Chapter Text
Eight Months Later
Katsuki came home later than usual, exhausted and sleepy.
After a quick shower, he entered their bedroom quietly, trying not to wake Eijirou. But as soon as he sat on the edge of the bed, he heard his voice.
“It’s late,” Eijirou murmured.
“A villain decided to ruin my evening,” Katsuki replied, putting on fresh pants. It was hot, so he decided to stay shirtless.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, didn’t even touch me,” he lied down next to him, beneath the sheets, which smelled like fresh laundry that Eijirou had changed.
“Mmh.”
“The bastard teleported.”
“And how did you handle him?” Eijirou asked, moving closer, resting his head on Katsuki’s pillow, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“He became predictable in his movements.”
Eijirou listened patiently as Katsuki complained, occasionally planting soft kisses on his cheek.
“He made terrible jokes.”
“Mmh.”
“And fought terribly. Still, it took me too long to catch him.”
“Doesn’t matter. You did well.”
They fell into silence. Eijirou turned his head, resting his cheek against the pillow, their noses brushing together.
“Did you miss me?”
Eijirou smiled. They hadn’t seen each other all day.
“You know, Katsuki, I have other things to do in life. I don’t always think about my boyfriend,” he teased.
“Like what?”
“Um… usually saving society from evil. How about that?” he continued, his hand lightly caressing Katsuki’s exposed belly. “I did the laundry today.”
“That’s a rare event.”
Eijirou chuckled. “I also learned a new recipe. I’ll show you later.”
“…Are you nervous?”
Katsuki could always tell when Eijirou was anxious. He usually buried himself in tasks.
“For what? Because I’m meeting your parents tomorrow for the first time as your boyfriend? Nah,” he said sarcastically.
“It’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I know…”
His hand still rested on Katsuki’s stomach, tracing familiar patterns, a comfort only Eijirou understood.
“We better sleep, we need to get up early tomorrow,” Eijirou suggested, pressing a kiss to his forehead, then his lips. But when he pulled away, he didn’t go far. He kissed him again.
“Maybe I missed you a little,” he whispered, deepening the kiss. Katsuki would have let him continue, but Eijirou pulled away after a few seconds.
“Goodnight,” he whispered, laying his head back on the pillow.
“Night.”
The alarm blared through the room, its shrill sound rousing Katsuki from his slumber. He turned it off with barely any effort, almost instinctively. He knew he should get up, but his body was too tired. His eyes wouldn’t open.
“Katsu…” Eijirou’s voice came from beneath the blankets, but his words died on his lips. “We need to get up.”
A tired groan was the only response.
“I know.”
Eijirou sighed too, yawning.
“Are you awake?” he asked.
“No.”
“You’re awake.”
Katsuki groaned again.
“Do you want to sleep a little more? I’ll wake you in an hour.”
“Okay.”
Eijirou smiled, watching him, his face adorable and sleepy. He kissed Katsuki’s forehead before getting up and stretching, heading to the kitchen.
The TV flickered to life, the noise helping him shake off the last bits of sleep as he began preparing breakfast.
He needed a distraction. The anxiety gnawed at him.
Would it be strange? He’d always gotten along with Katsuki’s parents… but only as friends. Would things be different now? What would they think of him? Katsuki had said his mother was thrilled when he told her. It would be fine, right?
The news was on, and there was a segment about his boyfriend. Eijirou turned up the volume. Katsuki had taken down the villain despite his teleporting abilities (which were hard to predict, even in a confined space), rescuing passengers from five stranded cars.
The media had definitely warmed to him, especially since the public announcement of his relationship with Red Riot.
People loved a love story.
Then Katsuki appeared, still rubbing his eye, looking adorably groggy.
“Didn’t you want to sleep?”
“I’m awake now.”
“Look, they’re talking about you,” Eijirou pointed to the TV, but Katsuki was staring at him, not the screen.
“I don’t care,” he grumbled. “I need coffee.”
“I’ll make it, you sit.”
Eijirou watched as Katsuki took a seat at the counter, shirtless, the warmth of his skin glowing in the morning light. He was beautiful. And, damn, he was his boyfriend. He cooked for him. He kissed him whenever he wanted. He made love with him. He shared his bed.
Eijirou handed him the coffee, then watched as Katsuki absentmindedly brushed his hand over the counter. His fingers found Eijirou’s, and he began to play with them, a simple, quiet touch. They were on opposite sides of the counter.
“Do you think they’ll like me?” Eijirou asked suddenly as Katsuki finished his coffee.
“They’ve known you for ten years.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy about it.”
“They’ll be happy if I’m happy.”
Eijirou nodded slowly. “You’re right… But your mom intimidates me.”
“She was designed for that purpose.”
