Settling Stars

by Anonymous

Summary:

Rody and Izuku have been in a situationship since the last time they'd seen each other and decided to keep in contact. All it really takes is Izuku visiting with the time off he was granted (and waited to use...) after losing One for All and heading to Otheon. Then ensues a conversation that's sealed with a kiss, and suddenly Rody, Roro, and Lala are moving to Japan, Izuku is getting called a teen father by his friends, and Izuku gets to experience what he thinks might just be domestic bliss.

(Izuku and Rody get together, Rody reveals he's been planning on moving to Japan, Izuku helps, and it's all just VERY soft.)

Notes:

heyhey no trigger warnings that i can think of tbh if there are any i should add lmk

anyway enjoy!!

Chapter 1: Chapter One

The rain hammered against the windows of the small café in Otheon, creating a rhythmic melody that seemed to match the nervous beating of Izuku Midoriya's heart. He sat across from Rody Soul, steam rising from their untouched cups of coffee as they stared at each other in comfortable silence.

It had been a year since the Humarise incident, a year since they'd saved the world together, and a year since Izuku had realized that leaving Otheon, leaving Rody , had been one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

"You know," Rody said, his voice cutting through the ambient noise of the café, "when I got your message saying you were coming back to visit, I thought you were joking."

Izuku's cheeks flushed pink. "Why would I joke about that?"

"Because you're supposed to be this hotshot hero-in-training back in Japan. What are you doing wasting time with a guy like me?"

Pino fluttered from his shoulder to land on the table between them, chirping indignantly. She fixed Izuku with what could only be described as an accusatory stare.

"...Sorry," Izuku said softly, reaching out to gently stroke Pino's feathers. The bird allowed the touch, though she continued to eye him suspiciously. "I should have stayed in contact better. I should have-"

"Hey." Rody's hand covered Izuku's on the table, stopping his familiar spiral into self-recrimination. "I don’t…mean to make you feel guilty. I'm just... surprised, I guess. Happy, but surprised."

The touch sent electricity up Izuku's arm, and he had to fight the urge to immediately start analyzing the sensation. Instead, he focused on Rody's face. The way his gray eyes seemed softer than usual, the slight upturn of his lips that wasn't quite a smile but wasn't far from one.

"I missed you," Izuku admitted quietly. "More than I expected to."

Rody's expression shifted, something vulnerable flickering across his features before he masked it with his usual cocky grin. "Of course you did. I'm pretty unforgettable."

But Pino betrayed him, as she always did. The little bird puffed up slightly, looking rather thrilled at the fact that Izuku had missed Rody, head pressing into Izuku’s hand gently. Rody shot his companion a betrayed look.

"Traitor," he muttered.

Izuku couldn't help but smile. "You know, I've been thinking."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Isn’t it nice to have someone like Pino? Means your friends always know you’re being earnest since you can’t hide how you’re feeling."

Rody's hand tightened slightly on his. "I don’t know, Deku. Sometimes people hide their feelings for good reasons."

"And sometimes," Izuku said, meeting his eyes directly, "they hide them because they're scared."

The air between them grew thick with unspoken words. Rody's thumb traced across Izuku's knuckles, a gesture so small and intimate that it made Izuku's breath catch.

"And just what exactly are you implying?" Rody asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before Izuku could answer, the bell above the café door chimed, and a group of local teenagers burst in, shaking rain from their coats and chattering loudly. The moment shattered, and both boys pulled their hands back, the spell broken.

"We should probably get going," Rody said, glancing at the newcomers. "It's getting crowded."

Izuku nodded, though he felt a pang of disappointment. They'd been building toward something important, something that had been simmering between them since…since some point last time they’d seen each other in person, and now it felt like the opportunity had slipped away.

They paid for their coffee and stepped out into the rain. Rody led them through winding streets toward his apartment, Pino tucked safely inside his jacket. They walked in comfortable silence, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they navigated the narrow sidewalks.

"How are Roro and Lala?" Izuku asked as they climbed the stairs to Rody's building.

"Good. Really good, actually." Rody's voice carried genuine warmth. "The money from the Humarise thing helped a lot. We were able to move to a better place, and they're both in school now. Roro's obsessed with heroes, thanks to you."

"Thanks to us," Izuku corrected. "You're the one who saved the day."

"We saved the day," Rody said firmly, stopping in front of his door. "Don't do that thing where you minimize your part in it."

Izuku blinked, surprised by the intensity in Rody's voice. "I wasn't-"

"You were. You do it all the time. Even when we were running around trying to stop the end of the world, you kept acting like you were just along for the ride." Rody's keys jingled as he unlocked the door. "It drove me crazy."

"Why?"

Rody paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Because you're amazing, and you don't even know it."

The simple statement hit Izuku, and if he thought Rody was more open to physical touch he probably would’ve forced him into a hug. As it is, he stood frozen in the hallway as Rody pushed open the door and disappeared inside, leaving him to follow in surprised silence.

The apartment was small but cozy, clearly the home of someone who cared deeply about the people he lived with. Children's drawings decorated the refrigerator, and textbooks were stacked neatly on a small desk by the window. It was warm and lived-in in a way that made Izuku's chest ache with longing.

"They're at a friend's house for the night," Rody said, "Sleepover. So we don't have to worry about waking them up."

Izuku's face went bright red. "I wasn't- we're not- I mean-"

Rody laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Relax, Deku. I just meant we can actually talk without having to whisper." But Pino's feathers had gotten all puffed up and she looked just as embarrassed as Izuku felt, plus Rody's cheeks took on a slight flush of their own.

They settled on the small couch, maintaining a careful distance between them. Rody offered him tea, which Izuku accepted gratefully. The warm mug gave his hands something to do, though it didn't help with the nervous energy coursing through him.

"So," Rody said after a long moment, "how long are you staying?"

"A week. Maybe two, if I can swing it with Aizawa-sensei." He gives Rody a tired smile, “Helping, you know, end a war and losing my quirk gives me a bit of vacation time.” He adds dryly.

"A week." Rody seemed to be testing the words. "That's not very long."

"No," Izuku agreed. "It's not."

They lapsed into silence again, but this time it felt heavy with everything they weren't saying. Pino hopped onto the coffee table and hopped between Rody and Izuku. Izuku smiled a bit, amused by the tiny bird’s actions. He was sure there was probably a reason behind it, but he couldn’t parse it out.

"She's right," Rody said suddenly. "We're being ridiculous."

"What do you mean?" Izuku asks, suddenly realizing he should maybe learn to read the bird better if that’s what that meant.

Rody set down his tea and turned to face Izuku fully. "I mean we're sitting here dancing around something that's been obvious for a while. Well, obvious to everyone except us, apparently."

Izuku's heart started hammering against his ribs. "Rody..."

"No, let me finish." Rody's voice was determined now, the same tone he'd used when he'd decided to help Izuku take down Humarise. "I've been thinking about this for ages. Ever since you left, actually. And I realized that I spent so much time lying to everyone, including myself, that I forgot how to be honest about this type of thing."

