couldn't help grinning at his sons. He opened the second tube after letting the first drop to the floor empty. It'd be a fun toy for the cats to bat around. Opening the second container, he reached in for those glowing spiders and began to work on the left side of the door frame.
He'd been so painfully tempted to call and ask Shouta to come over to do this for him. He'd been horribly tempted. But he didn't want to cause much more of a ruckus when the black-haired man said he had a rough day at work today. He did pry but Shouta had told him that he was drinking himself stupid tonight and would show the students a movie tomorrow. He had a good giggle over that, but he decided he'd keep to himself for today. Let Shouta text him when he wanted. "Daaaad! Come on! Me and To are hungry!"
"I'm not the one who told you to run downstairs now am I?" He shouted back as he worked a few spiders into the cobweb with a hum as he moved his trembling fingers quickly. Anything to get the task over with as he made his way down the right side of the door successfully. Spiders intertwined cautiously into the cobwebbing when he capped the canister of the glowing spiders. Throwing it in onto Hitoshi's bed, he stepped off his stool then bent over to fold it up before making his way down the hallway.
Finding a pairs of wide eyes staring up the stairs as he stepped down onto the small landing before them. Chuckling softly, he began to make his way down the stairs with muted thuds as the boys rushed back to give him space. Making his way down the hallway, two small pairs of feet chased after him as he entered the kitchen. Watching as he placed the stool down beside the small gap of the fridge and cabinet. "Hey, Dad, when do you think Mister Aizawa is gonna come over again? Or Auntie Nem?"
Smiling down at Hitoshi when he spoke up, he reached down to ruffle those soft, wild indigo locks of his. Sliding his other hand over green curls when small hands grabbed at his shirt when small feet then balanced onto his feet. Chuckling, he began to waddle in an easy side to side motion around the fridge to the small hallway of his. "Well, Auntie Nem is coming over with Uncle Oboro to see you both before we go trick or treating! And I don't know when Mister Aizawa will come over again."
"I hope he comes back soon! I found a toooon of cool rocks at school that I want to show'im!" Hitoshi clung to his waist much like Izuku as he made his way down the hall into his bedroom. It was honestly sweet that the boys were slowly but surely warming up to Shouta better than the first time they'd seen him. They were wary around him, but rocks seemed to be the basis of their acknowledgement towards the other man. "I wanna show him all my rocks, it's no fun when I show you, Dad! You never act surprised!"
"Of course I do! I love you guys' rock collection, you know that! I'd love to see your rocks!" He smiled down at Hitoshi who merely pouted up at him before they stepped off of his feet and arms slid from around his thighs. He made his way forward to the dresser where his phone was sitting on it. Pressing the power button, he found notification texts from Nemuri, Oboro, Taishiro and surprisingly of all, Shouta. "Alright, why don't you guys go take your costumes off for me? I'll keep them safe in my closet, okay?"
"Do we have too?"
"If you want pizza, you'll go take'em off and get in your jammies!" ⭐
Oh, the pouts on his sons faces before they stomped out of his bedroom was absolutely precious. They rushed off with fluttering caps that had him smiling with that surge of adoration as they flew out of his room. Stomping down the hallway with all the weight a pair of six-year-old's could muster. Turning his attention back to the phone in his hand, he unlocked the screen when he opened the Domino's app for them. Humming when he turned to sit on the edge of his bed when his phone pinged again.
Quickly putting in an order for two large pizzas, he grabbed a dessert choice of brownies before placing the order for delivery. One he had the order put in, he dragged his thumb down the top of the screen to glance over the texts for him. One from Taishiro letting him know that counting the till had gone smoothly. That he'd locked up the shop after making sure the back window and the door to his office was shut. That everything was securely locked before heading out and that he would see him tomorrow.
He sent a quick text to the other blonde thanking him for his diligence to make sure that everything was in order before leaving. He was thinking of giving Taishiro that manager role lately; something that he was sure to talk over with Nemuri and Oboro about how to approach and how to go about it properly. However, he was resolute in bumping up Taishiro in a few months time if he continued on being so diligently. He was going to talk it out with Oboro about pay raises anyhow within the next six months for his other two employees as well.