Eijirou laughed. “She’s your mom, she brought you into this world, show some respect.”
“She’s a pain,” Katsuki muttered, squeezing his hand. “When’s the wedding?” he imitated her voice playfully.
He said it as a joke, but there was an underlying hope in his words.
They’d been dating for eight months, living together for three. It was too soon. But they’d known each other for over a decade, and they’d always loved each other.
“I wonder that too,” Eijirou joked, but then they just stared at each other in silence. Katsuki began to trace lazy circles on Eijirou’s hand with his thumb.
“Come here,” he said softly. Usually, when Katsuki looked that shy, it meant he wanted affection. And it happened a lot in the morning.
Eijirou moved closer, wrapping his arms around him, showering his head and face with soft kisses. Katsuki buried his face into Eijirou’s chest, rubbing his forehead against him in the most endearing way.
“But… I am a little worried,” Eijirou admitted, tightening his hold on him.
“They’re more worried about you than me,” Katsuki teased.
Eijirou laughed. He pressed his lips into Katsuki’s blonde hair, exhaling deeply. But he could feel the anxiety still hanging there, and Katsuki knew it too.
He pulled back slightly, tilting his head up. “A kiss might help?” His voice was sweet, almost teasing.
Eijirou took his face in his hands. “Maybe…” he replied, letting his lips meet Katsuki’s, soft and tender.
When he pulled away, Katsuki’s eyes were still closed, looking too cute for Eijirou to resist. He kissed him again.
“Mmh. Another one?” Katsuki murmured, and Eijirou obliged, smiling.
“Another one.”
Another one.
He stayed there, his lips lingering longer. The taste of Katsuki’s mouth was familiar now—coffee, warmth, and love. And in that sweet morning moment, it deepened into something more intimate and meaningful.
“Babe,” Eijirou pulled back, “how about a shower? You up for it?”
“Mmh.”
It had gone well. The dishes were cleaned and put away neatly. Everything was in order. His parents had left.
Eijirou sighed in relief. The tension had melted away. He walked over to where Katsuki lay on the couch, watching TV.
As soon as Eijirou walked in, Katsuki shifted to make room for him, and Eijirou laid beside him, resting his head on Katsuki’s outstretched arm. They were face to face.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah, much better. I don’t get this anxious even when fighting villains.”
“That’s ridiculous, they love you so much they’d prefer you as their son.”
Eijirou chuckled, loving when Katsuki made those jokes to cheer him up. It always worked.
He kissed him lightly on the lips, but every time he felt Katsuki’s mouth, he couldn’t help but kiss him again. And again.
“Watching TV?” Eijirou asked, pulling away just a little to kiss him better.
“Yeah, but…” Katsuki looked at the screen and then at him, “it’s not that interesting.”
Eijirou smiled and kissed him again, this time with more intensity. He cupped Katsuki’s face, pulling him closer, and deepening the kiss as they sank into the cushions of the couch.
They loved kissing each other.
But then a phone rang.
“It’s yours,” Eijirou mumbled, pulling away from the kiss. Katsuki, still lying down, groaned.
“It’s on the table.”
Eijirou reached for the phone.
“It’s Midoriya.”
“Give it to me.” Katsuki sat up suddenly, as though he wanted to grab it from Eijirou’s hands.
Eijirou answered instead.
“Midoriya?”
“Kirishima, hey, how did it go?”
Eijirou looked at Katsuki, who flopped back onto the couch, defeated. Did Katsuki tell Midoriya about the meeting with his parents? Why? Was he worried too? Eijirou found it endearing.
“What?” he pretended not to understand, smiling and lying down next to Katsuki, his chest against the sofa.
“The meeting” the friend responded.
Katsuki, clearly listening, sighed. Eijirou smiled playfully. “Oh, he told you?”
“I don’t know why he told me. I thought he was a little nervous.”
“Nervous?” Eijirou tried not to laugh. Katsuki reached for the phone but missed.
“But it went well, right?”
“I don’t know, I’ll ask him.” Eijirou moved the phone away from his ear.
“I’m going to kill him,” Katsuki growled.
“You were worried? How sweet.”
“Give me the phone.”
Eijirou laughed and handed it to him.
“I’ll call you back,” he said, hanging up the call.
Eijirou turned to him, raising his head but keeping his body sprawled out. “Sorry, what were you saying? That it’s stupid to worry?”
“I never said I was worried.”
“Mmh,” Eijirou wasn’t convinced.
“I wasn’t.”
“Okay.”
“Really.”
“Fine, I believe you.”
They sat in silence, the TV humming in the background.
“Maybe a little,” Katsuki’s cheeks flushed pink, “but just for the old lady and her big mouth.”
“Why?”
“I thought she’d embarrass you, talking about… things you’re not ready to talk about yet.”