He reached out and took Izuku's hands again, holding them firmly when Izuku tried to pull away.

"The truth is, I fell for you somewhere between you saving me after I nearly got myself shot in the middle of nowhere and you believing in me when no one else would. And I know this is complicated, with you being in Japan and me being here, and I know you've got this whole hero career ahead of you, I just-"

"Rody." Izuku's voice was soft but firm. "Stop talking."

Rody's mouth snapped shut, his eyes wide with surprise and hurt.

"Stop talking," Izuku repeated, "because you're going to talk yourself out of this, and I can't let that happen."

Before Rody could respond, Izuku leaned forward and kissed him, hands squeezing Rody’s gently.

It was soft and tentative at first, barely more than a brush of lips, but when Rody made a small sound of surprise and kissed him back, Izuku felt something inside him unravel completely. Rody's hands came up to cup his face, deepening the kiss, and Izuku thought dimly that this was what people meant when they talked about fireworks.

When they finally broke apart, both smiling, Pino was doing little loops in the air above them, her feathers practically glowing with happiness.

"Well," Rody said, his cheeks as pink as Izuku was sure his were, "that's one way to shut me up."

Izuku laughed, feeling giddy and breathless. "I've been wanting to do that for ages."

"Yeah? What took you so long?"

"I wasn't sure if you felt the same way. And, plus, it was so chaotic last time I was here, we didn’t really get any down time…and then there was the distance, so even if I visited I thought maybe it would be better to just-"

This time it was Rody who cut him off with a kiss, shorter but no less intense than the first. Though, to be fair, it was just a simple kiss.

"For someone who's supposed to be really smart," Rody murmured against his lips, "you can be pretty dense sometimes."

"Thanks," Izuku said dryly. "That's very romantic."

"I know right?”

They shifted on the couch until they were closer together, Izuku's head resting on Rody's shoulder. Pino settled on Izuku’s head, burrowing into his curls and trilling quietly, her beak clicking a bit.

"So what happens now?" Rody asked quietly.

It was the question Izuku had been dreading, the one that had kept him awake during the long flight to Otheon. The practical part of his brain immediately started cataloging all the obstacles: the distance, their different life paths, the complications of not only long distance relationships but also international ones.

But for once, he pushed those thoughts aside.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I know I don't want this to be just a week. I don't want to go back to Japan and spend another year wondering what could have been."

Rody's arm tightened around him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. We'll figure out the logistics later. Right now, I just want to be here with you."

"I can work with that," Rody said, and Izuku could hear the smile in his voice.

They stayed like that for a long time, talking softly about everything and nothing. Rody told him about his new job working with the local police as a liaison for certain cases, how his experience with Humarise had opened doors he'd never expected. Izuku talked about his friends, how they were doing, plus how his country was recovering well after the ordeal with Shigaraki that Izuku still did his best to push past.

As the night wore on, the conversation grew more personal. Rody talked about his fears for Roro and Lala's future, his guilt over the years they'd spent struggling because of his criminal activities. Izuku shared his own anxieties about trying to be a hero without a quirk, about the fact that his entire career was up in the air because of it, and how he was ashamed he wouldn’t ever be able to be the symbol All Might had picked him to be so long ago.

"You know what I think?" Rody said as they lay together on the couch, Izuku practically draped across his chest.

"What?"

"I think you're already a symbol. Maybe not for the whole world yet, but for the people whose lives you've touched. You were that for me, anyway."

Izuku lifted his head to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself. You trusted me when every rational part of your brain was probably screaming not to. You believed I could be better than I was." Rody's hand came up to stroke through Izuku's curls. "That's what real heroes do, isn't it? They don't just save people from villains. They save them from themselves."

Izuku felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "Rody..."

"And if you could do that for someone like me, someone who was actively trying to turn you in to terrorists, then imagine what you'll do when you're a pro hero, even quirkless. The world won't know what hit it."

"You weren't just someone," Izuku said fiercely. "You were never just someone. You're brave and loyal and you'd do anything to protect the people you love. I didn't save you from anything. I just saw who you already were."

Rody was quiet for a long moment, his hand stilling in Izuku's hair. When he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion.

"You know, I never thought it’d be so simple, but I love you."

Izuku would love to try and claim the words were startling, but, really, that only felt natural after having tried to flee from the country with Rody.

"I love you too," Izuku said, words simple and sincere.

Rody huffed out a soft laugh, "Good. Because I was starting to worry that Pino was going to riot it."

As if summoned by her name, Pino perked up on the top of Izuku’s head, chirping contentedly.

"I think she approves," Izuku said.

"She'd better considering she’s a part of my soul."

They fell asleep like that, tangled together on the couch. Izuku woke up once during the night and found himself marveling at how right it felt, how perfectly he seemed to fit against Rody's side.

The next morning brought the sound of keys in the door and the excited chatter of returning children. Rody and Izuku sprang apart, both blushing furiously, just as Roro and Lala burst into the apartment.

"Rody!" Lala launched herself at her older brother, who caught her easily despite his still-sleepy state. "We made pancakes and played games and-” A soft gasp was heard, “Deku!"

Her excitement doubled when she spotted Izuku, and suddenly he found himself with an armful of enthusiastic six-year-old.

"You came back!" she said, squeezing him tight. "Rody said you might but I didn't know if you really would, and we barely got to talk last time!"

"Of course I came back," Izuku said, hugging her just as tightly. "I promised I would, didn't I?"

Roro appeared at his elbow, trying to maintain his pre-teen coolness but clearly just as excited. "Did you bring any hero stuff? Like your costume or anything?"

"Roro," Rody warned, but Izuku waved him off.

"I might have brought a few things," he said conspiratorially, shooting him a smile. "Want to see?"

The next hour was spent showing off his hero gear and answering what felt like a hundred questions about U.A. and pro heroes and whether All Might really was as cool in person as he seemed on TV. Rody made breakfast while Izuku entertained his siblings, and the domestic scene made Izuku's heart ache with want.

This was what he wanted, and it wasn’t a hard realization to have. Not just Rody, but this: the chaotic family breakfast, the easy banter, the sense of belonging somewhere beyond his hero duties.

Later, after Roro and Lala had been deposited at their respective schools, Rody and Izuku found themselves walking through the city center. Rody was pointing out changes that had been made since Izuku's last visit like new construction and businesses that had reopened. Just like plenty of other places across the world, Otheon hadn’t been entirely spared from the resounding effects that the war had ended up having.

"It's looking good," Izuku said as they paused in the main square. "Really good."

"Yeah, it is." Rody's voice carried a note of pride. "It's been a lot of work, but people are starting to believe things are getting better. That's worth something."

"It's worth everything," Izuku agreed.

They were interrupted by a commotion across the square. A group of teenagers had surrounded a smaller boy, clearly intent on bullying him. Without thinking, both Izuku and Rody moved toward the scene.