It was definitely something he didn't want to be stingy or overgenerous with. He hummed quietly under his breath when he closed out the texts with Taishiro to instead tap on the notification for his texts with Nemuri. He smiled at the first picture to pop up on his screen was her elderly cat, Sushi. He was curled up on Oboro's chest with the blue-haired man beaming up at the camera with rich blue locks of hair spread over the pillow he laid back on. A second picture was of a big bumble bee from her front door camera with laughing emojis.
It had him snickering again as he replied with a few laugh emojis of his own when he then closed out the texts. And he was left hovering over the notification for Shouta. Why was he hesitating? There was no need to hesitate, was there? It was a bit odd but he felt nervous. Especially after the grumpy, snappish tone that Shouta had used earlier. Something he'd apologized for before going on to explain it as stress from his day. And he had accepted his apology but he was still wary. Like he was indeed walking on thin ice.
He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip when he then tapped on the notification which opened up into a picture as well. It loaded for a moment and then he was looking at Eri in the arms of a with black, wavy hair with wide light brown eyes. Eri looked utterly delighted with small hands holding onto the woman's shirt as she beamed at the camera. Showing off the teeth growing in. Spots of pink on her cheek giving her an adorable appearance that had him smiling down at his phone. An affectionate warmth flickering in his chest.
She had on what looked like a cute little pink onesie that had small bones along the wrists and feet. One tucked against her throat that no doubt hid the zipper away from her small hands so she couldn't unzip herself. She looked positively delighted to be in her aunts arms with sparkles in those wide red eyes of her as wisps of curls brushed the tops of her ears. She wasn't the baby he'd seen in his shop three months ago but rather a small toddler now. She was growing up much too fast for his liking; just like with Hitoshi and Izuku.
And he found himself adoring the picture before him. Small dots danced along the bottom of his screen when a text came in explaining it was his younger sister picking Eri up. He already had the suspicion that his sister would take his daughter if Shouta was going to get "black out drunk" tonight. He hadn't asked how rough his day was but he had enough to go off the tone of Shouta's texts to know that he was fried. That whatever had eaten up most of his concentration and his patience seemed to be thinner.
That much had been blatantly obvious as it lead to shorter, terser text messages. Clumsily worded messages that had his head aching to piece apart when they came in. He had no doubt that the work of a teacher was just as demanding as running his own shop. The only difference was he was his own boss. Shouta had a whole board of bosses who could easily give or take away his job. He could only imagine the pressure a situation like that made for the even tempered Shouta. For the man who seemed to have a good patience.
He knew the man had a crackling mean side from the few calls he had with Oboro when the man was hanging out with Shouta. It was as if he had a never ending patience when he was talking to Shouta but lately it felt like he was walking on thin ice. Save for the sweetness of him handing over his coat, he could see work was riding on Shouta. It was there in the shortness of his texts. In the way he seemed to be easily irritated when they talked over the phone. In how he talked about his day. How tired he sounded.
He wanted to do something that would help Shouta out but he didn't know what to do for his friend. What did or didn't he say? What did he do or didn't do to help him out? He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip as he stared up at the ceiling above him when he lifted his phone up again. What did he say to Shouta? What did he do to make sure he didn't irritate him further? Or was Shouta already drinks in? He had mentioned something about shots in his fridge he'd be starting out on with from their texts earlier.
And unlocking his phone screen to the text chats with Shouta, he sent back a decent enough message. Something with the right tone of affection and concern he hoped to strive for. He then scrolled back up in the chat away from those bouncing dots when he looked at the picture once more. No, gawking would be more accurate, wouldn't it? He stared intently at the picture again to look over the woman. And he could see similarities between Shouta and the woman; the thick lashes, the high cheekbones.
A sharp jaw. The black color of her hair that fell in tight waves rather than curls like Shouta. The only difference keeping them from being somewhat identical was the color of her eyes. A light, clear brown. That was his younger sister? She all but glowed in the picture with that wide, adoring smile on her lips that was echoed in those light brown eyes of hers as she held Eri close. She looked beautiful. That had to be the one thing that was slipping him up, wasn't it? That this unnamed woman shared a beauty with Shouta?
