Work Text:
"Midoriya, you're going to take care of the next big story in the wedding category. You'll get the details on Monday." Izuku blinked in confusion up at his boss.
"Are you serious sir?"
"What, you don't want it?" Shigaraki asked with a raised eyebrow and a mean smile.
"N-no! I mean yes! I mean, I do want to do it! Thank you, sir!"
"That's what I thought. You've shown promise up until now. If you do well we'll think about given you a permanent part in the magazine." Izuku could only weakly nod his head. Still in shock, he finished his work for the day and left the office. What to do now? The normal thing would be to celebrate but even though he had been in this city for six months already he hadn't made any friends yet. He had been so busy working and trying to make a name for himself that he didn't have had the time to go out and meet people.
Sure, he could've gone out with his co-workers but some of them were giving him the creeps. Especially Toga Himiko. She always looked at Izuku as if she wanted to eat him. And he was never sure if it was in the sexual way or the Hannibal way.
He resolved to use this opportunity to try and change that. Tonight he would go dance his ass off!
It was Monday and Izuku was screwed. Sadly not in the literal way, like on Friday, but in the 'oh-shit-I-might-lose-my-job' way. The young age of 25, promoted just three days prior and now his career was over. He sat frozen at his desk, the files about the new clients still open on his desktop. He had been elated when his boss Shigaraki had told him that he was going to take over the next big story of their celebrity magazine. He was supposed to follow a famous couple in their wedding preparations, complete with exclusive content and access to the wedding.
This was a really big catch for their magazine. The story would run for several months and cover everything. Up until now, Izuku hadn't known whose wedding it was going to be. Now though...
The two faces staring back at him from his pc were none other than the famous actress Utsushimi Camie and the high-class male model Bakugou Katsuki. They were famous, they were rich and they were breathtakingly handsome. Izuku knew that first-hand, but not from any magazine or news report. No, up until three days ago he had never even seen an ad were Bakugou Katsuki had been featured in. At least not his face. Now he saw his face everywhere he went off course.
Izuku knew he should tell his boss he couldn't do the story, promotion be damned.
But if he told him that, he would need to give a good reason why and that was something he absolutely couldn't do. He wanted to avoid an awkward situation, not ruin the guy's relationship and career. Sure, if he had known the other man was engaged he would never have said yes to anything, but what was done was done. If the guy wanted to cheat that was his cross to bear. Izuku had never done anything to hurt anyone and he would continue to do so.
But that meant he had to do the story.
With a groan, he let his head fall onto his table and allowed himself to wallow in his misery for five more minutes. After that, he would've to pull on his big boy pants and deal with this.
While he was busy wallowing his thoughts drifted back to Friday night.
Trying to meet new people was terrifying. How did others do this? The bar had been a bust, only helping him in the getting slightly drunk department and so he had moved on to a nearby club to at least dance a little.
He had no problem dancing on his own. He liked to just listen to the music and let his body go with the flow, working out the stress and frustrations he often felt. It was cathartic. And sometimes someone joined him for a short while, never staying too long but always bringing their unique take to the dancefloor.
This night hadn't been different. He had danced and enjoyed himself. In the middle of a song he felt something brush against him with a bit more intent then just the usual touching on a dancefloor.
When he opened his eyes he looked at one of the most gorgeous people he had ever seen. And he had been working for a gossip magazine for the last few months, so that was saying something.
The stranger had pale, perfect skin that seemed to glow under the flashing lights. His hair was an ashen blond and his eyes were a deep crimson red. And he hadn't even looked at the rest of him.
With a smirk the blond man pulled Izuku closer to him and leaned towards his ear.
"Wanna dance?" Jesus Christ, even his voice had been pants-dropping sexy. The longer they danced together the dirtier it got. Normally Izuku wasn't one for grinding on the dance floor, choosing to rather express his feelings than his desires, but boy was he making an exception today.
He could feel the obvious hardness of the other pressing against his ass. Fueled by the alcohol and his buzzing arousal he turned around and wrapped his arms around the other man's neck, pulling him even closer. For several seconds they stared into each other's eyes, red into green, before closing them and letting their lips connect. It was like electricity was buzzing through his veins. He thought that this must be what being high would feel like, it was addicting and he couldn't get enough.
Izuku had been kissed before, had had sex before, but he had never felt anything like this. With just a single kiss his whole body felt like it was on fire and he would happily burn if it meant getting to stay close to this man for even a little while longer.
It didn't take long for them to start grinding and dry-humping each other in earnest.
Izuku was so caught up in kissing the stranger that he didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. The blond man's hand slipped under the waistband of Izuku's jeans and went to grab something that wasn't there. Confused he broke the kiss and looked Izuku in the eyes.
"You're a chick?"
"No. I'm a man," Izuku answered resolutely, not breaking eye contact. As good a kisser as the other one was he wouldn't deal with transphobic bullshit. If the other didn't want to continue that was fine, Izuku didn't want to force himself onto an unwilling party, but if he was a dick about it he wouldn't let that stand.
The blond man shrugged his shoulders and dove went right back to kissing Izuku. Huh. That was surprising. Nice, but surprising nonetheless. The next second there were no more thoughts in his head because the fingers of the other man had slipped between his folds and had begun stroking.
"Want me to stop? Or want to get out of here?"
Izuku didn't think he had ever agreed to something this fast.
The next morning Izuku woke up alone to an empty apartment, pleasantly sore and satisfied. He was a bit disappointed that he didn't get that guy's number or even his name. He had been devilishly handsome and the sex had been amazing. He wouldn't mind doing it again, but all in all, he wasn't too broken up about it. It had been a great way to blow off some steam and to celebrate his promotion. Now he could concentrate completely on the task ahead.
Boy had he been wrong.
When he arrived at the hotel where he would first meet the clients in person, he was almost sick with nerves. He needed to remain professional about this. This wouldn't be a big deal if he didn't make it one. People had One Night stands all the time. Apparently, they also cheated all the time.
Oh god, not only would he have to meet with the guy he had sex with, but he would also have to sit in a room with and look at the woman who had been cheated on. This was going to be a nightmare. How was he supposed to deal with this?
"Oi, you're blocking the fucking door." At the sound of a voice, Izuku whirled around, an apology already on his lips. But when he realized who had been the person talking he choked on air.
In front of him stood no other then Bakugou Katsuki, dressed to the nines, his arm slung around the waist of his fiance. And the look on his face was one of pure horror.
Izuku could feel all the blood drain from his face. He stuttered out a quick apology and practically ran into the hotel lobby. He ignored the questioning looks of the employees, as he ran past them to the bathroom. He hid in one of the stalls, sat down on the closed toilet seat, put his head between his legs, and tried to breathe.
He had been so wrong, there was no way in hell he could do this and not make a complete fool out of himself. He needed to call his boss and tell him he was sick or something. Let Hawks take the damn article, Izuku didn't care anymore.
The door to the bathroom was thrown open and slammed shut again. He could hear the faint click of the lock.
"I know you're in here. Come out right now or I'm going to trash this place." The deep, still unfairly sexy voice of Bakugou slammed into him like a punch to the gut. Oh god, he was going to die here.
With shaking fingers he unlocked the stall door and stepped out. Before he could even try and say anything, he was grabbed by the neck of his shirt and slammed against the wall.
"Are you fucking stalking me? How did you find me?" Furious red eyes glared down at him. "Are you here to blackmail me, is that fucking it? You trying to make some quick cash from this?"
"No!" Izuku shouted back, his own hands coming up to grab at the hands still pressing him against the wall. The thing that had been a lot of fun on Friday was now terrifying to him. "You got it wrong! I didn't even know who you were until this morning!"
"Huh? How could you not know who I am?" Was he angry for not being recognized now? Izuku could feel a bit of irritation prickling through his fear.