"Hey!" Rody called out as they approached. "What's going on here?"

The bullies turned, clearly ready to tell the interfering adults to mind their own business, but their expressions changed when they recognized Rody.

"Oh, uh, Mr. Soul," one of them stammered. "We were just-"

"You were just leaving," Rody said firmly, frowning a bit. "Right?"

The teenagers nodded quickly and scattered, leaving the younger boy standing alone. He couldn't have been more than ten, and his eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"You okay?" Izuku asked gently, crouching down to the boy's level.

The child nodded, then shook his head, then burst into tears. "They said I was annoying because I’m quirkless, and I-"

"Hey, hey," Izuku soothed, pulling out a handkerchief. "There's nothing weird about liking heroes. I’m quirkless too." And oh it felt so weird to say that again.

"But I said I wanted to be- be a support hero. Make things for heroes," the boy sniffled. "It's different."

"Not really," Rody said, settling down beside them. "This guy here is training to be a pro hero back in Japan. Don’t you think if he can be a fully fledged field hero while quirkless you can be a support hero?"

The boy's eyes went wide. "Really? You're going to be a hero?"

"I'm going to try," Izuku said, smiling brightly. "And you know what? Some of the best heroes I know are ones who don’t rely on their quirks. In fact… one of them fights quirkless all the time."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Being different isn't a bad thing."

They spent another few minutes talking to the boy before his mother arrived, having been called by a concerned shopkeeper she was friend’s with, apparently. She thanked them profusely, and Izuku watched the pair walk away with a familiar warm feeling in his chest.

"You're really good at that," Rody said as they resumed their walk.

"At what?"

"Seeing people. Really seeing them. Knowing exactly what to say to make them feel better."

Izuku flushed. "It's not that hard. Everyone just wants to feel like they matter, like someone understands them."

"See? You make it sound simple, but it's not. Most people walk right past stuff like that."

"You didn't. You stopped too."

"Because you did first," Rody pointed out. "I was following your lead."

They found a bench in a small park and sat down, watching people go about their daily lives. Pino emerged from Rody's jacket to perch on the back of the bench, preening her feathers in the afternoon sun.

"Can I ask you something?" Rody said after a while.

"Of course."

"You don’t have to answer, but… what was it like? Having a quirk like what you had?"

Izuku considered the question carefully. "Terrifying," he said finally. "Most of the time, it was absolutely terrifying. There was this constant pressure to be worthy of it, to live up to what it represented. And the physical toll..." He flexed his scarred hands unconsciously. "Sometimes I used to wonder if I’d even live long enough to become the hero I was supposed to be."

Rody's expression grew serious. "Do you regret it? Getting it, I mean?"

"No," Izuku said without hesitation. "Never. I saved the world with it. I saved my friends, my family, with it, and that made everything I struggled with worth it.”

"Even if it meant sacrificing other things? Like a normal life, or relationships, or..."

"Or you?" Izuku finished quietly.

Rody nodded, not meeting his eyes.

Izuku reached over and took his hand. "The quirk didn't choose me to be alone, Rody. All Might had relationships, had people he cared about. They made him stronger, not weaker. If anything, having something, someone, to fight for makes the power more meaningful." He winces a bit, “Course, doesn’t matter too much now.. I think I’ll end up in underground heroics and I’ll have a lot more leeway with vacation time with that.”

"You really believe that?"

"I do. And besides," Izuku added with a small smile, "you've got your own responsibilities. Roro and Lala need you. Your work with the police is important. You’re definitely going to end up a pilot. We're both going to have to figure out how to balance our duties with our personal lives."

"Yeah, but yours could literally save the world."

"And yours is definitely going to save two kids who depend on you completely. Don't minimize that. Different scales, same level of importance to the people who matter."

Rody squeezed his hand. "When did you get so wise?"

"Probably around the time I decided to become a vigilante for a minute.”

Rody laughed quietly, “You’d have thought you’d learn from everything that happened with us."

"I learned other things," Izuku defended, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Rody's cheek. "You taught me that real strength comes from protecting the people you love, even when it costs you everything. You taught me that sometimes the most heroic thing you can do is trust someone else to help you. You taught me that-"

"Okay, okay," Rody laughed, his cheeks pink. "I get it. I'm very wise and heroic."

"You are," Izuku said seriously. "I think you saved me just as much as I saved you."

Pino took that moment to flutter up and settle on Izuku’s shoulder, fluffed up and content as her beak clicked at Izuku’s jaw gently.

"She likes the mushy stuff," Rody explained, his cheeks a light pink.

"So do I," Izuku admitted.

They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the city, holding hands and talking about everything and nothing. 

As the sun began to set, they found themselves back at Rody's apartment building, neither quite ready for the day to end.

"What time do you have to pick them up?" Izuku asked.

"Not for another hour, and only takes me about fifteen to go get them" Rody said. "Want to come up?"

Izuku nodded, and they climbed the stairs together. Inside the apartment, the late afternoon light cast everything in warm golden tones. Rody put on some music while Izuku examined the children's artwork on the refrigerator more closely.

"This one's new," he said, pointing to a drawing that clearly depicted the three Soul siblings standing in front of a house.

"Lala's been obsessed with the idea of getting a real house," Rody explained. "With a yard and everything. She draws a new version every week." Rody smiled a bit, clearly fond of the girl’s simple dream.

"Think you'll be able to make that happen?"

"Maybe. Eventually. The job I’ve got right now pays pretty well, and I've been saving..." Rody trailed off, then looked at Izuku with an expression that Izuku wasn’t sure how to parse. "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

Rody led him to the couch, but instead of sitting down, he began pacing nervously. Pino flitted around the area just as nervously.

"Okay, so this might be crazy," Rody began, "but I've been thinking about it since you got here, and actually since way before you got here, and I know it's kinda not actually that vital to you but also it kinda is, and-"

"Rody," Izuku interrupted gently. "Whatever it is, just say it."

Idly, Izuku wondered how many times people had wanted to say that to him.

Rody stopped pacing and turned to face him. "How would you feel about me and the kids moving to Japan?"

Izuku's heart skipped a beat. "What?"

"I know it sounds insane. And I know there would be a million things to figure out - visas and housing and schools and my job and my schooling and-"

"Rody." Izuku stood up and crossed to him, taking his hands to stop their anxious gesturing. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. I've been looking into it, actually. There are programs for international cooperation in law enforcement, and with my experience with Humarise, I might be able to get a position with Japanese law enforcement or even a hero agency as a liaison. And Roro and Lala are still young enough that they'd adapt to a new school system, and-"

Izuku silenced him with a kiss, pouring all of his shock and joy and love into it. When they broke apart, both were breathing heavily.

"Is that a yes?" Rody asked hopefully.