A beauty that had his heart skipping in his chest at the similarities? He felt awed at the sight of it when he then scrolled down to type out a response to Shouta quickly before scrolling back up to that picture. Why did she look familiar? Was it just because he was seeing Shouta in her face? He tilted his head before he closed out the chat with a sigh. His sister was lovely just like him. He finally had a face to put to Shouta's younger sister. Even if Shouta only mentioned her in passing, he at least would know who she was.
He would recognize her face when he did see her in person if that ever happened. Letting himself fall back onto the bed with his arms out stretched, he lifted his left hand up to scratch at his eyebrow. He knew that while he didn't need to cook dinner that he couldn't deny a lazy night of eating pizza sounded good. He was sure that Shouta's night was going to go much, much differently than his own with him getting black out drunk. God, when was the last time he let himself get that drunk? Since he drank so heavily?
From nineteen to twenty-two? When he got himself cleaned up and registered as a foster parent? He'd been freshly sober when he took in Hitoshi which meant that caseworkers kept a scrutiny on him that had his skin crawling. But he didn't fault them. After all, he'd do the same if he was also handing over a toddler to a year sober alcoholic but he'd done it, hadn't he? But God knows he hated those nights when he'd black up. When he would wake to someone's dick inside of him or a bare breast squished to his cheek.
When he couldn't remember anything from the night before but he'd been chugging along. Forsaking it all for the rush and the idea of a sexual partner. God, how did he not catch an STD back then? A possible pregnancy? Testosterone didn't mean he couldn't get pregnant and yet he narrowly dodged all the dangers that had been told to him in school. But if Shouta wanted to get black out drunk then he hoped he had a damn good time with it. Lord knows he enjoys his occasional glasses of wine and half glasses of bourbon.
Always sipping at them when the mood struck him. Always controlled. Always aware of his own state when he was drinking. The liquor cabinet in his closet honestly acted more towards dinner parties than for himself. In the past he was sure he'd have drained his entire liquor cabinet. He just had to be thankful Nemuri all but kicked hi8m in the ass to get sober before he took that resolution to get himself clean. He wondered what it would be like to get drunk with Shouta. What would he do if he let himself get that drunk?
What would it be like to get that drunk again? He hummed to himself at the thought as his feet slid over the floor slightly when he let his eyes flutter shut with a sigh. Tapping his feet slightly when his phone pinged on the bed next to him but he happily forsake it for the moment when he opened his eyes. He wouldn't let himself get that drunk unless he was sure it was safe to do so. What would he do if he got that drunk? It had been so long since he let himself be reckless like that. It wasn't worth it at his age.
Wasn't worth it when he had two boys who needed him. Who would need him to be present rather than passed out drunk. Cleaning up vomit. The last thing he needed was to slip back into that of an alcoholic when he'd been sober from those black out nights. He'd much rather keep himself to one or two drinks a night, possibly. A drink to go with dinner if he so desired or a lazy night where he sipped at half a glass of bourbon that night he found the porn show. Something to sip on absentmindedly and let that be that.
Shifting slightly, he grabbed at his phone to check the tracker for Dominoes before groaning as he sat up. Pushing off the bed to stand up, he let himself sway absent mindedly on his feet with his glasses slipping down his nose slightly. Pushing them up, he threw his arms up over his head as he popped up onto his toes. Arching his back, he took a slow deep breath before he felt that light pop in the center of his back. Groaning at the relief, he twisted himself lazily with a few more pops and cracks running along his back.
In his knees. God, he felt too young to be having cracking knees and a cracking back. Fuck, was this a sign that came with getting closer to thirty? He hated the thought but he knew his mothers would merely wave it off as him growing ancient much to his dismay. He can only imagine what it'd be like when he was graying like his mothers. Dropping down on his heels, he grabbed his phone and slid it into his pocket with a hum. He then began to make his way across the bedroom when he made his way down the small hallway with a hum.