"Well excuse me for not knowing every celebrity there is."
"If you don't know who I am you've been living under a fucking rock." The confident look paired with that condescending smirk was unfairly attractive. But this guy needed to be nerfed.
"The look on your face when you're trying to boast is really ugly."
Bakugou's only response was a snort as he loosened the grip on Izuku's shirt a little.
"As if. I don't think I could look ugly if I tried."
"Uhu. Sure." Izuku said in the most deadpan voice he could manage.
"If you're not here for blackmail, what the fuck are you here for?" At this Izuku felt all his fears, nerves and apprehensions come back at full force. He swallowed nervously and avoided looking directly at the other man.
"I... I'm here for work." He mumbled out. "I got promoted on Friday, that's why I was out celebrating. I'm supposed to write a story about an engaged couple." It took a few seconds for it to click.
"Fuck." Bakugou released his shirt and rubbed a hand over his face. "You're with the fucking press?" Izuku nodded shyly.
"This is my first big story."
"And you're going to use this to make it big I take it? Fucking figures, a scoop like this is every paparazzi's wet dream." Scandalized Izuku looked up.
"I wouldn't do that!"
"Bullshit!" Bakugou roared in his face. "You press people are all the same! Sticking your fucking nose where it doesn't belong, making a profit out of other people's dirty laundry!"
"I've never done anything like that in my life!" Izuku screamed back. He was getting angry now and he wouldn't take this abuse laying down. It wasn't his fault this guy couldn't keep it in his pants. "When I found out who the clients were, I wanted to tell my boss I couldn't do the story. But he would've never believed me. How does it look when a rising new employee is ecstatic about an opportunity like that, just to suddenly go back on that and decline?"
Bakugou was breathing heavily while staring intently in Izuku's eyes. He did his best not to look away from that gaze. He wouldn't back down on this.
"It would look hella suspicious." The other agreed, even though he still looked livid. Izuku sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes.
"Look, I get it. This is a fucked up situation. I don't want to do this, but this is a huge opportunity for me. So I am going to go through with this. If you have a problem with this, you can call my boss and demand a different reporter. Either way, I am not going to out you, to my boss or anyone else."
For a few minutes neither of them said a word. Izuku figured it was better to wait until the other had worked through this on his own. From what he had been able to research this morning about the famous couple, he was the personification of road rage while she was an oblivious airhead. At least that's what the media painted them at. He knew this story was a big deal for both of them too. It was an effort to try and save their public reputation. So for Bakugou sending him away would be very much in character.
"Fine." The other man pressed out suddenly. "You can do the story. At least this way you're working where I can see you and if even the slightest rumor goes around I'll know who to blame."
Izuku swallowed heavily before nodding.
"Fine by me." With a last glare, Bakugou turned around and stormed out of the bathroom. Izuku took a few extra minutes to compose himself and to not arouse suspicion.
He looked at himself one last time in the mirror.
"You got this."
He had most certainly not got this.
The first month had been incredibly exhausting in so many different ways. He followed the couple while they were choosing their venue, their theme, their colors. He held several interviews with both of them, together and alone, to get a few more facts about them as people and about their relationship.
Camie was a bit of an airhead. But instead of being mean and uncaring, as the rest of the paparazzi liked to showcase her, Izuku found that she just didn't care to censor herself. She had no brain to mouth filter and was very unapologetic about it. She also had no shame. But she was someone who cared very deeply for her close friends and about the charities she supported. They spend an entire afternoon talking about the different women's shelters she had helped built.
She and Bakugou had met each other as teenagers when they were both just getting started in the business. They had dated on and off for a few years with different people between that. But since they've been steady for over a year and their parents were breathing down their necks, they decided to just get over with it and get married.
Izuku found that he genuinely liked her, even if he had to tweak a lot of the interview to make it look more like they were madly in love, instead of whatever it was that they were. Friends with benefits who wanted even more benefits? Who even knew and it certainly wasn't Izuku's business. He was just surprised that Camie was so open about it.
The interviews with Bakugou were even worse. He cursed like a sailor, had no regard for anyone's opinion, and was very, very proud, and unashamedly loud about it.
But he was also honest. A few days after starting all of this he told him that he had come clean to Camie about cheating. He didn't tell her who he had slept with, for very obvious reasons, but he had done it. The two of them had talked it over and decided to still go through with the wedding. Bakugou had shrugged and told Izuku that 'if he had to spent his life surrounded by airhead bimbos he'd at least want it to be someone who he actually could stand'.
He also had a mean competitive streak that came out one afternoon when he was shadowing the couple on one of their outings for publicity. They had agreed to a 'date' in the arcade, to showcase their young and more playful side. It also made a great opportunity for a few candid shots for the magazine.
They did get the photos but most of the time went by with Izuku and Bakugou going head to head against each other on several games, while Camie cheered for them both. This was where the nicknames started. After a severe loss on Izuku’s side, Bakugou had pointed at Izuku’s name on the screen and told him that the characters looked a lot like ‘Deku’. Izuku had retaliated at the next opportunity by saying that ‘if you couldn’t even win this children’s game, maybe it would be better for me to call you Kacchan’.
But the most surprising fact had been to find out that Bakugou was a closet nerd. His knowledge about comic books and heroes could only be rivaled by Izuku's own and they spent hours debating over different issues, when they had been supposed to select flowers.
In conclusion, Izuku found that he liked both of them and wanted to use this story to show them in the best way possible.
But that was also the main problem. Izuku liked them a lot. So he felt horrible about the fact, that he wished they would break up so that he could maybe have a chance at dating Bakugou.
Because that was the thing he realized: He wasn't only attracted to Bakugou's handsome exterior. He wanted the whole foul-mouthed, ill-tempered, intelligent, and honest package. And that was why he was screwed.
Today they would meet with the groomsmen and the bridesmaid to get a few statements from them and to start planning for the outfits. Izuku wasn't feeling well. For the last few days, he had been waking up with horrible nausea each morning and had needed to rush to the bathroom. The stress of his feelings with the stress of his job didn't seem to agree with his stomach. That was why he resolved to pick up meds on his way back home later.
The meeting happened in the same hotel where all of their other meetings had happened as well. Izuku entered the familiar room and was greeted by a wall of noise. He recoiled a bit before focusing on what was happening.
It seemed that Bakugou had started a fight with one of the other men in the room and was now being held back by two of his friends. The rest of the people in the room were either encouraging the impending violence or trying and failing to diffuse the situation. Izuku sighed. This was going to be a long day.
The solo interviews went almost too smoothly for Izuku's taste and he was a bit suspicious. He was proven right when the group interviews started and all hell broke loose. It was a good thing he recorded everything or else he wouldn't have been able to keep up with it. The topics jumped from recent gossip to past parties and jokes back to the upcoming wedding.
Right now Ashido was reminiscing together with Camie the times where the blond had forgotten to take her birth control and had thought she was pregnant. That struck a chord within Izuku.
While Bakugou was yelling about how he didn't want a bunch of kids running around anyway, nevermind what his mother wanted, Izuku had a mild panic attack.
He thought back on The Night a month ago. They hadn't used a condom. But Izuku was on T. Had been for over ten years. It was just ridiculous to even think about the possibility.
But he had been throwing up for the last few days. And his upper body had been particularly sore too. With a firm shake of his head, he shoved those thoughts in the farthest corner of his brain. There was just no way.
For the rest of the day, Izuku was able to ignore his concerns even though Bakugou kept sending him strange looks. When he was ready to leave the model pulled him aside for a moment.
"Everything alright with you nerd? You seem more out of it than usual." Normally Izuku would make a quip about the fact that he didn't know that Bakugou cared, but he wasn't feeling up to it.