"That's a please do and I’ll help you out however I can." Izuku said, laughing at the sheer impossibility of it all. "But are you sure? It's a huge change, and what if-"

"What if what? What if it doesn't work out? What if we decide we're better as friends? What if long distance is easier?" Rody shook his head. "I've spent the last year doing the 'what if' thing, Deku, and you know what I figured out? The biggest 'what if' is what if we don't try."

"But Roro and Lala-"

"Want me to be happy. And you make me happy. They've been asking about you constantly since you left. Lala keeps drawing pictures of you with us." Rody gestured toward the refrigerator. "And, besides, Roro is already starting the whole ‘I want to be a hero’ thing, and where else would he want than U.A.? Even if we fell apart, those two would be perfectly content there.”

He pauses, sighs, and then continues, “Look, I know it's not going to be easy. Hell, it's probably going to be the most complicated thing any of us have ever done. But I love you, and I want to build a life with you at some point, and I can't do that halfway across the world."

Izuku felt tears prick at his eyes. "You'd really do that? Give up everything here?"

"I'm not giving up everything. Or, well, anything, really. The only things I have here are my siblings, who are comin’ with, and my job, which is replaceable. I'm choosing something better." Rody's hands came up to cup Izuku's face. "I'm choosing you. We're choosing you."

"We?"

"The kids are on board. I might have mentioned the possibility, hypothetically, and they got so excited I thought Lala was going to vibrate out of her chair."

Izuku laughed, wiping at his eyes. "When?"

"Well, that depends on a lot of factors, but I'm thinking maybe in time for the next school year? That gives us about six months to figure out all the paperwork and logistics."

"Six months," Izuku repeated. "That's not very long."

"It's long enough. And in the meantime, we have this week. And I was thinking maybe I could visit Japan over the winter break, bring the kids to see where they might be living."

"They'd love that. My mom would love them. And she'd love you too, once she gets over the shock of me having a boyfriend."

"You haven't told her about me?" Rody asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I wasn't sure there was anything to tell," Izuku admitted. "But now..."

"Now there is."

"Now there is," Izuku agreed.

They spent the rest of the evening making tentative plans. Rody showed him the research he'd already done on work visas and international transfers, the schools he'd looked into for Roro and Lala, the apartments he'd found online that might be suitable for a family of four. It was overwhelming and exciting and terrifying all at once.

When they went to pick up the kids, Izuku couldn't help but see them differently. Not just as Rody's adorable siblings, but as potential family. The thought should have been scary - he was only sixteen, barely old enough to take care of himself, let alone help his brand new boyfriend raise his two siblings. But instead, it felt right in a way that made his chest warm. Maybe he’d really gotten enough practice in babysitting Kota and Eri if he was this accepting of such an idea…

"Deku!" Lala launched herself at him the moment they walked into the school. "Look what I made!"

She thrust a construction paper creation at him, and it took him a moment to realize it was supposed to be him in his hero costume. The proportions were completely wrong and she'd given him what appeared to be a hot pink cape, but the smile on the paper figure's face was unmistakable.

"It's amazing," he said, crouching down to her level. "Can I keep it?"

"Really? You want to keep my drawing?"

"I want to keep all of your drawings," he said honestly. "They're perfect."

Lala beamed and threw her arms around his neck. Over her shoulder, Izuku caught Rody watching them with an expression of such tenderness that it made his heart skip.

Yeah , he thought as Lala chattered about her day and Roro pretended not to be just as excited to see him, this was definitely what he wanted.

The rest of the week passed in a blur of family activities and stolen moments alone. They visited museums and parks, had picnics and movie nights, and slowly began to feel like the family they were planning to become. Izuku helped Roro with his homework and played endless games of make-believe with Lala. He cooked dinner with Rody and listened to bedtime stories featuring heroes and villains and brave young boys who saved the day.

On his last night, after the kids had gone to bed, Izuku and Rody sat on the apartment's small balcony, looking out over the city lights.

"I don't want to leave," Izuku said quietly.

"I don't want you to leave either." Rody's arm tightened around him. "But it's not goodbye forever. Not this time."

"No, not this time." Izuku tilted his head to look at him. "Are you scared? About maybe moving to Japan, I mean."

"Terrified," Rody admitted. "But the good kind of terrified. The kind that means you're about to do something that matters."

"I love you," Izuku said, the words still feeling new and wonderful on his tongue.

"I love you too. All of us do."

"I love all of you too."

They sat in comfortable silence, watching the stars and planning a future that had seemed impossible just a week ago. Pino dozed on Rody's shoulder, her feathers the softest, happiest pink.

"Hey, Deku?" Rody said eventually.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for coming back."

"Thanks for welcoming me back."

The next morning was a chaos of goodbyes and promises and last-minute reminders about visa applications and apartment hunting. Roro tried to maintain his cool but ended up hugging Izuku tightly and making him promise to call every week. Lala cried openly and made him promise to come back soon and to tell all the heroes in Japan about her.

Something bubbled up in Izuku, giddy and excited to introduce the girl to Ochako. He had a feeling Lala would love his best friend. 

"I'll miss you," Rody said as they stood in the airport, Izuku's boarding call echoing over the intercom.

"Not for long," Izuku replied. "Six months, remember?"

"Six months," Rody agreed, moving to kiss him one last time.

As the plane took off, Izuku pressed his face to the window and watched Otheon disappear below the clouds. But for the first time, leaving didn't feel like an ending. It felt like the beginning of something incredible.

Notes:

OKAY! might be a bit off / fast paced, but also.. yeah man idk i just really want rody in japan with izuku, and izuku interacting with roro and lala LMAO

dont look too closely at the timeline (because wowie a lot is packed into such a short time frame in canon yikes) or the kiddos' ages. man i dont KNOW how to tell anime children's ages beyond like?? yeah roro seems like he could....totally be the same age as my middle school students, right...?

i hope you enjoyed! if you did, please please leave kudos + comment, they're super encouraging!

Chapter 2: Chapter Two

"Are you sure this is the right building?" Roro asked, craning his neck to look up at the apartment complex.

"This is it," Izuku confirmed, checking the address on his phone for the tenth time. "Third floor, apartment 304."

"It's really tall," Lala observed, her hand firmly gripped in Rody's.

"That's because it’s an apartment, Lala," Rody explained, though he looked a little overwhelmed himself.

They'd arrived in Japan three days ago, and everything had been a whirlwind of paperwork and orientation meetings and jet lag. And, also, the very memorable occasion of Rody trying to prove he really was emancipated and had custody of his siblings despite the previous reassurance that had been sorted before they’d even left Otheon.

But finally, finally, they were here, standing in front of what would be their new home.

"Ready?" Izuku asked, pulling out the keys.

Rody took a deep breath. "Ready."

The apartment was small but bright, with big windows that let in plenty of natural light. It was furnished with the basics, beds and a couch and a dining table, but it already felt more like home than anywhere Izuku had ever lived.

"This is my room?" Lala asked, peering into the smallest bedroom.