He knew he shouldn't indulge in ordering out too much but surely this would be fine? It's not like they'd die if he didn't cook tonight. Sometimes after a long day it was much easier to put in an order and let that be that. It had him all too delighted to have a night off away from the stove. Instead, he'd much rather get certain things ready for breakfast. Not freezing but things he could warm up when he was getting lunches done tonight. Pizza won't hurt them one night. If he was lazy once. If anything he -
"Dad! Dad, help me, I'm stuck!" He glanced over with a blink at the sight of Izuku running over to him. Green curls sticking out around the wadded-up fabric around his arms and head when he couldn't help chuckling when he reached down to help ease the shirt up and off only to find his son never took the cape off. Sighing out, he tugged the cape off his shirt then folded both up quickly with wide green eyes looking up at him when he reached down to comb his fingers through green curls.
"There you go! Next time you have to take the cape off, buddy." Ruffling those green curls, he looked up when he heard light thuds on the stairs before Hitoshi appeared at the end of the hallway with his own arms bunched up around his face and the mask he'd been wearing held by a hand. Smiling down at Izuku, he handed him his folded up shirt and cape before walking around the green haired boy down the hall to Hitoshi who whined. "My goodness, I guess I should've come up and helped you guys, huh?"
"No! We're big boys! We can do it!" Hitoshi shouted through his shirt when he took the batman mask from his grasp to set it on the heater when he reached down to help work the fabric up over Hitoshi's head. Tugging gently when his arms and head were popping free of the fabric. Just like Izuku, Hitoshi hadn't taken his cape off either. Clicking his tongue at the six-year-old who pouted up at him when he pulled the cape off the back of the shirt with a hum. "We are, Dad! We can get our jammies on by ourselves too!"
"Yeah! We can do it by ourselves!" He glanced over his shoulder when Izuku came rushing over to begin climbing up the stairs with his shirt and cape held tightly in his arms as he took the stairs one at a time before pausing in the middle with a slight pout on his own lips. It was by far the most adorable thing ever if he was being completely honest about it. Were he and his siblings like that? He couldn't remember but it was damn cute! "C'mon, To! Let's go get in our jammies and show Dad, we can do it by ourselves!"
"Yeah! We'll show you Dad that we can do it all by ourselves!" Smiling at the boys, he watched Hitoshi rush forward to climb up the stairs after his brother stomping slightly on the stairs where they disappeared quickly out of view leaving him to chuckle. Turning on his feet, he made his way back down the hallway with a chuckle as he entered the kitchen. Walking over towards the cabinet when his phone rang in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the caller ID with a skip to his heart when he squeezed at his phone.
Shouta. Was the man drinking then? Or did he merely want to call for the sake of calling? Was he tipsy enough that calling would be faster than texting whatever it was that he wanted to say? He hesitated before unlocking his phone screen then answering the call quickly with the phone pressing up against his ear. "Shouta! What's up? I thought you were going to be 'drinking yourself into a stupor and playing a video tomorrow', weren't you? You sure you're good?"
"You have a dam good memory, don't you?" He couldn't help a chuckle when he approached the counter as he reached up to open the cabinet for a cup. Pulling it down to set onto the counter, there was a chuckle on the other side of the line from Shouta who then sighed out. "But I am currently going to town on a few shots I had laying around in my fridge for quite some time. Might break out the singular bottle of wine that I got from Nemuri for Teacher Appreciation Day."
"Ooo, so you're getting fancy with your drinking, huh? There's a stark contrast between regular drunk and wine drunk, you know." Walking over to the fridge with his cup in hand, he stood before the freezer half of his fridge and pressed the button before water began to fill his cup. There was another rather lazy chuckle from Shouta when he smiled. "I'm sure you're going to have fun getting black out drunk while I'm having a little pizza party with the boys. It's faster and easier than cooking while the pumpkin seeds are in!"
"A pizza party, huh? Pumpkin seeds? I didn't know what I was going to have for dinner, but a pizza sounds good and simple enough for me to order as well." There was a shift over the line when Shouta hummed quietly before that hum came loud and clear over the speaker. "If I wasn't planning on getting black out drunk, I know I'd love to attend your pizza party. But given that the boys are still wary about Mister Aizawa, I don't think seeing me drunk will do any favors, will it? It'd probably be counterproductive."