"Been feeling a bit under the weather for the last few days. I'm gonna pick up some medicine and lay low this weekend. Don't worry." He gave him a small smile to reassure him. Bakugou only scoffed and looked away.
"Who's worried about you shitty nerd. I just don't want to catch whatever it is you have."
With a last smile and wave to the room Izuku left. On his way home he did stop at a pharmacy to pick up something for his restless stomach. When he walked past the pregnancy tests he hesitated. It was ridiculous. Impossible. Completely out of the question.
He bought three to be sure.
A few hours later found Izuku sitting on his bathroom floor and starring at three little plastic sticks that all said the same thing: positive.
The weekend went by in a haze. He couldn't for the life of him remember what he did. All he knew was that he had still no clue what to do about all of this by Monday.
Izuku had always known he wanted children later in life. He didn't care if they were biological or adopted. What he knew was that he always wanted to do it with a partner that wanted children just as much as Izuku and would be with him every step of the way.
Now that he was in this situation he didn't know how to react. He was in no position to raise a child. His work hours didn't allow for it, he had only just gotten a better position at work and didn't want to put that at risk. He was also still very young and unsure if he was ready for all the responsibility that raising a child would bring with itself. There was still so much that Izuku wanted to do or see. And he wasn't even going to think about the situation with the other father.
So it should be a no brainer for what he should do next, right?
Wrong.
Because a part of him had already fallen in love with the little lump of cells that was now using his body as an incubator. He was almost scared of how strong the want in him was. He wanted this child so badly he could cry with it.
He needed more time to think about this, to process it.
Of course, that was the exact moment his boss called him into his office and told him to close the door. A dark sense of foreboding fell over Izuku.
"Midoriya, we need to talk about your story."
"Is there something wrong with it Sir?"
Shigaraki crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back into his chair.
"No, there isn't. And that is exactly the problem." He kicked his legs up on his table. "Your story is too perfect. You depict this happy couple with no flaws whatsoever. It's sickening. Where's the drama? The dirty laundry? Our readers don't want to know how perfect the celebrities are, they want to see the dark side of fame. I need you to give me all the material you gathered and give it to me. I'll take a look through it and we're going to spice up this article."
Izuku could feel himself freeze up. His boss wanted to ruin the reputation of Camie and Katsuki on purpose? He hesitated before answering.
"I don't think I'm comfortable with this."
"Well, that's unfortunate Midoriya. If that's the case there's only one other option really: I'm going to fire you and confiscate all of your material. It's your choice."
"You can't do that," Izuku whispered.
"Oh, but you'll find out I can. And even if I couldn't, you have no way to prove otherwise. It's completely in my right to fire you without reason with your... condition." He gave Izuku a deliberate once over to make sure his point had gone across.
"I'll give you until tomorrow to decide. You can go." And with a dismissal wave of his hand, Shigaraki threw him out of his office.
Izuku power-walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. Then he started to cry. Big, heaving sobs that wracked his whole body. It was all too much. The threats from his boss, his feelings for Katsuki, the entire situation with the baby. He didn't know what to do. He just knew one thing he needed to do. He pulled out his work phone and dialed a number. After the third ring, someone picked up.
"What do you want nerd? We're not scheduled till Wednesday."
"Katsuki." Izuku could almost hear the other one freeze.
"What happened?" The tone was hard and cold and dead-serious.
"I need you to meet me somewhere. There's something I need to talk to you about."
They met in a children's park, far away from the heart of the city. Katsuki had made sure that he wasn't followed by paparazzi. He was wearing a dark beanie, sunglasses, and a face mask to hide his identity.
"So, can you finally tell me what was so damn important that you couldn't tell me over the phone?" They sat together on a bench in the shadows of a tree. It was starting to get cold outside, so the park was deserted. Izuku took a deep breath before he started to explain about his meeting with Shigaraki this morning. When he was finished Katsuki stood up and started pacing while furiously cursing out Izuku's boss.
He was raging about 'fucking sleazy blood-suckers' that 'got off from ruining other people's lives' and threatening to ruin their business for trying to blackmail Izuku into complying. Izuku just watched him in silence and let the warm feeling erupting in his stomach wash over him. He had made his decision.
What was a job anyway? Izuku had never wanted to be a writer for a gossip magazine. He wanted to write about things that he was passionate about. But he had been new in the city and desperate for money and connections so he took it.
"Katsuki." He interrupted the furious blond. Again the other man completely froze and looked at him like he couldn't believe his ears. Izuku realized that he had called the other man by his first name to his face and felt his face flush.
"Sorry, I meant Bakugou. I just wanted to tell you about all of this so they can't lie to you about it later. I have a plan but if it fails I didn't want you to think I would write something like this about you and Camie."
Katsuki scoffed and crossed his arms. "As if you could ever write a mean thing about anybody nerd. You're such a fucking goody two shoes."
"Well excuse me for trying to be a good person."
"You're forgiven."
"Haha, you're so funny." Even though he couldn't see his face through the disguise Izuku knew the other man was smiling just as wide as he was.
"Well, what kind of plan do you have? Let's hear it, nerd." Izuku only shook his head.
"It's better if I don't tell you. If they try to sue me you won't be dragged into it."
"What kind of crazy bullshit are you planning that could get you sued?"
"Not telling." He felt the smile fade from his face as he thought about what he had to do next.
"There's something else I need to tell you." Katsuki groaned.
"Seriously nerd, what else could there even be? Did you murder someone and need help disposing of the body? I refuse to do that."
"I'm pregnant."
The silence after that statement was deafening.
"It's yours."
More silence. Katsuki still stood frozen to the spot in front of him. Izuku kept his gaze firmly to the tips of his shoes and waited for the explosion that was likely to come.
"How much?" Izuku blinked in confusion and looked up.
"What?"
"I asked how much? How much do you need to get rid of it and keep quiet?" He could only stare at the other man in horror.
"You think... I told you because of money?"
"Well, what else is there? You need money for the abortion, I get that. And there's no way I want anyone to find out about this ever. So more money. How much?" Izuku felt himself flush again, but this time in anger. He abruptly stood up and took a step closer to the other man. He pointed a finger at him and let out a growl.
"How dare you. After all this time and you still think this is about the money for me? If it were I would've told my boss everything. I could be swimming in money right now you ignorant asshole." He took a shaky breath and cursed himself for being such an emotional Cryer. "And who says I'm getting an abortion anyway? That's not your call to make."
"Yes, it is," Katsuki growled back, also taking a step closer. They now stood nose to nose and Izuku could see Katsukis furious expression through the sunglasses.
"That's the shit that ruins whole lives, not just careers. You are going to shut up and take my money and get rid of it. And after that, you will never approach me ever again." That last part was almost more of a slap to the face then the rest had been. So he never wanted to see Izuku again? That was just it?
Katsuki seemed to take his silence as agreement and took a step back. He pulled out his wallet and took out several large bills that he pressed in Izuku's hand.
"That should cover it." And he turned around and left.
Izuku stood there for a long time before he managed to pull himself together. He had a few things to do before facing his boss tomorrow.
"So, did you make a decision?" Shigaraki asked him when he entered the shared office space the next morning. Almost all of the other employees were present as well and watching the exchange. Izuku steeled his resolve and nodded. He went over to his desk and dropped a box on it.
"Here's all the material I have. All the recordings, the photos, and the videos I made." Shigaraki smiled.
"I knew you would make the right decision."
"I did. I'm quitting." With that, he also placed his work phone and laptop on top of the desk. Shigaraki only shrugged. "Suit yourself. If you can't stomach a story like this you're not cut out to be a reporter."
Izuku pulled out a few sheets of paper and laid them on top of the box. "This is for you. You should read it before you open the box. It's a copy of my contract with you. Just so you know where you stand. And have fun dealing with Bakugou-san and Utsushimi-san." And with that, he walked out. He kind of wanted to stay to see how Shigaraki would react when he opened the box and only found ash but he figured it would be safer if he managed to get some distance between them.
