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It was their first anniversary and Eijirou wanted to make Katsuki dinner. The only problem was that he couldn't cook to save his life. He looked up countless recipes, even took classes in secret, but in the end, he failed and he failed miserably. The 'curry' he made came out a maroon color. How? He didn't quite know. Trying a bit himself it was bitter and filled with far too many spices, none of which meshed together well at all. The carrots were as hard as a rock and the meat was like chewing on rubber.
Still, despite the odd smell in the air and the visibly disgusting meal, Katsuki took a seat at the table where Kirishima had a plate set up for him. Katsuki eyed the meal before him with an obviously forced masked face. He glanced up at Eijirou who stood tentatively by the table before he muttered a thanks and scooped up some of the curry and rice on a spoon. He gave it a careful blow before placing it in his mouth. Immediately his eye twitched and Eijirou bit his bottom lip watching the spoon linger in Katsuki’s mouth before he inhaled and slowly pulled it out. Delicately, he chewed all the while struggling to keep a neutral expression and Eijirou would have laughed if his gesture wasn’t so sweet.
“You don’t have to eat it, Katsuki,” Eijirou told him. “I know it’s bad.” Katsuki shook his head, swallowing down the bite he took and exhaled.
“It’s fine.” He grunted taking two large mouthfuls of the rice, the arguable only edible part. “Just overcooked the meat a little. It’s fine.”
“Yeah? That it?”
“…Yeah.” Katsuki avoided his gaze, and Eijirou stepped behind him and gave the back of his head a kiss.
“You’re a horrible liar.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You are,” Eijirou hummed before giving him another kiss. “But you are very sweet. I know I worked hard but you don’t have to poison yourself,” He said stepping back to the kitchen where he opened he microwave over to reveal takeout. “I had a hunch it wouldn’t work out when I couldn’t cut the meat.”
Katsuki looked him over, setting the spoon down before he gave in.
“It’s like rubber, Ei,” He confessed and Eijirou laughed setting down the takeout. “And the carrots are still hard. How did that happen?”
“I didn’t think they’d take so long to cook.” He admitted. “I added them in last because I forgot.”
“What is this color?” Katsuki gestured to the almost blackish-red color the curry had.
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
“I care about you a lot,” Katsuki told him, “but if you want to do this again…make eggs. You are good at eggs.”
“The rice is fine. I could do some omurice.”
“No. Just eggs,” Katsuki said quickly before looking ready to backtrack and Eijirou let out a loud laugh at his blunt honesty.
-
It was five years into their marriage that they decided to take a second honeymoon. Katsuki and Eijirou took a week off from work to go overseas to the beaches of France and explore more of the world. Katsuki wooed his husband with his mediocre French skills and Eijirou impressed his husband with his endless stomach for French cuisine.
They woke up each morning to a small and borderline dingy hotel room that overlooked the ocean. Even with windows closed they could hear the ocean roar and though Japan was nothing but ocean given the fact that it was a large island, there was something nice about this particular ocean. Maybe it was how soft Eijirou's skin was under Katsuki's touch. Maybe it was how soft Katsuki's eyes looked as he stared at his husband first thing in the morning with such love and admiration. Maybe it was the quiet kisses they shared with no real heat and only gentle touches. Maybe it was all of that and more combined into one perfect trip.
Whatever it was, they loved it almost as much as they loved one another.
-
It was just shy of Christmas when Katsuki was admitted into the hospital.
Katsuki loathed anesthetics. He detested the heavy weight his body felt while on them and his inability to do anything because he was too drugged up to feeling his own fucking toes. He hated how it felt like hours for him to simply open his eyes and blink enough to see only partially better.
He hated hospitals.
He gave a low grunt waking up, barely opening his eyes enough to catch anything in the room. He felt a hand in his and offered another grunt at whatever low mutter of words were being spoken to him.
“Hey, babe,” Eijirou called and Katsuki gave a slow blink, letting out a long exhale.
“Not y’r babe,” he grumbled and Eijirou gave a small laugh.
“You finally up Zero?” A loud nurse called out as she entered and Katsuki tried to muster the best glare he could at her horrid voice.