Eijirou understood. He meant the usual family talk—about growing up and the pressure to settle down.
He laid his head back down on the couch. “She asked me when she helped with the dishes.”
Katsuki looked at him, “What did she say?”
“Plans for the future… marriage…”
Katsuki sighed, irritated. “Sorry, I told her—”
“Don’t worry. My parents do that too. But… it doesn’t bother me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“…it doesn’t bother me either.”
Katsuki took his hand, pulling it to his face, wanting the gentle touch. Eijirou obliged.
“Because I want to marry you,” he continued, unafraid.
Eijirou smiled as widely as he could. “I love you,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss him.
“I love you too,” Katsuki said before their lips met, once more, swallowing up any lingering doubts.
Seven months later
“Shall we get a dog?”
“No, they’re too noisy.”
“You bark more than a dog does. How about a cat?”
“It depends on the cat. As long as it doesn’t get on my nerves, sure.”
“Animals are adopted to be cared for, sweetheart.”
“Then I don’t want one.”
Eijirou sighed, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I think you’d actually like a dog.”
“Can I train it to attack Pikachu whenever he shows up?”
He laughed. “What did Kaminari ever do to you?” He leaned back against the bench.
Cherry blossoms fluttered gently in the spring breeze, their petals falling like soft pink snow. The red of his hair, his eyes, the soft glow of his face… Kirishima seemed like part of the landscape, as if he belonged there, surrounded by nature’s beauty.
“In a month, it’s your birthday,” the redhead said, his voice calm. “Someone has to water the plants while we’re away.”
“It’s only three days.”
“My plants die if they don’t get watered.”
“You bought them two days ago.”
“And I already love them.”
“They’re seeds in the soil.”
“And I want to see them grow.”
It was adorable. The slightest pink tinge at the tip of his nose, the pink hues of spring framing his expression like a delicate painting.
Bakugou could never tire of looking at him.
“Mina? No, I don’t trust her,” he muttered, thinking aloud, “and not Kaminari either… Midoriya doesn’t have a car, nor does Uraraka… hm…”
He brushed a stray lock of hair that the wind had messed up. That morning, he hadn’t used gel, so it floated freely in the breeze.
“Yaoyorozu or Iida are the most responsible… even Tsuyu… oh, Amajiki.”
“Who?”
“You know exactly who.”
“Want to give him the keys?”
“He lives nearby and has a green thumb, so I trust him more. Is that alright with you?”
“As long as he doesn’t set the building on fire.”
“Watering plants?”
Katsuki kept his fingers tangled in the strands of his hair, gently tucking them behind his ear before pressing a kiss to his forehead. When Kirishima turned to look at him, Bakugou’s lips found his.
“You taste like strawberries,” the blond whispered.
“I had a candy earlier, but I didn’t like it.”
“I like it,” he smiled, pulling him closer for another kiss, deepening it, letting their tongues dance together.
Sweetness, sugar. The scent of spring in the air.
But Kirishima pulled away, his eyes playful.
“Paparazzi,” he pointed behind them, “they’ve been following us since we went downtown.”
Damn it. Bakugou huffed in annoyance. Two guys with small cameras were hiding behind some bushes in the distance. Could they not have a peaceful moment even in the most secluded part of the park?
He gave them the finger. Kirishima gently took his hand, holding it tightly.
“Not cute,” he scolded softly.
“Neither is minding other people’s business.”
“It’s true, but that’s how it works,” Kirishima interlaced their fingers, smiling as he pulled him to his feet. “Let’s go home, so you can kiss me as much as you want.”
“I’d rather blow them up first.”
“Forget about them…”
At home. Hand in hand.
One year and five months later
His lips tasted of the sea salt and the summer sun. The soft, breathy moans he made blended with the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.
“If we don’t go back, they’ll start wondering where we are,” Eijirou murmured, his face bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.
But Katsuki didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay there, watching the day fade into night on the beach, with his lover by his side.
The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving a brilliant canvas of pink clouds. The water shimmered in hues of red and gold, and there was a peaceful silence. Just the sound of their lips meeting, their breaths intertwining.
They sat together at a random spot on the shore. Sometimes, the warm water kissed their toes. Wet sand clung to their swimsuits.
A high cliff separated them from the public beach, where their friends were setting up a bonfire, shielding them from prying eyes.
“If we were the only ones in the world, I’d make love with you right here, right now,” Katsuki whispered against his face, his breath mingling with the soft breeze.
And in that moment, Eijirou understood—there was no rush to return to their friends.
His lover gently laid him down onto the soft sand beneath them. It was warm, plush, and comforting. He didn’t care about the grains stuck in his hair or on his back. Bakugou cupped his face and pulled him closer, their kisses deepening. Occasionally, Eijirou couldn’t help but smile. He just couldn’t hold it in.