He knew burning everything hadn’t been a particular adult decision, but he was feeling petty.
From far behind him he heard an angry scream.
Yep, distance it was.
When he was home again he took a few minutes to let his new reality set in. He was now unemployed. He was pregnant. He was very much not thinking about the other father of his child. Fuck him anyway. He had some savings but those would undoubtedly be used for doctor's appointments and baby stuff. His apartment wasn't the biggest but it also wasn't the cheapest. Maybe he should include an apartment hunt to his list of to-do things.
Right.
Better get to it then. Before he could get started however there was a knock on his door. Confused and curious he peered through the spyhole. It was Hawks.
Izuku had never really interacted with the other man but he always had the feeling that he didn't fit with the rest of the magazine. Almost as if he was only pretending to be something he was not. Careful Izuku opened the door.
"Yo." Hawks lifted a hand in greeting. "Don't worry I'm not here on behalf of the boss. I wanted to give you this." He extended his hand where he held a business card. Izuku took it and read out loud.
"Todoroki Shouto - Owner of Hero Facts Magazine." He looked up at Hawks. "Why are you giving me this?"
Hawks shrugged his shoulders. "I like you. And I think you would fit in there. Call him or don't, it's your call. See you around Midoriya." And with that, he left.
Still confused Izuku closed the door again. Well, it couldn't hurt to google them and maybe give them a call, right?
Izuku loved his new job. It was everything he ever wanted and more. His new boss, Todoroki Shouto, had started this magazine out of spite for his father and out of love for heroes across all genres, be it comics, movies, video games, or more. Now Izuku wrote about the things he was most passionate about and was getting paid for it. Objectively it was less than before, but still enough to keep on living, especially now that he had a cheaper apartment. Coincidentally it was near the park where he had met Katsuki to tell him about his baby. It was kind of fitting when he thought about it.
Katsuki hadn't tried to contact him again. Granted it would've been hard since the only number he had of Izuku had been his work phone, which he didn't have anymore, but he knew where Izuku had lived, so he could've tried if he had wanted to.
In addition, Izuku had sent back the money he had forced on him. Three days after quitting his job and one day after his first phone call with Todoroki he had put the money in a letter and sent it back to Katsuki. Thanks to the wedding story he had been allowed to visit Katsuki and Camie in their apartment so he had their home address and didn't need to send it to his agency. He had waited two months for any kind of response, the most likely being an angry letter or call from a lawyer, but nothing had happened. So after that Izuku had terminated the lease on his apartment and moved. It had been time to try and start over somewhere else.
From what he heard from the bits of information that Hawks dropped off with him now and then, the situation at his old job had worsened. In the beginning, they had tried to send another reporter to finish what Izuku had started, but Katsuki and Camie had made it very clear that they wouldn’t work with Shigaraki anymore.
After that, his old landlord had contacted him to tell him some weirdos had tried to break into his apartment and someone else had been searching for him. But she had assured him that she hadn't given out any information and had just called the cops on them. After that, he hadn’t heard anything else anymore. But the magazine hadn’t been doing very well after that and had shortly after been shut down due to blackmailing charges.
Izuku wasn’t feeling particularly guilty about it. Hawks had found a new job with Todorokis dad - apparently, there had been a feud or something between the two magazines. Izuku wasn’t privy to the details and by the expression Todoroki wore when someone mentioned his father Izuku didn’t want to know either.
Another great point about his new work were his co-workers. Iida, Uraraka, and Asui were great people. They had already had several movie nights between each other and they had been nothing but supportive when Izuku had come out and explained about his current situation. Just yesterday Asui had texted him a picture with a tiny onesie with frogs on them.
His mother's reaction to the news had been conflicted. On the one side, she was ecstatic to become a grandmother. On the other side, she was scared for Izuku not having a partner and that she was so far away. But Izuku had reminded her that she had managed to raise him on her own too. It might be hard but he was sure it would be worth it.
She had insisted on visiting Izuku in his new apartment and be with him for the first ultrasound of his baby. The experience had been surreal and had only strengthened his resolve in that he had made the right decision. He carried the picture around with him at all times in a notebook, where he had started to document everything important about the baby and its growth.
All in all, Izuku was happy. And he most certainly wasn't pining after someone he could never have. If he was avoiding looking at magazine ads or the gossip news then it was just because he had had enough of that at his old job.
Up until one day roughly three months after he had quit his job. He was sitting at his desk, minding his own business, and not thinking about certain people when Uraraka gasped.
"I knew it! They broke up! Iida owes me money!"
"Who was it this time Ochako-chan?" Asui asked casually without looking up from her work.
"Bakugou and Utsushimi. I knew they wouldn't go through with it. They always looked more like friends with benefits kind of deal then really in love."
Iida frowned. "But they promised to marry each other. I was under the impression you only do that when the relationship is serious."
Uraraka only rolled her eyes and patted his hand. "Oh you sweet, innocent summer child. You still have a lot to learn about the world."
"The world is a cruel and unfair place who will chew and spit you out just to take a shit in your mother's garden," Todoroki added with a perfectly blank face before taking a sip of his coffee. There was silence for a few moments.
"He's a bit confused, but he got the spirit," Uraraka said nervously.
Izuku had trouble focusing on the conversation. Katsuki and Camie had broken up? When did that happen? Why? Where they already seeing someone else? Was it the cheating that did it? With a little jolt, he forced himself to stop thinking about useless things. Even if they were broken up that didn't change a thing.
Katsuki had said he didn't want to see Izuku anymore. And he had never looked for him. So Izuku needed to get over this already. He lifted a hand to his stomach. If you didn't know to look for it (and no one did) it just looked as if Izuku had eaten a bit much. At four-month, he was barely showing. That would change soon. It was hard to get over something when a consequence of that situation was still growing inside of him. But he would manage it, he was sure of it.
He wasn’t so sure of it when three weeks later Uraraka sprinted into the break room, completely flustered and looking around wildly. When her eyes landed on Izuku who was just pouring himself some hot water for tea she practically teleported to his side and grabbed his arm.
“Woah, Uraraka-san! Be careful I don’t want to burn either of us!”
“Izuku!” She hissed through pressed teeth.
“Yes?” He was starting to get worried.
“Izuku!” She hissed with more force. “Do you know Bakugou Katsuki?!”
Izuku felt himself freeze up. So did Uraraka who still held onto his arm.
“You do! Why did you never say anything?!”
“I don’t know him!” He hissed back. “I just used to work with him! I didn’t think it was important!”
“Well, he seems to think differently! He’s here, looking for you!”
“What?!” Izuku ripped his arm out of her death grip and ran to the doorway. Carefully he peeked around the corner. His grip on the frame was so hard his knuckles turned white. Standing in their entrance was, in fact, the star of all of Izuku's dreams for the last few months, looking around impatiently.
Izuku could feel Uraraka leaning on him and peaking over his head.
“What is he doing here?!” Izuku whispered.
“I don’t know!” She whispered back. “He just asked if you worked here and practically demanded I bring you out.”
Suddenly the weight bearing down on him from above got heavier.
“What are you whispering about?” Todoroki had come out of his office and was leaning on top of Uraraka. He peeked around the corner too before whispering “What is Bakugou Katsuki doing in my office?”.
“He wants to see Izuku!” Uraraka whispered back.
“Why?”
“We don’t know!”
“Should I ask?” Izuku’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, please! But don’t tell him I am here!” Todoroki's eyes went cold.
“Do you not want to see him? Should I kick him out?” Uraraka gasped as if she hadn’t even considered this option.
“Oh my god Izuku, I didn’t even think about that when I told him that you do work here. I’m so sorry!” He waved her concerns away.