"If you like it," Izuku said. "We can decorate it however you want."

"Can I paint the walls?"

"I doubt it," Rody laughed. "Maybe we start with posters, Lala."

While the kids explored their new space, Izuku and Rody stood in the living room, taking it all in.

"So," Rody said, "I actually did it."

"You actually did it," Izuku agreed.

"Have any regrets about letting me into your country?"

Izuku considered the question seriously, despite the clearly joking way he’d said it, thinking about everything that had led them here, the long-distance phone calls and video chats, the visa applications and job interviews, the tearful goodbyes to friends in Otheon and the nervous hellos to new colleagues in Japan.

"None," he said finally. "You?"

"Just one," Rody said, and Izuku's heart clenched until he continued. "I regret that it took us so long to figure this out."

"We figured it out when we were supposed to," Izuku said, leaning into his side. "Everything happened exactly the way it needed to."

"Yeah? Even the part where we almost didn't get Lala's visa approved?"

"Especially that part. It gave us an excuse to call your contact at the embassy twelve times in one day."

Rody laughed. "Poor guy probably thought there was another international emergency."

"Deku!" Lala called from her room. "Come see where I want to put my hero posters!"

"Rody!" Roro's voice came from the other bedroom. "There's a really good view of the city from here!"

Izuku and Rody exchanged amused glances before splitting up to attend to their respective calls. Izuku found Lala standing in the middle of her room, arms spread wide as she spun in a circle.

"I want All Might here," she announced, pointing to the wall above her bed, "and you here," she pointed to the wall by the window, "and maybe some other heroes here and here and, oh! Uravity is pink right? I need a poster of her here, and Pinky-"

"Whoa, slow down," Izuku laughed. "We'll get you all the posters you want, but maybe we should unpack your clothes first?"

"Clothes are boring. Heroes are exciting!"

"Heroes need clean clothes too," Izuku pointed out. "Even All Might probably does laundry."

Lala considered this with the seriousness of a six-year-old contemplating the mysteries of the universe. "Probably…” She looked up at him, gaze serious, “Do you think he has a special hero washing machine?"

"Definitely," Izuku said solemnly. "Probably with a cape setting."

In the other room, he could hear Rody and Roro discussing the logistics of fitting a desk under the window for homework purposes. The sound of their voices, domestic and comfortable, made something settle in his chest that had been unsettled for months.

"Hey Deku?" Lala said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to live here too?"

The question caught him off guard. They'd talked about the move extensively, but somehow the living arrangements had remained slightly vague in the kids' minds.

"Would you like me to?" he asked carefully.

"Yes!" she said without hesitation. "Then we could have family dinners every night, and you could help me with my homework, and you could tell us bedtime stories about being a hero!"

"Well," Izuku said, considering the question, “Not right away…I still have to go to school, which means I have to live there, and my mother wouldn’t be very happy about it, but I will eventually." He smiles, tapping her nose gently, “And I’ll still be around a ton . Like, at least once a week.”

"Really?"

"Really."

Lala threw herself at him with enough force to nearly knock him over, and he caught her in a hug that lifted her off the ground.

"I wanna meet Pinky," she said into his shoulder.

Izuku huffed a soft laugh, “Yes, Lala.” He conceded easily.

It was nice to be able to say yes to such a simply request. Honestly, he could always just shoot Mina a text and he was positive the girl would show up all decked out in her hero costume and ready to play Hero and Villain, but… well, best to save that for a weekend.

"Should we go see what the boys are up to?" he suggested after a moment.

They found Rody and Roro in the midst of a heated discussion about the optimal placement of a bookshelf. Pino was perched on Roro's shoulder, occasionally chirping what sounded like commentary on their debate.

"The harmony of the room is all wrong if you put it there," Roro was saying with the authority of someone who had definitely been watching too many home design shows.

"Since when do you know about room harmony?" Rody asked, amused, and clearly clueless as to what that might mean.

"Since I decided I want to be an interior designer when I grow up. Well, either that or a hero. Or maybe both. A hero who designs really cool bases for other heroes."

"That's... actually not a bad idea," Izuku said thoughtfully. "Heroes do need well-designed spaces. Like…their agencies…? It could be a whole specialty field. Cementoss would probably be interested in that."

Roro beamed at him. "See? Deku gets it."

"Of course he does," Rody said with mock resignation. "You two are going to gang up on me constantly, aren't you?"

"Probably," Izuku admitted cheerfully.

"Definitely," Roro added at the same time.

"What about me?" Lala demanded. "I want to gang up too!"

"Three against one," Rody sighed dramatically. "I'm doomed."

But Pino fluttered over, bouncing between Roro, Lala, and Izuku, so Izuku knew his boyfriend wasn’t actually upset in the slightest.

They spent the rest of the day unpacking and arranging furniture, slowly transforming the empty apartment into something that felt like home. Izuku's mother arrived in the afternoon with enough food to feed a small army and immediately took charge of the kitchen organization.

"You must be Rody," she said, enveloping him in a hug that made him go slightly wide-eyed with surprise. "Izuku has told me so much about you."

"Good things, I hope," Rody managed.

"Wonderful things. And you must be Roro and Lala," she continued, turning to the kids. "I'm Inko, but you can call me Auntie Inko if you'd like."

"Are you Deku's mom?" Lala asked with her characteristic directness.

"I am indeed."

"He looks like you," Roro observed. "Same curly hair and same kind eyes."

Inko's expression melted into something soft and delighted. "What a sweet thing to say. Would you like to help me make dinner? I brought ingredients for katsu curry."

"Can I help too?" Roro asked, trying to sound casual but clearly excited by the prospect.

"Of course! The more hands, the better."

Izuku watched his mother seamlessly incorporate the Soul siblings into her cooking routine, patiently explaining each step and listening to their chatter about the flight and the new apartment and their plans for exploring Japan. She'd been nervous about meeting them, he knew, worried about whether she'd be able to connect with them. But she hadn’t needed to be worried. Within ten minutes, she had them calling her Auntie Inko and promising to teach her some of the Otheon dishes Rody had mentioned.

"She's wonderful," Rody said quietly, coming to stand beside Izuku in the doorway.

"She's been looking forward to this for weeks. I think she's more excited about you guys moving here than I am."

"Impossible," Rody said, bumping his shoulder. "Nobody could be more excited than you were when we got the final visa approval."

“I was allowed to cry," Izuku defended immediately.

"Happy crying is allowed," Rody corrected, jokingly. "Only the best kind."

They watched as Inko showed Lala how to bread the pork cutlets while Roro carefully measured rice into the cooker. The scene was so domestic and perfect that Izuku had to blink back tears.

"You okay?" Rody asked, noticing his expression.

"More than okay," Izuku said. "I just... I never thought I'd have this. It always seemed like something other people got to have."

"Well, now you get to have it too. We all do."