"Absolutely not. I don't think the boys have ever seen me completely drunk let alone tipsy. I can't imagine they'd handle seeing Mister Aizawa drunk off his ass or their father for that matter!" He lifted his cup up to take a swallow of his water; anything to drown the butterflies fluttering idly in his stomach. Swallowing his mouthful, he rubbed his damp lips with the back of his hand. "But you enjoy it, seriously! Since becoming sober I've yet to have a black out night myself. I have drinks now and again but-"
"You've not been black out drunk in a while. Yeah, I get that, honestly. You know, if we ever sit down for drinks like that dinner party you can tell me to slow down. Or, like, cut down on drinking if it makes you uncomfortable if you are a recovering alcoholic." Shouta paused then when he caught a slight groan over the line. And oh, if that sound didn't get his stomach fluttering with a fury. Why? "I promise, I'm not an alcoholic but sometimes-"
"You just need to pound some drinks and black out! I get it! Trust me, I may be a recovering alcoholic, but I can handle a glass of wine or half a glass of bourbon now and again so don't worry! I promise it hasn't made me uncomfortable at all!" Shifting slightly, he took a few chugs of his water to drown that fluttering in his stomach before rubbing at his mouth when water ran down his chin. "But honestly, I can only imagine how rough it is to be a high school teacher and dealing with all of that. It has to be exhausting!"
"Oh, it's the fucking worst like you wouldn't believe! I have to deal with attitude and then there's the lesson plans that never go according to plan. It's a pain in the ass but honestly? I can't see myself doing anything different. I mean, it's not the plan, not what I wanted when I grew up but it's something solid for now. I always have retirement to look forward too." There was a sigh over the phone then when he caught the rattle of the ice against glass over the line. "Tell me, what was the job you saw yourself doing as a kid?"
"I wanted to be a super hero, of course!" A laugh burst over the line when he began to refilled his cup with a snicker of his own as he smiled. "I'm serious! I wanted to be a super hero! When my mothers told me I couldn't, I changed it to wanting to be a police officer! And then, of course, I discovered my love for books and decided to go into business and big, bam, boom I'm a bookstore owner! It's funny, isn't it, how it bounced around so wildly? What about you? What did the grumpy Shouta Aizawa want to be growing up?"
"I wanted to be a veterinarian. I wanted to work specifically as one so I could be around cats." He couldn't help a laugh of his own as he caught the quiet sound of a swallow over the line of the phone. Quiet but he managed to catch it regardless of when he pulled his cup from the freezer to lift it up. God, his mouth felt so dry. He gulped at his water before sighing out. "But instead of going for veterinary school, I went to be a teacher instead. Not that it's awful but you know, not what the dream was."
"I can get that. Sometimes the plan can go the complete other way before you know it! I mean, that's why I have a certificate for subbing rather than being a full blown teacher, you know? At least I live part of the dream as a dj on my radio show on Fridays!" He paused to take a sip at his water before shifting his weight slightly from foot to foot before swallowing. "But how are you doing? Really? I've known you for three months so I think I have a little bit of an idea when you're not doing so good, you know?"
There was a crackling silence over the phone for a moment. A subtle shift over the line when he heard the clink of ice against glass followed by the quiet sound of the a swallow when Shouta sighed out softly. "Yeah. I mean, I think I'm good but tonight just felt like a night for drinking, you know? Interacting with teenagers that either question everything or are so apathetic it makes me wonder why they come at all kind of get to me, you know? I'm so tired dealing with teenagers but it puts food on the table, you know?"
"I get that, trust me, I do. Sometimes we just gotta do what we gotta do, get through the day and put food on the table. Roofs over heads. I do what I gotta do to make sure that Izuku and Hitoshi can have a good life. You're just doing the same with Eri but if you need nights where a drink or two makes it better then hey, it's fine!" Tracing the side rim of the cup with his thumb when he shifted the phone slightly. "You're doing good, Sho. Just keep that mantra, yeah? Honestly, if you're dealing with stress, you could take a hot bath."