“It’s fine. I haven’t decided if I want to see him or not.”
“I’ll go talk to him,” Todoroki said before straightening up and walking out of the break room. Anxiously Izuku watched as his new boss approached his… ex-lover? Not the appropriate term, but Izuku honestly didn’t know how to put the complicated relationship the two of them had with each other.
“What are you two looking at?” Iida had come over from his desk to watch the two of them with a curious expression. Uraraka flailed a little and pulled him into the breakroom.
“We’re spying on our guest. Now be quiet!” Interested Iida took Todorokis recently vacated position.
“Is that Bakugou Katsuki?” He hissed at them. Both only shushed him and tried to listen.
“Can I help you, Sir?” Todoroki asked in his politest tone. Which, when you asked the general public, wasn’t very polite at all, but Izuku had learned to read him pretty well in the last few months.
“I’m searching for Midoriya Izuku. That round-faced woman said he was here. Tell him I’m waiting for him.”
“My face isn’t that round!”
“Shhh!”
“I’m sorry Sir if you want to talk to my employee I need to know what this is about. I can’t just let you in like that.” That seemed to rub Katsuki the wrong way. He got closer to Todoroki and gave him a fierce glare. Lesser men would have wet themselves.
“Listen here half and half, my business with him is exactly that: my business. Not yours. So get your ass in there and tell him to come out. I have shit I need to talk to him about.”Todoroki didn’t give an inch.
“Well, that’s unfortunate then. Your business with him will have to wait. He’s working right now and I don’t want you disturbing him.” Izuku could practically see the veins on Katsuki's forehead swelling.
“Oi! Izuku! Get your ass out here!” The sudden volume of Katsukis yell made Izuku and the other two who were hiding with him flinch. Todoroki had once again not moved. He did raise an eyebrow though.
“Sir, I would ask you to keep your volume down. This is a workspace.”
“Fuck you.”
“No thank you. I will have to ask you to leave though, you’re disturbing my employees.”
“Like hell. I’m not going anywhere until I’ve seen Izuku.”
“If you don’t leave I will call the police. I don’t think you would want that Bakugou-san.”
“See if I give a shit.”
“Oh my god…” Izuku whispered from behind his hands that he had pressed over his face. “What is he doing?”
“I don’t know Izuku, but don’t you think it would be easiest to just talk to him?” Uraraka seemed unsure about what to do. She glanced back outside to where Todoroki was still calmly arguing with Katsuki.
"For all of you maybe..." He straightened up and tried to arrange his clothes. He was fiercely glad that he had decided to wear a loose shirt and a hoodie today. They hid his baby bump quite well, which was what Izuku needed if he wanted to confront Katsuki. He wouldn't hide his pregnancy, but he figured it would be better for the tone of the conversation if he didn't rub it in his face.
"Here goes nothing..." He whispered before taking one more deep breath and stepping out of the break room and into Katsuki's line of sight.
The argument between the two men stopped and they both stared at him.
"Deku." At the memory of that one afternoon in the arcade Izuku's lips quirked up into a wry smile.
"Kacchan. What are you doing here?" Todoroki stepped away and with a last nod in Izuku's direction, he walked into the break room. From there Izuku could hear more furious whispers.
"Did he just call him Kacchan?!" He tuned Uraraka out as he stepped closer to the entrance.
"What do you think I'm here for you fucking idiot?" Izuku raised on eyebrow at him.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking."
"Look, can we do that somewhere without any extra trying to listen in on our fucking conversation?" Katsuki threw a glance over Izuku's shoulder. When he turned around he could see all of his coworker leaning out of the door of the breakroom, not even trying to hide anymore.
"Sure. Let's go into the hall." He walked past the blond and opened the door.
"Scream if you need anything!" Uraraka called after him. "I have the cops on speed dial!"
Katsuki whirled around, probably to give her a piece of his mind, but Izuku grabbed his arm and pulled him out into the hall after him. When he closed the door behind them he turned back around and crossed his arms across his chest, careful not to stretch the fabric over his stomach too much.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
For a second Katsuki only stared at him before he blurted out "You sent the money back that I gave you."
Izuku nodded. "I did. Three and a half months ago. I told you I didn't want any money from you."
"So you didn't go through with it?" Annoyed Izuku rubbed his brow.
"Didn't go through with what? You need to give me a little more than this Bakugou." He didn't see the small flinch from Katsuki at his given name.
"I want to know if you did get an abortion or not you fucking asshole." The blond practically snarled at him. Izuku tensed up before glaring at him.
"No, I didn't. I told you I wouldn't, again three and a half months ago." At that Katsuki's eyes snapped to his stomach. He looked at it with an intensity as if he had x-ray vision and could see straight through his clothes and skin, down to the baby itself. It was silent for several moments, where Izuku shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and Katsuki continued to stare at his stomach. Then he nodded and looked back up.
"I want in."
Izuku just stared at him. That had been the last thing he ever expected to hear from the other man. He needed a few seconds to regain the use of his mouth, which had fallen open in shock.
"Why?" His voice sounded choked up, courtesy of so many feelings that statement had invoked in him. There was a lot of anger, disbelieve, uncertainty, and sadness, but also hope, joy, and a little bit of something that might be love.
"Because it's my fucking kid," Katsuki replied easily, almost as if they were just having this conversation over tea and not three and a half months too late.
"It's not," Izuku answered in a heated tone of voice. "It's mine. You wanted to get rid of it. You wanted to get rid of me. You told me you never wanted to see me again. And now you suddenly want to be a part of this? No way. So I'm asking one more time: Why?"
Katsuki seemed taken aback by Izuku's outburst.
"Well excuse me for not jumping with joy when finding out the guy I fucked that one time suddenly is pregnant while I'm engaged. I fucking needed some time to deal with this!" Izuku nodded.
"That's fair. It was a lot to take in. But you weren't the only one who had a lot of shit to deal with. I'm not saying no. I want you to give me a good reason why you want to be part of this."
"Why isn't 'I want to' enough?" Katsuki practically roared back. But Izuku wouldn't back down. He answered with the same intensity.
"Because the things YOU want seem to be the only ones you care about. And they seem to change pretty quickly. Case in point: I'm pregnant because you cheated on your long-term girlfriend and fiance. I'm sorry but that doesn't inspire confidence." He took a deep breath and continued in a calmer tone of voice. "Katsuki, I know you're a good man and that you didn't do any of the things you did to hurt Camie or me. But you need to understand something: This is going to be the new normal. I want to give this child a happy and stable home. You can't just up and disappear once you find out this isn't what you want. This is going to be a lifelong commitment. If not to me, then to our child."
He had tears in his eyes when he looked at Katsuki again. "So I'm asking you one last time: Why do you want to be a part of this? Because if it is out of a sense of responsibility or honor or some bullshit like that, don't bother. No one wants a dad that sees them as some kind of burden and doesn't actually want to be around. Trust me I know that better than most people."
They stood there for a long time, both silent. Izuku watched as Katsuki seemed to struggle with himself, but neither of two said anything. After several minutes of waiting, Izuku deflated with a small sigh.
"Goodbye Bakugou." He turned around to re-enter the office when a hand grabbed his arm.
"Don't fucking leave again," Katsuki said in an almost desperate voice.
"I'm not going to stand around and wait for you to make a decision. You can come back when you know what you want and why you want it. I'm not shutting you out, I don't think I'm capable of doing that, but my heart can't take this." He didn't turn around. He didn't want to see Katsukis face for this next part.
"The truth is I've liked you for a long time now, maybe even loved you, but I didn't want to say anything. But if you want this you deserve to know everything."