“Bitch,” he cursed and the nurse just smiled, used to him and his behavior.
“You need me to leave?” Eijirou asked the nurse and Katsuki grunted, holding onto his hand.
“Not if he cooperates. Mind telling me your name?” The nursed asked going through routine and Katsuki threw her another glare as she borderline manhandled him to do her job.
“Ground Zero, number one fucking hero,” Katsuki spat and the nurse rolled her eyes and Katsuki begrudgingly told her his name if only to get her out quicker.
“Mom’s name?”
“Bitch.”
“Oh wow, you must be feeling pretty out of it. You usually go for hag.”
“Same difference.”
The nurse snorted.
“Any pain?”
“Can’t feel anything.”
“Doctor went a little higher on the dosage after the nerve injury last time. He wasn’t sure how you’d feel.”
“Am I in one piece still?”
“Unfortunately for us, seems like it.”
“Fuck you. You get paid for this. I’m giving you a job.”
“If my job relied on you, Zero, I’d choose a new profession,” The nurse said finally pulling away. “Good to know you are doing well though. Just one broken rib this time and a cut closer to your spine than the doctor liked. Everything seems fine but he’ll be in shortly to give you the full report. You two need anything from me?”
“Go away.”
“We’re fine, thank you, Honda,” Eijirou replied politely.
Hospital visits were unavoidable. They were professional heroes and nearly every battle ended up with someone in the ER. Fortunately for these two, chances were they'd end up in the same room either both in beds or only one.
“Tomorrow is Christmas and you had to go and get yourself all beat up,” Eijirou sighed, running his fingers through his husband's hair.
“Not my fault that horse-faced fuck couldn't wrangle that villain himself.”
“Hanata tried his best Katsuki,”
“Well, it wasn't good enough.”
“Nothing is for you.”
“'cept you,” Katsuki added and Eijirou couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Neither could Katsuki.
“You're really drugged up, huh?”
“I can't feel my toes.”
“You know this doesn't exclude you from seeing your mom tomorrow. Or my parents,” Eijirou warned and Katsuki sunk into the bed below.
“Fuck.”
-
Eijirou was the glue that held the class together during their school days. And as adults, he was the glue that kept them all together even after graduation. He went out with someone from school at least once a week and usually, he was able to tag three other people along, not counting Katsuki, who more often than not, always attended.
Today was an easier group, to Katsuki's pleasure. Mina, Hanata, and Denki all sat around a table joined by Katsuki and Eijirou. All five were looking over the menu to the new curry and ramen house that was blowing up on twitter so much that Mina swore she'd die if she didn't have it right this second.
“Katsuki can you order for me? I have to go to the bathroom,” Eijirou asked getting up and Katsuki gave him a nod.
“Waiter is coming dude, just wait,” Denki said.
“I've been waiting! I got to go now, dude. Katsuki are you getting—“
“Yep,” Katsuki said cutting him off.
“Get me—“
“I know,” Katsuki finished and Eijirou smiled and walked off.
“Talk about sharing a brain cell.” Ashido snorted as the waiter approached.
“Did you need another minute to wait and look over the menu?”
“No,” Katsuki said closing his menu. “Level nine spicy curry with crunchy chicken.” He said handing over the menu before gesturing his thumb to the empty space beside him. “He’ll have level 5 beef curry.” Katsuki reached out to close Eijirou’s menu before spotting something. “And a melon soda.”
“Oh, a melon soda? Is it cheat day for you two?” Denki teased and Katsuki flipped him off before handing over his menu.
“So I saw that interview of you two,” Mina smirked, after ordering her food. “Very sweet.”
“I have no idea what you are even talking about,” Katsuki blurted and Mina scoffed.
“The interview with Ei you did yesterday!”
“Yeah? What of it?”
“What do you mean 'what of it?'” Ashido exclaimed. “It was adorable! You sat there for twenty whole minutes and did nothing but rave on about how amazing your husband was.”
“Well, he fucking is.”
“Dude stop you're gonna make me puke.” Denki placed a hand over his mouth and Katsuki rolled his eyes.
“It's moments like that where I finally see what Ei sees in you. You can be very romantic when you want.”