Dinner was a chaotic affair, with too many people crowded around a table that was slightly too small, but it was perfect. Lala regaled them with stories from her first day at the local elementary school, complete with dramatic reenactments of her attempts to communicate with her new classmates. Roro talked about the advanced classes he'd been placed in and the science club he was thinking of joining. Rody shared updates from his first week at the police liaison office, and Inko told embarrassing stories about Izuku's childhood that made everyone laugh.

"And then," she said, gesturing with her chopsticks, "he decided he was going to practice his hero poses in the mirror, but he got so enthusiastic that he fell backwards into the laundry basket and got stuck."

"Mom," Izuku groaned, his face red.

"How old was he?" Roro asked, grinning.

"Twelve," Inko said cheerfully.

"Twelve!" Lala dissolved into giggles. "That's the same age as Roro!"

"Hey!" Roro protested, but he was laughing too.

"The important thing," Rody said solemnly, "is that he was practicing his hero poses. That's dedication to the craft."

"Thank you," Izuku said gratefully. "At least someone appreciates my commitment."

"I appreciate it too," Lala said. "Can you show us some poses after dinner?"

"Absolutely not."

"Please?"

"We'll see," Izuku said, which everyone correctly interpreted as ‘yeah, okay.’

After dinner, Inko helped them finish unpacking the last of the boxes while the kids explored the apartment a bit more. By the time she left, the apartment looked lived-in and loved, full of personal touches that made it uniquely theirs.

"Bath time," Rody announced as soon as the door closed behind Inko.

"Do we have to?" Lala whined.

"Yes, you have to. You start at your new school tomorrow, and you're not going smelling like airplane and moving boxes."

The next hour was a flurry of bath-time negotiations, pajama selection, and tooth-brushing supervision. By the time both kids were clean and dressed for bed, Izuku felt like he'd run a marathon.

"Is it always like this?" he asked as they settled the kids in their respective rooms.

"This is actually pretty calm," Rody said. "You should see what happens when one of them doesn't want to go to bed."

"Looking forward to it," Izuku said, and was surprised to realize he meant it.

They read bedtime stories, Lala chose a book about a brave princess who rescued a dragon, while Roro opted for a mystery novel that was probably too advanced for him but that he was determined to understand. By the time they finished, both kids were drooping with exhaustion.

"Good night, Deku," Lala mumbled as he tucked her in. "Thank you for helping us move here."

"Thank you for letting me help," he replied, patting her head in an accidental imitation of how Toshinori would pat Izuku’s head.

"Good night, Izuku," Roro said from his doorway. "And thank you. For everything."

"You don't have to thank me, Roro. This is what families do for each other."

"I know. But I wanted to say it anyway."

After the kids were settled, Izuku and Rody finally had a moment to themselves. They collapsed onto the couch, both exhausted but happy.

"Day one down," Rody said, letting his head fall back against the cushions.

"Many more to go," Izuku replied, curling up against his side.

"Any second thoughts?"

"None. You?"

"Just one."

Izuku lifted his head to look at him. "What's that?"

"I'm thinking we should have gotten a bigger couch."

Izuku laughed, the sound muffled against Rody's shoulder. "We can go shopping this weekend. Add it to the list along with hero posters and a bookshelf with proper room harmony, whatever that means.”

"And a cape-washing machine for your costume."

"That's not a real thing."

"How do you know? Have you ever looked?"

"I... actually, no, I haven't."

"Then we're definitely adding it to the list."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, listening to the sounds of their new neighborhood settling into evening. Somewhere down the hall, they could hear the soft murmur of voices from another apartment, and outside, the distant hum of traffic created a gentle urban lullaby.

"Rody?" Izuku said eventually.

"Mmm?"

"I love our life."

"Yeah?" Rody's arm tightened around him. "Even the chaos and the too-small couch and the fact that we're probably going to be broke for the next year while we figure everything out?"

"Especially all of that."

"Good," Rody said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "Because I love it too."

Pino fluttered down from her perch on the bookshelf to settle on the back of the couch, her feathers fluffed up and beak clicking quietly.

"I think she approves of the new place," Izuku observed.

"She better."

They eventually made their way to Rody’s bedroom, the same room that would be shared with Izuku if they lasted, which Izuku was going to do his best to ensure. The idea was a concept that still felt new and wonderful and slightly surreal. The bed was bigger than the one in Rody's old apartment, but they still gravitated toward each other in the center, unwilling to give up the closeness they'd grown to crave since having to be long distance.

"Hey, Deku?" Rody said as they lay in the darkness, fingers intertwined between them.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For believing this could work. For being willing to take the risk."

"Thank you for being worth the risk."

"Even when I'm being an idiot?"

"Especially when you're being an idiot. That's when you need the most love."

Rody laughed softly. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"I'm counting on it."

They fell asleep like that, hands clasped and hearts full, in their new home with their new life stretching out before them like an adventure waiting to be written.

The next morning brought the controlled chaos of a school day. Once again, Izuku was happy to be able to actually use the vacation time Hound Dog had kept trying to force him to take. Lala couldn't find her favorite hair ribbon, Roro was convinced he'd forgotten something important but couldn't remember what, and Pino kept trying to help by flying around their heads.

"Do I look okay?" Lala asked for the fifth time, smoothing down her uniform skirt.

"You look perfect," Izuku assured her.

Roro butted in, looking proud of himself, "And if anyone gives you trouble, tell them your older brother is gonna be a pro-hero designer."

What an odd title, Izuku thought for half a second.

"One of them. The other’s gonna be a pilot!" she corrected, grinning.

"Yup!"

"And if that doesn't work," Rody added, "you tell them your other older brother’s bird can rat out all their secrets."

Pino chirped indignantly from her perch on his shoulder.

"She says she's not a snitch," Rody translated, lying with a smile. "She's a truth-teller."

"That's even scarier," Roro observed.

The walk to school was a whole affair, with all four of them making the trek together. Other parents and children gave them curious looks, since it was a smaller school and so new students were the talk of the town, but the attention didn't seem to bother the kids.

Too much.

"There are so many people," Lala whispered, pressing closer to Izuku as they approached the school gates.

"That just means more potential friends," he told her gently. "Remember what we practiced?"

"Introduce myself clearly, be polite, and don't be afraid to ask for help if I need it."

"Perfect. And what else?"

"If anyone is mean to me, it's not because of anything I did wrong. Some people are just mean, and that's their problem, not mine."

"Exactly right."

They said their goodbyes at the school entrance, with promises to hear all about their first day when they got home. Pino gave each kid what would probably be the equivalent of a kiss on the forehead as her way of saying goodbye. Watching them disappear into the crowd of students, Izuku felt a familiar pang of worry mixed with pride.

"They'll be fine," Rody said, reading his expression.

"I know. It's just... they're so young to be dealing with all this change."

"They're tougher than you think. They've had to be."

"I know that too. I just wish they didn't have to be."

"Yeah, well, that's what this is, isn't it? Wanting to protect them from everything while also knowing you have to let them figure some things out for themselves."