The hand around his arm fell away and Katsuki was silent. Izuku waited for a few more seconds before opening the door to the office and walking in. He leaned against the closed door from the inside and rubbed a hand over his tear-stained face. From the outside, he could hear a string of curses and retreating footsteps. When he was certain the other had left he opened his eyes.
All of his coworkers sat on their desks and were watching him with rapt attention. Todoroki stepped up and offered Izuku the cup of tea he had been in the process of making.
"Want to talk about it?"
The next several days Izuku was on edge. Would Katsuki come by again? Would he try to contact him in any other way? Did he give up? He was unsure which possibility would hurt him more: Katsuki giving up or not giving up.
But the next time something happened it wasn’t Katsuki that dropped by the office.
"Izuku!" Uraraka hissed at him over the top of their desks. She had a wide-eyed stare fixated at something behind him. Before he could turn around someone had very enthusiastically hugged him from behind.
"Izuku! It's been a while! How are you? How is the freeloader doing?"
"C-camie?" Izuku couldn't quite believe his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I missed you! Hanging out with you was always fun. Plus Katsuki told me allllll about your situation. So I thought I would drop by. Let's go get lunch together!" Without waiting for his answer she tugged him up and out of his chair. With a panicked glance, he looked back at his co-workers. All of them had a confused, but amused expression on their faces. Todoroki took a sip of his cup before saying "Have fun. Be back for the end of your break." and waved after them.
"See you later!" The traitors he called his friends called in unison before going back to their work. Izuku seemed to have no choice but to be dragged to lunch. At least he was able to convince Camie to wear a disguise. He didn't need to see his face on every gossip tabloid tomorrow.
"So? How have you been? You fucked anyone else recently or is that Katsuki's devil spawn?" Izuku almost spat out the water he had just been drinking. He had forgotten just how blunt and direct Camie was. He whipped his mouth with the napkin and cleared his throat.
"I've been good, thanks for asking. No, the last time I had sex was with your ex-fiance 5 months ago. So I'm pretty sure he's the father."
"That's good." Camie nodded. "It's always such a pain if you're not sure, a friend of mine had that problem once. They found a great solution though and are living all under one roof now. Super cute!" She giggled. Izuku couldn't help but smile as well.
"How have you been Camie?"
"I've been great. I guess you heard about the breakup? It was totally mutual. I mean we told you before we were only thinking about getting married because our parents were making such a big fuss about us settling down and all that, right? So, I really don't want to do that. I love Katsuki a lot and he's great in bed and all but I don't think it's the right thing for me. He agreed. I also think he was missing you. You know, because he was talking about you a lot? So yeah, that would've been a problem too. But it's totally cool!"
She gave him a big grin. "Now I get to be the cool aunt for your baby! I get to play with a cute kid without having to have to deal with all the nasty side effects. Total win for me!" Her fingers formed a lazy peace sign before she took another sip of water. Izuku's head was reeling. Katsuki had been talking about him? What did he say?
"Sooooo," Camie said after they had gotten their food. "When are you gonna bone Katsuki again? Most positions are gonna be out if you start to get bigger, so you should get on that while you still can, you know?" This time he actually did spit out his water. Why did that woman have such horrible timing? He was still trying not to drown at the table when she continued.
"Or are you just gonna use him for babysitting? I mean, no shade for that, that's totally valid. But I'd like to know beforehand. Can I be the cool aunt? Or am I gonna be the strange woman that sometimes sleeps over because she wanted an easy lay with its daddy? Ohh, haha daddy, get it? Anyways, are you gonna take him off the market?"
"Camie, you're killing me." He manages to croak out between coughs.
"Huh? Why?" She leaned her head to the side and gave him a clueless look.
"I don't know what I'll do with Katsuki yet. He hasn't told me what he wants yet either. Why don't you ask him these questions?"
"I already did. But he only wanted to answer after I made him drunk and by then he was slurring so hard I didn't understand a single thing he said." She pouted.
"I promise you, you'll be one of the first I'll tell when we sorted this mess out. Can we finish our food now? Without me dying again?" He pleaded.
"Fine, fine. But you better tell me! I need to start buying cute baby stuff! Do you have a picture?" The rest of the meal went by without major incidents and Izuku was able to go back to work and didn't end up in the emergency room.
The next visitor came a few days later. Izuku was just finishing up in the bathroom when a frantic pounding on the door got his attention. Confused he opened the door and Ochako crowed into the room.
"Izuku!" She hissed and grabbed his arms to slightly shake him. "You need to sort this thing out, my heart can't take all these rich and famous people walking into our office!"
Izuku groaned. "Who is it this time?"
"Kirishima Eijiro!"
"Why is Kirishima here?" Katsuki and Camie he could understand. They were both involved in this mess, though one more than the other. But Kirishima? Izuku had only met him a couple of times. He really liked the guy and he knew he was Katsuki's best friend, but why was he here now?
"I don't know! That's why you need to go out there and find out!" Uraraka practically shoved him out the door before sprinting back to her desk - which was the prime viewing spot for the entrance where Kirishima was standing.
"Yo Midoriya!"
"Hello, Kirishima," Izuku answered, a bit resigned. "Can I help you with something?"
"I was hoping to talk to you." At least he did look a bit sheepish and apologetic. That was more than the other two did. "How about I treat you to lunch?" Izuku agreed because even if he had a job, not having to spend money on food was always a good deal.
They went to the same small restaurant that he had visited with Camie. Kirishima didn't need to be reminded about his disguise and he waited with his invasive question until Izuku wasn't trying to drink.
"So, have you talked to Bakugou recently?"
Izuku sighed. "No. Even if I wanted, which I don't until he makes up his mind, I couldn't. I don't have his number. And now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think he has mine either."
Kirishima held out his phone with a hopeful expression. Izuku answered with a blank one.
"Please give me your number?" Kirishima asked. "You know, for emergencies!"
"For emergencies, sure." Izuku deadpanned but did save his number in the phone.
"Thank you!" With a grin, Kirishima pocketed his phone again. His face turned serious before he continued to speak.
"I'm asking because I've never seen Bakugou like this. It's weird and honestly freaking me out a little."
Izuku raised his eyebrow to mask the concern that was bubbling up inside of him.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, he's been doing some intense soul searching apparently. Said he wasn't going to half-ass this and needed to be sure about what he wanted to do. He's even thinking about giving anger management another go."
"So, is this a bad thing or...?"
"No! Oh god no! It's just unusual that's all."
Izuku still frowned. "I don't want him to change because of this. I like him like he is. I just... I just wanted to know that he wouldn't abandon the baby."
"Or you." Izuku's eyes widened at Kirishima's comment and he felt his face flush.
"N-no! I mean, the only role I have in this is carrying the baby. I just don't want him to be a parent out of responsibility!" Kirishima was silent for so long that Izuku started to get nervous.
"Kirishima-kun...?"
"Oh my god." Kirishima let his face fall into his hands. Izuku was at a loss of what to do. Tentatively he reached a hand across the table and touched the other's shoulder. Kirishima's head snapped up and with a yelp, Izuku retrieved his hand.
"Midoriya! Do you think Bakugou is doing this all just for the baby?!"
"I mean... yes? Why else?"
Kirishima groaned. "I can't believe you pair of idiots! I bet he hasn't said anything to you."
"Kirishima-kun, I am very confused right now."
Kirishima shook his head. "Just... promise me that you'll take the time and listen and think about what Bakugou tells you. You know, the next time he's talking to you."
"Of course I will!" Izuku was almost offended by the fact that Kirishima seemed to think he wouldn't give Katsuki a fair chance to explain himself.
The two continued their lunch and avoided further conversation about Bakugou and Izuku went back to work, even more confused than he was before.
The next visitor was just as unexpected as they were terrifying. Izuku had just finished up at work and was preparing to leave and go home when Todoroki cleared his throat right next to him.