"A hot bath, huh? I've not taken a bath since I was a kid, Hizashi! I hardly know how to throw together a bath but I'm sure that you have something to say about that, don't you? I bet you know all about taking relaxing baths, don't you?" There was a playful tone to Shouta's voice and God help him, heat gathered in the back of his neck. Stung in the tips of his ears at the memory of his last bath when he hummed in a strained at Shouta. "Do you know about baths? You seem like you do lots of self care, don't you?"
"I know some! I can always show you how, recommend scents, and I can always come over, you know! Bring my own stuff and get a bath running for you if you'd like? I can show you how to do it?" He smiled softly at the hum that left Shouta when he rubbed the tip of his thumb against the edge of the glass when hsi face flushed slightly at the offer. "Of course, if you don't want me to do that then I can just take a video and show you! But you should start taking time for yourself, Sho, and relaxing! Seriously."
"That's not a bad idea, let me tell you what. I just don't like the idea of sitting around in my own dirty water, you know? But I suppose if you're going to show me what scents to get then I must be learning from a real teacher, huh?" He couldn't help a barking laugh at the playful tone of Shouta's when he lifted his cup up to sip at his chilled water. Anything to soothe that odd dryness to it. The butterflies making themselves known in his stomach. "By the way, I wanted to ask you-"
"Dad! When is the pizza coming?" He glanced over to find Hitoshi running down the hallway with a curious expression pinched at his little face. Rushing over in soft pink pajamas that held little cats over them with the buttons misaligned to which he chuckled when Izuku came running down in deep blue pajama's with puppies over them. Trotting up to his brother, he smiled when hands grabbed at the hem of his shirt. "Who are you talkin' too? Is it Auntie Nem? Or Uncle Oboro? Uncle Haru? Who is it Dad?"
"I'm talking to Mister Aizawa!" Gasps of delight were had when he had a low chuckle in his ear sent shivers down his back at the amusement in Shouta's voice. Shuffling over to the counter, he put his glass of water down then put his phone on speaker before putting it down. He then dropped into a squat and beckoned Hitoshi to come closer with that sparkle of curiosity to him. "Now, come here, Toshi. I think you did such a good job doing up your buttons can I help fix them for you?"
"Okay!" Hitoshi then stepped forward with small hands reaching up, but he gently coaxed them down when he made quick work of the buttons. Pulling them apart, he got the last button out then started from the bottom up. Slipping the buttons between the openings, Izuku leaned against the cabinets looking up at his phone. He hummed as he worked upwards with the buttons slipping quickly through the holes when Hitoshi also glanced at the phone when his brother spoke up.
"Hey, Mister Aizawa?"
There was a shift over the phone when the light clink of ice against glass rang out once more prompting his fingers to pause near Hitoshi's chest. "Yes?"
"When are you gonna come visit Dad again?" His face burned with a rush of heat when he quickly did up Hitoshi's shirt before reaching out to grab Izuku to drag him away from the phone when the boy whined. Squirming in his arms when he stood up and Hitoshi blinked up at him with that curious sparkle to his gaze. His face burned when Izuku squirmed in his arms again with another whine. "I just wanted to ask! Me and To got tons of new rocks we wanna show you! When will you come over again?"
"Alright! I'll talk to Mister Aizawa about it, so you two take your butts to the living room and turn the TV on, alright?" He hated the crack to his voice when he put Izuku down to which both of his sons looked up at him curiously when he walked over to his phone right as Shouta began to laugh no doubt at his panic. Taking him off of speaker, he then took a breath before sliding his hand over Izuku's hair then over Hitoshi's. "Even better, why don't you two act as a lookout for the pizza man?"
"Okay! But remember you gotta ask him, Dad!" His face was hotter than anything when Izuku widened his eyes with Hitoshi. Hands holding onto the hem of his shirt before both boys took off running across the kitchen down the front hallway before disappearing into the living room. God, his sons hardly did anything to embarrass him, but this seemed to be a new event. They weren't on friendly terms with Shouta, yet they wanted to see him? And the way Izuku asked that question? He was mortified.
"Listen-"
"Well, well, well, this certainly seems like a ploy on your part! Do you want me to come over again, Zashi?" The heat in his cheeks throbbed lightly when he groaned before slipping his hand beneath his glasses to rub his fingers over his eyes. Mortified was too tame a word to describe the embarrassment he felt twisting into him. He squatted down to curl slightly just to ease it when Shouta chuckled. "It's fine! Honestly, if you want to hang out then just ask, yeah? I can make time to bring myself and Eri over if you want to see us!"