Izuku sighs softly, sliding their hands together. "Yeah, I know. Still, I’m like my mom; a worrier." Izuku said, leaning over to kiss him softly. "Still, I’m glad you’re letting me help out.”

"Even when Lala inevitably comes home crying because someone made fun of her accent?"

"Especially then.”

"And when Roro decides he's too cool to hang out with us anymore?"

"We'll win him back with superior cooking skills and embarrassing stories about my hero training." 

"And when I have a bad day at work and come home grumpy and impossible to live with?"

"I'll make you tea and let you complain until you feel better."

"What if I complain for hours?"

"Then I'll complain right back. UA is not for the weak, Rody. We'll be grumpy together."

Rody grinned. "I like that plan."

They walked home hand in hand, planning their day and discussing the logistics of their new life. Rody had to be at work in an hour, which is the only time Izuku has ever thought of a hero agency as evil, and Izuku had decided to go to his afternoon classes, but they had a little time to enjoy the quiet apartment and the novelty of waking up in the same place.

"I could get used to this," Rody said as they settled at the kitchen table with coffee and the remnants of the previous night's leftovers.

"The domestic bliss?"

"The domestic bliss, the morning routine, the fact that I don't have to wonder what you're doing or whether you're thinking about me." Rody reached across the table to take his hand. "I spent six months wondering if this was just a fantasy, if it could really work in real life."

"And now?"

"Now I know it's going to be even better than I imagined."

Izuku's phone rang, interrupting the moment. The caller ID showed Kacchan's name, and he grimaced slightly.

"I should take this. He's probably calling to yell at me about something."

"Put it on speaker," Rody suggested with a mischievous grin. "I want to hear the famous Bakugou Katsuki in action again."

"You really don't."

"I really do."

Against his better judgment, Izuku answered and put the phone on speaker.

"Izuku!" Bakugo's voice exploded from the device. "What the hell is this I'm hearing about you moving in with some guy and his kids? Is that where the fuck you are? Give me the fucking address, because if I hear pink cheeks go on anymore-"

"Hello to you too, Kacchan. And his name is Rody."

"I don't care what his name is! You're sixteen! You can't just start playing house with some random-"

"He's not random," Izuku interrupted firmly. "He’s the guy from Otheon I was on the run with, remember?"

There was a moment of silence from the other end of the line.

"You're serious about this."

"Dead serious."

Another pause.

"Fine. But if this guy breaks your heart, I'm going to blow him up."

"Noted," Rody said, speaking up for the first time. "Nice to finally talk to you, Bakugou. Izuku's told me a lot about you."

"He... what?"

"Rody Soul. The guy who's supposedly corrupting your friend."

"I didn't say you were corrupting him!"

"You totally implied it."

"I... shut up, nerd!"

Izuku bit back a laugh. "Kacchan, would you like to meet him? Meet all of them? You could come over for dinner sometime."

"I... maybe. If I'm not busy. Which I probably will be."

"Of course. But the invitation stands."

"Whatever. Just... don't do anything stupid, okay? And don't let him do anything stupid either."

"I'll keep that in mind," Rody said solemnly.

Izuku got back on track, “So, wait, Kacchan what was that about Ochako?”

Bakugou scoffed, “She’s been going on about how she needs to get a new poster of herself to give to a kid, and then raccoon eyes said she’d do it first, and then it became a competition.” 

They chatted a bit more, before Bakugou had to leave for class - after he got Izuku to promise he’d be back for afternoon classes.

After Bakugo hung up, Izuku and Rody sat in silence for a moment.

"That went better than expected," Izuku said finally.

"Your friends are very... protective."

"That’s just how Kacchan is. He cares. In his own loud, aggressive way."

"I can tell."

"Wait until you meet the rest of them. Ochako can be even worse, and all she really knows for a fact about you is that you committed a crime and we went on the run together."

"Now I'm terrified."

"You should be."

They finished their coffee and prepared for their respective days. Rody left first, kissing Izuku goodbye. Izuku watched from the window as he walked down the street, marveling at the simple domestic pleasure of seeing his boyfriend off to work.

His phone buzzed with a text from his mother: How did the first morning go?

Perfect, he typed back. Absolutely perfect.

I'm so happy for you, sweetheart.
…You better be home at least one night every weekend until you’re a bit older, Izuku!

Thank you for accepting them so quickly. It means everything.
And I will be mom!!

They're family now. Of course I accept them.

Family. The word kept coming up, and each time it did, it felt more natural, more right. This wasn't just a relationship anymore, it was a life they were building together, a future they were creating with intention and love and hope.

At UA that afternoon, Izuku found himself fielding questions from his classmates about his new living situation. Word had apparently gotten out, though he wasn't sure how.

"Is it true you're basically a dad now?" Kaminari asked during lunch.

"I'm not a dad," Izuku protested. "I'm more like... a big brother. Or something."

"That's what dads say when they don't want to admit they're dads," Kirishima observed.

"You're totally a dad," Mina agreed. "It's so cute!"

"I am not-"

"Do you pack their lunches?" Tsuyu asked.

"Well, yes, but-"

"Are you going to help with homework?"

"I mean probably-"

"Worry about them when they're at school?"

"Of course, but that doesn't mean-"

"Dad," Kaminari said definitively. "Definitely a dad."

"A teenage dad," Sero added. 

"It's not like that!" Izuku insisted, his face red. "We're just... we're a family. It's complicated."

"All families are complicated," Iida said, speaking up for the first time. "The important thing is that you're committed to each other's wellbeing. That's very mature of you, Midoriya."

"Thank you, Iida."

"However," Iida continued, "you should be careful not to let your new responsibilities interfere with your hero training. The world is counting on you to-"

"I know," Izuku said quickly. "I'm not going to let anything slide. If anything, having people to protect makes me more motivated to become stronger."

"Good. But if you need help balancing everything, please don't hesitate to ask. We're your friends, and we want to support you."

"All of us," Todoroki added quietly. "Even if some of us are bad at expressing it."

Izuku felt a wave of affection for his classmates. They might tease him mercilessly, but when it mattered, they always had his back.

"Actually," he said, "would you guys like to meet them? Maybe we could have a group dinner or something. I think they'd like you."

"Can we see baby pictures?" Mina asked immediately.

"They're not babies. Roro is twelve and Lala is six."

"Six is practically a baby," Kaminari said. "I bet she's adorable."

"She is pretty cute," Izuku admitted with a smile.

"Then it's settled," Kirishima declared. "Group dinner at your place. Text the groupchat when you’ve got it all figured! This is going to be awesome."

Todoroki spoke up, “...Does All Might know he’s a grandfather?”

Izuku coughed harshly, even as his classmates giggled.

---

The rest of the school day passed quickly, and before he knew it, Izuku was walking back to Rody’s. He stopped at a convenience store to pick up snacks for the kids' after-school hunger and flowers for no reason other than that he wanted to surprise Rody with something pretty.