Slightly startled Izuku looked up at him.
"Is there something wrong Todoroki-kun?" Wordless the other man pointed behind Izuku to the entrance door to their office. Feeling a sense of dread wash over him, Izuku turned around. In the doorway stood an impeccably dressed woman who had a startlingly similarity to Katsuki. Same face, same hair, same eyes, the same intensity in said eyes when they locked with Izuku. Izuku had never met her in person, but he knew immediately who she was: Bakugou Mitsuki, Katsuki's mother.
Oh no.
Slowly Izuku stood up and grabbed his bag. With a murmured "See you tomorrow" to Todoroki he stepped up to the woman, who was blocking his only escape route.
"Hello, Bakugou-san. C-can I help you with something?" Izuku forced himself not to wring his hands together like a nervous wreck. Instead, he wrapped them around the strap of his bag like a lifeline.
"Relax Midoriya, I'm not here to do anything drastic." That made his shoulders relax slightly. "I'm here to see if you need anything while my blockhead of a son is still trying to figure out his plan of attack, his words not mine. You're on your way home? Good, I'll walk with you and we can talk." Without waiting for his answer she opened the door and walked out into the hall.
With one last glance over his shoulder back to his friends he followed her out of the office and the building. After that, he had to take the lead.
The first few minutes of their walk were silent, but Izuku could practically feel her eyes raking all over him and probably trying to judge him. After a few nerve-racking minutes where Izuku tried to show no weakness, she gave a decisive nod.
"Yes, I approve. From what I've seen and from what Katsuki has told me you'll do nicely."
"E-excuse me?! I'll do nicely for what?" Izuku sputtered out.
"As his partner of course!" Izuku felt himself choke on air. "I did like Camie, but she just wasn't right for my son. He needs someone who will be his partner, his equal. Someone who can and will call him out on his bullshit and someone who challenges him. And now that I've taken a look at you I'm sure the two of you will just look lovely together." Her comment filled him with warmth. She and her son were similar in more things than just looks it seemed.
"That's very nice of you to say Bakugou-san, but I don't think Katsuki wants me as a partner." She looked at him like he was stupid. The warm feeling dissipated.
"If that were true, why did my son come to me to ask for advice?"
"Because that's what children and parents do...?"
"Not my son. He was always very independent. As soon as his career had taken off he signed under a different agency because he didn't want any favoritism from us. He moved out as soon as he could, he has never taken even a piece of advice I've given him, that ungrateful brat...!" She trailed off and took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Anyways. He came to me to ask for advice. He said he had found someone and that he took a long time to realize what they meant to him. He said he only had one more shot at this and he needed to make sure it was perfect." She gave him a warm smile. "I'm glad he came to me with this but I think he's taking to long. And Kirishima dropped by and told me that I simply had to meet you, so I did."
Izuku let out a weak chuckle, his mind still reeling with all the information he had just received. Katsuki had said that about him?
"Are you sure he was talking about me and not just the baby?" He asked in a weak voice. He wanted so bad for it to be true, but he needed confirmation.
At his words, Mitsuki suddenly just stopped walking and looked at him with wide, shocked eyes.
"The baby?"
"Well yeah..." Unsure he gestured to his slightly swollen stomach. Mitsuki turned her wide-eyed stare to where he was pointing.
"You're... pregnant?" He nodded in confirmation.
"And... Katsuki's the father?" Again a nod.
"That damn brat!" Mitsuki let out a roar and shook her fist skyward. "Of course he didn't mention any of that! So that's why Kirishima was so insistent I come to see you." Her gaze snapped back to Izuku's and she stepped a bit closer.
"You're really pregnant?"
"Yes? I can show you the picture from the ultrasound if you want?"
"You have some?" Her eyes seemed to almost sparkle of the mention of pictures. Since they had almost reached Izuku's apartment block he offered her to come up to his apartment. He made both of them some tea and sat down at the table. He figured it wouldn't hurt to show her. She was the baby's grandmother after all and if he was honest he did miss his mom a lot. Sometimes it was good to just talk with someone who had been through the same thing and had some experience to offer.
When Mitsuki looked at the ultrasound her eyes got misty and she reached over the table to take his hand. Their tender moment was interrupted by her phone. When she looked at the screen she let out a downright mean cackle and answered the call.
"Hello, brat." Izuku's eyebrows shot up. Mitsuki's grin widened even more at Katsuki's answer.
"No, I’m not home. I'm with your future husband and am looking at ultrasound pictures of your brat. By the way, how dare you not tell me that I'm going to be a fucking grandmother, huh? I'm too young for this shit!" Izuku, who had foolishly taken a sip of his tea, chocked. It seemed to him that he had been doing that a lot lately. And not even in the fun way. Being around all those famous people was bad for his health.
For a few seconds, there was only a shocked silence before Katsuki started screaming loud enough that even Izuku could hear him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing old hag?! I didn't tell you because I fucking knew you would pull some fucking crazy shit and here we are! How dare you stick your nose in my fucking business?!"
"Calm your impeccable tits brat! I'm just trying to help you! Do you think Izuku is waiting around for you to make a decision forever? Now that I've taken a good look at him, you can count yourself lucky that he's even given you the time of day!"
"Don't you think I fucking know that?! That's why I'm trying to not scare him away! And I bet now he's so fucking traumatized by you and my shitty ass friends that he's never going to talk to me again!" Mitsuki frowned at that and hit the speaker button.
"Izuku dear, are you scared by us?"
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Katsukis voices seemed a bit frantic, Izuku thought. With a sigh, he rubbed a hand over his brow before answering.
"Scared isn't the right word. I would put it at slightly annoyed since every time someone comes over all of my colleagues are going crazy."
The silence was deafening. Mitsuki looked gleeful.
"There you have it brat. Now if you don't mind, I still have things to discuss with Izuku."
"And Kacchan?" Izuku said, leaning slightly towards the phone. He had said the ball was in Katsukis court, but if it was true what everyone had been saying and hinting at, then there was more on the line then just if Katsuki would be involved in the baby's life. And Izuku wanted to be selfish for once.
"I miss you. Don't take too long to decide." And with that, he ended the phone call.
"Damn kid. Not bad." Mitsuki gave him a bright grin before tapping lightly against the ultrasound pictures. "Mind if I sent these to Katsuki?"
"Go ahead. Maybe it'll help him decide what to do."
She cackled while opening the camera app on her phone.
The next day on his way to work, Izuku was still thinking about the things Mitsuki had told him and about that phone call. Did he read the situation wrong? Would Katsuki laugh at him for saying that he missed him? But everyone else had seemed so sure that Katsuki wanted more with Izuku than just friendship.
He sighed and hated himself a bit for the fact that he still hadn't gotten Katsuki's phone number. He had wanted to ask Mitsuki yesterday but then she asked about his next doctor's appointment and the thought had completely flown his mind.
When he opened the door to the office all eyes were immediately on him, but he didn't notice that. His attention was drawn by the bouquet that stood tall and proud on his desk. It was a dozen red roses, tastefully arranged with a variety of greens. Next to it stood a tall coffee-to-go cup with the name 'Deku' scrawled on it.
Almost as if in trance Izuku stepped closer and touched the roses.
"He dropped them off himself this morning," Todoroki explained from over at his desk.
"There's a card too!" Uraraka exclaimed from her desk opposite of his own. "We didn't read it of course!" The unsaid 'even though we wanted too' was implied. Izuku gave her a nervous smile before his eyes were drawn back to the flowers. As clichés as it sounded, red roses had always been his favorite. And now they also reminded him of Katsuki's eyes.
Gingerly he picked the card up from where it was nestled between the leaves and opened it.
Deku-
I've decided what I want. I'm gonna do this right this time. No cheating, no One Night stands. Prepare to be fucking wooed nerd.