"I want to strangle you so bad!" He hated the groan to his voice as he curled up with his hand pressing to his knees when he let his head fall forward against his knees. His glasses groaned lightly with the forced press to his knees, but he didn't mind it. Didn't pay it might when he rubbed at his eyes before sliding his hand out from beneath them. Lifting his head up slightly, his glasses fell back into place when he scowled at the floor. "I'm an adult, I can ask if I want to! No need to laugh about me being embarrassed you know!"
"But I like teasing you." He blinked when he felt a fresh wave of heat hitting his face when he there was a throat clearing over the line slightly. "I- Sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way an-and I know how you feel about jokes like that. I apologize for that, Zashi, really. I think the drinking is getting to my head a bit but even so it's not an excuse. I-I think I'll let you go, okay? I don't want- I'll talk to you tomorrow, yeah? I hope you enjoy your dinner with the boys."
"Shouta, you don't-!" The line clicked off when he pulled the phone from his ear with a groan to himself. Shouta panicked. He knew he panicked. And even with his hot face, he knew if he was just given a few minutes, they're conversation would continue onwards without that hiccup. And yet the black-haired man had hung up faster than he anticipated after such a short conversation. And it had him standing up with a sigh as he sighed letting his head hang forward. "Fuck."
"Hey, Dad! The pizza man is here! He's comin' up to the front door!" Hitoshi and Izuku shouted in unison with feet running towards him when he stuffed his phone into his pocket. Both of them came to a stop in the doorway of the kitchen with small feet slapping against the tiles. He turned to the boys with another sigh before smiling softly at them when Izuku tilted his head when he walked over with hands reaching out to slide over hair when Izuku spoke up. "Dad, you're all red! Why are you red?"
"Eh, I'll be fine! I just got a bit embarrassed, is all! For now, let's just focus on eating dinner, yeah?" He ruffled green curls and wild indigo locks before stepping between them towards the front door with small feet racing after him. Opening the door, he happily accepted the pizzas from the man with a smile. Shutting the door as he turned away, he looked down at the boys as the heat in his face began to fade ever so slightly. "Do you guys wanna watch a movie tonight while we eat?"
"Yes!" Both Izuku and Hitoshi shouted together once again as that sparkle of excitement glittered in green and purple eyes when he turned on his feet to make his way down the hallway. Both boys ran ahead of him into the kitchen as his socked feet thudded over the floor when he put the boxes on the counter. Opening the cabinet to grab the boys plates and one for himself that he sat on the counter with a clatter when hands held onto his shirt again. "Dad, did we embarrass you when you were talkin' to Mister Aizawa?"
"Not completely but I don't blame you or your brother for asking that." Looking down at Hitoshi, he slid his hand over his hair in a caress before reaching up to open the box of pizza and he began to tear them apart carefully. They never cut it through all the way but this time it was perfect. Placing two pieces on Hitoshi's plate then two on Izuku's, he loaded up three on his place before handing the boys their plates. "Now, let's go watch a movie, yeah? And if you're still hungry you can have a few more pieces, okay?"
"Okay! I'm sorry for embarrassing you though, Dad. I didn't mean too, but To has been askin' about him to me all the time! We really wanna show him our rocks!" To? That was a new nickname that Izuku had said twice now. Had he always called Hitoshi that in private? Either way it was absolutely adorable how he called his brother To. How Hitoshi called him Zu. It was by far the cutest thing his sons did and he had to admit his own nicknames for them were much beloved.
"It's alright, Izu, I don't blame you! If anything, I'll let you know when Mister Aizawa comes over again so you can show him. Now let's go, yeah? I can practically hear those bellies of yours rumbling!" He used his free hand to bend down and poke Izuku's belly causing him to giggle as he then shut the top to the remaining slices of pizza securely before turning with the boys trotting forward ahead of him. And he couldn't help but wish Shouta hadn't panicked. But he'd talk to him again soon. He knew he would.