The apartment felt different when he walked in, a bit lived-in and warm, with small signs of the morning's chaos still visible. Roro's textbooks were stacked on the dining table, and one of Lala's hair ribbons was draped over the back of a chair. 

It wasn’t long before the sound of footsteps in the hallway announced the arrival of Roro and Lala. The door burst open, and Lala practically bounced into the apartment.

"Deku! Deku! Guess what happened at school today!"

"What happened?" he asked, catching her as she launched herself at him.

"I made a friend! Her name is Fuyuko and she has the prettiest quirk! She can make snow flowers! And she taught me how to properly say 'nice to meet you' in Japanese instead of the way I’ve been saying it, and I taught her how to say 'hello' in English and we're going to eat lunch together tomorrow!"

"That's wonderful, Lala. I'm so proud of you."

"And look!" She pulled a carefully folded piece of paper from her backpack. "She drew me a picture!"

The drawing showed two stick figures holding hands under a shower of delicate snowflakes. It was clearly the work of a six-year-old, but it was also undeniably sweet.

"It's beautiful," Izuku said seriously. "Should we put it on the refrigerator or in your room?"

"My room, please!"

Roro appeared in the doorway, looking less enthusiastic but not unhappy.

"How was your day?" Izuku asked him.

"Okay, I guess. The classes are harder than back home, but not impossible. And the science teacher said I could join the robotics club if I want."

"Do you want to?"

"Maybe. There's this girl in my class who's really good at programming, and she said she'd help me catch up on the stuff I missed by switching schools mid-year."

"That's great, Roro. Making friends and pursuing your interests…that's exactly what we hoped for."

"Yeah, well, don't get too excited. It's only been one day."

But despite his attempt at nonchalance, Izuku could see the relief in his eyes. The transition was going to be okay.

"Where's Rody?" Izuku asked, realizing the apartment was missing an occupant.

"He texted and said he had to stop at the store," Roro said. "Something about needing ingredients for a special dinner."

"Special dinner?"

"To celebrate our first day," Lala explained. "He's been planning it all week."

As if on cue, the door opened again and Rody appeared, laden with grocery bags and looking slightly frazzled.

"Please tell me you all had good days," he said without preamble, "because I bought enough food to feed you guys for a couple of days and if anyone's upset I'm going to have to eat my feelings."

"We had great days," Izuku assured him, taking some of the bags. "But I would have helped you eat your feelings anyway."

"And I would have helped too," Lala added seriously. "Because that's what families do."

"So," he said, clearing his throat, "what's for dinner?"

"Katsu curry," Rody announced, pulling ingredients from the bags. "In honor of our first family meal in our new home."

"Can I help?" Lala asked immediately.

"Me too," Roro added, less eager but clearly interested.

"Everyone helps," Rody declared. "That's the rule."

The next hour was a symphony of controlled chaos as they all worked together to prepare dinner. Lala was in charge of washing vegetables, Roro handled the rice, Izuku managed the sauce, and Rody supervised the actual cooking. Pino provided commentary from her perch on the refrigerator, occasionally flying down to "help" by reorganizing ingredients.

"This is harder than it looks," Roro muttered as he tried to get the rice-to-water ratio exactly right.

"Cooking is an art," Rody said sagely. "It takes practice."

"Is that why you burned the eggs yesterday?" Lala asked innocently.

"I didn't burn them. I gave them extra flavor."

"They were black."

"A lot of extra flavor."

Izuku laughed softly as he listened to the siblings bicker and tease one another.

When dinner was finally ready, they gathered around their too-small table with their mismatched chairs and their perfectly imperfect meal. Rody raised his glass of water in a toast.

"To new beginnings," he said solemnly.

"To family," Izuku added.

"To yummy katsu curry!" Lala chimed in, making everyone laugh.

"To not burning the food tomorrow," Roro said dryly.

"Hey!" Rody protested, but he was smiling.

They clinked their glasses together, and Izuku thought that if this was what the rest of his life ended up looking like, he was the luckiest person in the world.

After dinner, they settled in the living room for what was apparently going to become a near nightly routine, homework help, story time, and family bonding. Izuku helped Roro with his Japanese language homework while Rody braided Lala's hair and listened to her recap every detail of her day for the third time.

"I think Fuyuko wants to be a hero too or a nurse, or something," Lala was saying. "She said her snow quirk could be really useful for helping ice wounds and cheer littler kids up, and I told her about how you saved the world, Deku, and she was really impressed."

"I didn't save the world alone," Izuku corrected gently. "Lots of other heroes too."

"But you were the most important part."

"All parts are important," Rody said, securing her braid with a ribbon. "That's what makes a team work."

"Like how we're all important parts of our family?"

"Exactly like that."

Later, after the kids were in bed and the apartment had settled into evening quiet, Izuku and Rody finally had a chance to really talk about their day.

"So," Rody said as they curled up on the couch together, "how does it feel? The reality versus the fantasy?"

"Better," Izuku said without hesitation. "So much better than I imagined."

"Even the part where Lala cried for ten minutes because she couldn't find her favorite pencil?"

"It means she feels safe enough to have feelings about little things. That's a good sign."

"And the part where Roro pretended not to care about making friends but then spent twenty minutes telling us about every person he talked to?"

"That's a good sign too. He's opening up, letting himself hope for connections."

"And the part where I nearly had a panic attack in the grocery store because I couldn't remember if Lala likes strawberry or grape jelly?"

Izuku twisted in his arms to look at him. "You didn't tell me about that."

"It wasn't a big deal. Just... sometimes the responsibility hits me all at once, you know? Like, what if I mess this up? What if I'm not good enough at this whole parenting thing?"

"Then we'll figure it out together," Izuku said firmly. "That's what partners do. And for the record, Lala likes both strawberry and grape jelly. She told me yesterday that she wants to try mixing them together to see what happens."

"That sounds disgusting." Rody chirps, looking a bit thrilled.

"It probably will be. But we'll let her try it anyway, because that's how kids learn."

Rody was quiet for a moment, his fingers playing with the curls at the nape of Izuku's neck.

"I love you," he said finally. "For believing in this, for believing in us, for making it all feel possible."

"I love you too. All of you."

"Even when we're chaotic and loud and slightly overwhelming?"

"Especially then."

They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the sounds of their new life settling around them. In the distance, they could hear the muffled sounds of their neighbors. A television, a baby crying, someone practicing piano. It was the symphony of ordinary life, and Izuku enjoyed the noise.

"Hey, Deku?" Rody said eventually.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for coming back."

"Thanks for welcoming me back."

"Always."

And as they settled into sleep in their new home, surrounded by the people they'd chosen to love, Izuku thought that "always" sounded like the most beautiful promise in the world.

Notes:

okay!! thats a wrap LOL
hope you enjoyed reading this!! im not actually too sure abt how i feel abt the ending, so feel free to let me know your thoughts on it hehe