Call me XXX-XXXXXXX
- Katsuki
P.S. don't worry the coffee is decaf
He reread the card several times before plopping down into his seat. So he hadn't misunderstood. Katsuki did have feelings for him. He felt himself flush and he started to giggle.
"Sooooo I take it this is a good thing?" Uraraka asked. She had stood up to look over their monitors at him and grinned.
"I hope so. I can't stand seeing Midoriya sad." Ida stated, waving his hands through the air to underline his point.
"Thank you guys, that means a lot." Izuku was truly blessed. He had great friends, his baby was healthy and it seemed even his most unreachable dream wasn't quite so unreachable anymore. Quickly he saved Katsuki’s number on his phone before booting up his pc. He took a sip from his coffee and closed his eyes in bliss. It tasted exactly like his normal coffee order. How did Katsuki know? Had he looked at Izuku the same way that Izuku had looked at him? Even when he was engaged to Camie?
With a small smile, he opened the article he had been working on the previous day and got to work.
The coffee's kept coming, even though Izuku never managed to catch Katsuki in the act of dropping them off. All of his colleagues assured him it was always Katsuki himself who brought them over. Izuku always sent a small message as a simple thank you. Flowers were also a common occurrence. It became so much that Izuku had now some in every room in his apartment and the office. Uraraka had offered to take some of them but Izuku was reluctant to part with them, even though it wasn't practical to have them everywhere.
Next to the coffee and the flowers, regular meals were being delivered to him every day. It was always something different, never too spicy and curiously never anything a pregnant person wasn’t supposed to eat. Someone had done their research.
Delivered together with these gifts were always small letters. They never said anything of great importance, just some funny anecdotes from Katsuki’s day, his job, or his friends and family. But they always ended the same.
‘ See you soon nerd. ’
Even though Izuku appreciated the attention he couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Was he supposed to make the next move? Did Katsuki have something planned? He was still thinking about this when he left work early for his next doctor's appointment.
He was ripped out of his thoughts when a familiar voice called his name - or something like it at least.
"Oi, Deku!" Confused Izuku turned around and saw Katsuki leaning against a car. He was wearing the same dark beanie, sunglasses, and mask combination he had the last time they had met outside.
"Kacchan? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take you to your appointment, why else would I be here? Get in." Hesitantly Izuku stepped closer.
"Are you sure? You don't have to, I can walk, it's not far from here. I'm sure you're busy with something more important."
Even though the sunglasses and the mask lessened the impact, the glare that Katsuki directed at him was fierce.
"Hah?! Who the fuck do you take me for? I told you I'm all in and that means there's fucking nothing more important to me than you or our fucking kid. Now get in the car." With an angry huff opened the passenger sides door and waited. When Izuku still wasn't moving he added a frustrated sounding "please".
Izuku's chest was filling with warmth and he could feel himself blush. With a small smile, he looked to the ground before climbing into the car.
"Thank you Kacchan."
Katsuki closed the door far more gentle than Izuku had imagined he would and got into the car himself. He handed over his phone and told Izuku to enter the address of the doctor's office. Izuku couldn’t help but notice, that the phone background was one of the photos of his last ultrasound that Mitsuki had sent to Katsuki. He felt himself flush in pleasure as he entered the address. When that was done the other man started the car and drove off.
The silence between them was heavy with unsaid words and neither seemed to know how to start.
Izuku opened his mouth several times to say something but chickened out every time. Even though he knew rationally that Katsuki had feelings for him (even though he had never actually said anything about that yet) it was hard to convince his heart. What if he had been reading this wrong? He couldn't take rejection, not from this man.
They arrived in front of the doctor's office with ample time to spare. Katsuki turned off the ignition and moved in his seat until he was facing Izuku.
"I want to go in with you. I said that I wanted in and I meant it. I still do. I want to be with you Izuku. Not just because of this," he gestured to Izuku's stomach " but because of you. I've thought long and hard about this and I am sure about what I want. Now I need to know what you want. Do you want to be with me?"
For a few seconds Izuku couldn't say anything, too choked up with emotions. He cleared his throat and tried to blink the tears away before answering.
"Yes. Yes, I want that too." At this Katsuki's shoulders relax slightly and he reached over to take Izuku's hand.
"Good. That's good. Fucking amazing is what it is." The grin he gave him was filled with joy and relief. He squeezed his hand slightly before letting go.
"Then let's go and get this over with. I'm taking you back to my place after this and cook dinner and we can talk about how this is gonna work."
"Sure." Izuku agreed with a bright smile of his own. It turned a bit mischievous when he added. "We can talk about names then too. The doctor wanted to tell me about the baby's gender today."
Izuku couldn't hold back the small laughter at the gobsmacked look on Katsuki's face.
"So, all the tests up until now look good. Then let's take a look at your baby, shall we?" Dr. Ohara said as she pulled on a new pair of gloves. Izuku loved her. He had been a patient at her office since he moved to this city and she had been wonderfully understanding and supportive of him.
Since he had been through this process a few times already he tuned her explanations out and focused on Katsuki beside him. The other man had a hand on his shoulder and was looking at the monitor with laser focus. Izuku couldn't help but smile up at him. He was still trying to process their brief talk in the car. He was thinking maybe he caved too easily, but he just couldn't help himself. And relationships were about trust, right? So Izuku decided he needed to take that chance.
"Okay, here we go." Dr. Ohara said before pressing the machine against Izuku's stomach. The familiar grainy, black, and white screen appeared.
"Aaaand there we have it! Meet your baby!" She turned to Katsuki and smiled at him, but he completely ignored her. His gaze was transfixed on the screen in front of him. Izuku had spent a month following Katsuki around and observing his every move and facial expression. He knew what he looked like when he was happy, angry, excited, and even when he was sad.
The kind of expression that the blond man was showing right now was something that Izuku had never seen before. It tugged at his heartstrings and drove tears into his eyes. He slowly reached one hand up and placed it upon Katsukis on his shoulder.
“Kacchan? Are you alright?” His only answer was a slow nod, those red-eyed never leaving the screen. Izuku squeezed his hand.
“So, what do you think?”
“I don’t know… it’s just so much…” Katsuki seemed lost for words. He finally moved his eyes away from the tiny shape on the screen and looked down at Izuku.
“It’s hard to believe that that’s our… our baby.” His eyes seemed brighter and Izuku could swear he saw tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. “I just never thought I would have this… until I met you I didn’t even know if I wanted it…” He dropped his head down and pressed his forehead to Izuku's temple.
“Thank you. For this and for giving me another chance.”
That was the last straw. Izuku started openly sobbing and lifted his other hand to bury his fingers in Katsuki's hair and keep him pressed close to him. Together they stared at the picture of their baby.
After a few minutes, the door opened and Dr. Ohara entered the room. Both men hadn’t even noticed that she had left to give them some privacy, so wrapped up in their feelings had they been. She sat back down in her chair and turned back to the both of them.
“Alright, are you ready to find out the gender of your child? Midoriya and I had discussed it before but I want to make sure you two haven’t changed your mind.” Katsuki gave one look at Izuku that seemed to say ‘your choice’. Izuku looked his doctor in the eyes and nodded.
“Yes please.” He knew that gender didn’t matter but it did make things a bit easier. At least in the beginning. In that regard, he and his mother had a little bit of experience themselves.
Dr. Ohara moved the device pressing into Izuku's stomach around a bit, sometimes pressing against the other side to try to get the baby to move a little bit. Shortly after she let out a quiet, triumphant “Aha!” and pressed a few buttons. A frozen frame appeared on the screen and she pointed at it.
“Midoriya, Bakugou, meet your son.” Next to him, Katsuki let out a shuddering breath and Izuku felt something wet hit his hair. If he hadn’t been crying already he would’ve started right then.