“You think I'm gonna treat someone like Eijirou like some sack of shit? He's perfect. He deserves perfection. That's why he's with me.”
“He's just complimenting himself at this point,” Sero noted taking a large sip of his drink.
“With subtle notes of love,” Ashido sighed. “Oh to be young.”
“I'm fucking thirty-two,” Katsuki said with a flat face and Ashido just sighed once more.
-
“Where would you be if you weren't a hero?” Eijirou asked one night. The two of them were in bed, both awake but laying together in the dark.
“Dead,” Katsuki replied with and earned a light shove from his husband.
“Don't be gloomy.”
“Don't ask weird questions then.”
“It's not weird. I'm curious.”
“What would you be then?”
“I'd probably help my parents with their ramen shop. Take over the business when they are too old, stuff like that.” Katsuki hummed, letting his fingers trail up and down Eijirou's arm. “And you?”
“Don't know. Never thought about it.”
“Never?”
“Always wanted to be a hero. I never wanted anything else. Never thought of anything else. It's always just been this.”
“I always admired that about you,” Eijirou said softly. “You're so determined.”
“You usually say stubborn.”
“Well, sometimes you are. But most of the time you are just so dedicated. Blinded almost by your own goals. You never let your doubts get you. Never even let them touch you. That's really incredible Katsuki.”
“It's not that I don't let them touch me, it's just that I don't let them win. And neither do you.”
Katsuki leaned down to capture Eijirou's lips in a gentle kiss. He pulled away first after a few minutes, brushing their noses together he hummed once more.
“I know one thing for sure, with or without being a hero, I'd still be right here with you no matter what.”
-
Times weren't always perfect between them. They each had their bad days and on rare occasions, a fight would break out between them both. Normally it was a shouting match just to see who could get the loudest before someone's voice cracked. Sometimes there was a shove involved that cast silence between them as if the two had been torn apart.
On truly bad days there'd be a punch. A punch that happened all of one time and would never happen again. A single punch Katsuki threw at his husband, so blinded by his own rage and sorrow he resorted to his worst of habits, his anger, his violence. He lashed out as a last defense and now stood gawking at the red mark on his husband's cheek.
Why hadn’t he hardened? He thought. Why didn't he harden?
Eijirou slowly opened his eyes, letting them land on Katsuki who felt his stomach drop seeing them. He reached out with careful hands, immediately regretting his action but Kirishima quickly reached up and grabbed his wrist, halting his action. Katsuki held his breath.
He was upset. Of course, he was upset. Katsuki just punched him. Katsuki punched his husband.
“Don’t take your anger out of me, because you know I can take your punch,” Eijirou told him and Katsuki’s throat shut to keep back the lump rising. “One day you’ll lash out and it won’t be on me and not everyone has my quirk. Some of them are going to take that hit, like I did, and get hurt.”
Katsuki swallowed down the thick pill of truth, eyes still dancing across Eijirou's face searching for anything behind the anger.
“You’re not okay,” Eijirou told him. “And that isn’t a bad thing. What is, is this.” Eijirou’s grip on his wrist tightened. “Lashing out instead of getting help. Because I’m not taking another punch from you again. This is your one chance, your one freebie. Next time, I’m hitting you back twice as hard and walking out the door. You understand?”
Katsuki could only nod and Eijirou let go of his wrist, bringing the hand up to his cheek. Katsuki could still feel Eijirou's hand around his wrist, he bet if his eyes would move away from Eijirou's face he could see a mark. He couldn't stop replaying the words Eijirou had just said to him.
He'd leave. He'd leave him. He would. Eijirou would keep his word. He was a man of his word. He'd leave Katsuki no matter how much it hurt both of them. If Katsuki didn't straighten up and fly right he would lose this. He'd lose his home, his family, his love.
He felt childish and small. He was stressed from work. He was tired from patrol. He was burdened by the weird of a dead girl he failed to save. He let this all combine into a toxic cocktail of anger he poured all over his husband. And Eijirou had every right to walk away from him.