“You’re so beautiful,” the blonde whispered, lying beside him, propped up on his side to reach him. It was probably the twentieth time he had said it. He murmured sweet words, promises, compliments—as though they were two teenagers lost in their first love.
“Do you remember what I told you the morning after we confessed?” he asked, just inches from his face, his fingers gently caressing his cheek and his red hair.
“That you wanted to make me happy… even happier,” Eijirou replied, his gaze steady. His voice was soft, barely audible to anyone who might be nearby.
Words that belonged only to them and the sea.
“That you wanted a future with me,” he added.
“Yes, exactly. Are you happy now?”
“Yes, I don’t think it’s possible to be any happier than I am right now.”
“I think it is…” Bakugou said, his tone tender.
The sound of the waves, the seagulls returning to their nests, the sea rushing against the shore.
“I love you, Eijirou,” Katsuki murmured, pressing his lips to his, then taking his hand and bringing it to his mouth, breathing gently against it, trying to calm the storm inside his heart.
“I really do,” he continued.
“Me too… is everything okay?”
“A little… too much,” he kissed his fingers. “I want you, by my side…i want you to forget how to suffer.”
Eijirou sat up, turning toward him. Sand fell from his back and hair.
Bakugou took his hand, gently enclosing it in his own. “I swear… I swear I’ll take care of you, I’ll make you laugh and cry with joy. You’ll never be alone. I’ll love you forever, no matter what…”
“…Is the sea making you romantic?” Eijirou teased, “Why are you saying all this? I already know.”
Taking a breath, Katsuki tried to fight back the emotion in his eyes, then slowly let go of Eijirou’s hand, inviting him to open it.
The question.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, just as Eijirou’s eyes fell on the ring hidden in the palm of his own hand.
The sky had darkened further. Stars had begun to twinkle. The sea was calm, and the wind was strong.
Eijirou took the silver ring, still in disbelief, gazing at it as if to make sure it was real. Then he looked up. His face softened, a sweet smile spread across his lips, his eyes glistening.
“Dammit,” he whispered, “you beat me to it.”
“I’m always one step ahead, you know that.”
Eijirou laughed, still smiling. “Yeah… of course, I want to,” his throat burned, his eyes stung with tears.
The joy swelling in his chest was overwhelming, so much that he needed to release it through tears.
He threw himself into Bakugou’s arms, holding his bare torso close, feeling the sand stick to his skin, the softness of the tan.
Bakugou wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in as if he was afraid to let go, and Eijirou felt like he was finally at home.
After a moment, he slipped the ring on, breathing deeply to calm the tears, then admired it under the faint light of the setting sun.
It seemed to glow, like a tiny star on his finger. It was beautiful.
Eijirou showered Bakugou with kisses, all over his face, for what felt like five minutes, laughing like a fool.
“I need to show Mina,” he then said, “come on, let’s go back to the others.”
He forced Bakugou to stand and dragged him quickly down the beach to join their friends.
They left footprints in the sand. Some were swept away by the water, others by the wind. But that was okay, because the sea would remember.
Hand in hand, they walked back, the cool metal of the ring against his skin.
Most of the group was there.
As soon as they arrived, a hush fell over them. Even Sero, who had been opening a folding chair, froze, still holding the two halves in his hands. Mina covered her face with both hands.
One nod from Bakugou, and their friends erupted in cheers.
Of course they knew. Of course. No one had tried to stop them when they wandered off.
They wrapped them in a group hug, and Eijirou felt even happier. Sharing this moment with his friends was the best thing that could have happened (besides the proposal).
Did Bakugou know this? Did he know how much Eijirou would love to feel the closeness of his friends too? Of course he did.
“Do you like the ring?” Mina asked, a mischievous grin on her face. “I’ll modestly take the credit for it.” She made him sit next to her on the towel. “You should’ve seen him when he came to ask for my advice… he was so embarrassed.”
They looked at each other. Eijirou sat beside her, giving a soft smile.
“…And you have no idea how hard it was not to tell you anything for… what, three months? I was going crazy…”
Between their laughter and chatter, Eijirou leaned closer to Bakugou’s ear.
“When we get back to the hotel, I’ll do my part,” he whispered, sending a shiver through Bakugou’s body, “I’ll thank you properly.”
He saw Bakugou swallow, a bit flushed. He loved making him feel this way. This would never change.
But it was true. That night, they would leave the marks of their love on the mattress.
Just like the footprints on the beach.
The whispered words between the walls of a room.
The marks on their fingers left by the rings.
The outline of their bodies etched on the fogged-up shower glass.
The sweet, unspoken reason of their feelings.
The memory of a future.
And so they moved forward…