In fact, he was. Slowly, he turned away and started to walk down the hallway where their bedroom was, closer to the front door and Katsuki panicked. He reached out and grabbed the back of Eijirou’s shirt, words stuck in his throat. Eijirou paused, looking behind him and Katsuki’s eyes searched his looking for anything that would give away that this was the end, that he was leaving. His eyes shot over to the door and Eijirou followed before his expression eased.
He sighed and turned around to grab Katsuki and pull him into a hug. Katsuki absorbed the warmth for a moment before he started to melt and reached out with desperate hands to cling onto Eijirou.
“I’m sorry,” he whimpered and Eijirou ran his fingers through his hair.
“I know you are, Katsuki,” he muttered.
“I’m not—I wouldn’t—“
“I know.” Eijirou hushed giving Katsuki a few moments of silence before he spoke again. “I’m not…I am mad, I won’t lie. But I know this isn’t you. I know you wouldn’t ever hurt me or anyone like this. But, you know it’s bad. You need to see that your actions have consequences. You need to realize you need help. You need to get help.”
“I will!” Katsuki sobbed, clinging tighter. “I will! I-I’ll call my therapist and I’ll start going back monthly—weekly! I’ll fix this. I will! J-Just don’t go.”
“I’m not leaving Katsuki,” Eijirou told him. “I’d never leave.”
“You would.” Katsuki corrected and Eijirou gave a weak laugh.
“Okay, I would. But you wouldn’t let me. Not if you’d never give me a reason to ever again.”
And he wouldn't. Katsuki swore on his life he wouldn't.
-
Eijirou loved Katsuki's parents. They were drastically different from his, yet somehow were so much like Katsuki himself that they already felt like family. Mitsuki was strong-willed and fiery just like her son. Yet, she could be calm and collected and borderline elegant when she needed to be. Masaru was soft and gentle, like how Katsuki was behind closed doors. He too was strong, he had to be to deal with his wife and son, and though his spine was a little weak, his ability to ease both fiery blonds was nothing to scoff at.
Eijirou often found himself on the sidelines of what felt like a soap opera. Mitsuki and Katsuki would be shouting at one another while Masaru tried to play peacemaker. It was comical if he was honest. He knew Katsuki loathed when his mother pinched his cheeks and ruffled his hair but Eijirou cherished when Katsuki did the same thing to him.
He called Katsuki out of it once. When they were back in high school Katsuki would often walk right up to Eijirou and pulled on his cheeks and smush his face up. The class was confused by the odd gestures but Eijirou knew Mitsuki by that point, and how she expressed her own love and how Katsuki was only mimicking what he had grown up with.
“I know you're only doing this because your mom does it.” Eijirou confessed and Katsuki pinched his cheeks harder.
Eijirou loved it, it truly made his feel like family when Mitsuki would do the same to him as she did her son, sometimes even pulling him into a headlock and messing with his hair. Okay, maybe not the messing with the hair part, but he did like everything else.
–
Katsuki liked to keep their relationship professional when at work. They worked together but in the eyes of the public, they were separate heroes and not married lovers. That still didn't stop either from having a little bit more of an attachment to one another than their fellow heroes.
Both had jumped in front of the other more times than they could recount and both had argued with the other about not being so foolish only to do it again the very next day.
“I had it covered!” Katsuki shouted at his husband who had dived in front of him to take a bullet.
“You aren't bulletproof, babe.” Eijirou countered, blocking the bullets with his hardened skin.
Similar just a few days later Katsuki launched himself directly at Eijirou and tackled him to the ground right as a small explosive was thrown his way.
“I'm used to a little explosive action,” Eijirou teased and Katsuki just shoved him to the ground.
“Let me show this guy what a real explosion looks like!” Katsuki threatened with crackling palms.
They were heroes but in love. And the quiet conversations on ambulances or victorious grins directed only at each other were moments they cherished and reminded them that they loved their jobs nearly as much as they did each other.
–
Injuries were a causality of their line of work. They were unavoidable, even to the greatest of heroes. But what hurt the most was seeing those injuries last beyond just scars on the flesh. Repetitive damage and blows to the head causing fuzzy memories. Nerves shot raw time and time again until parts of their hands grew numb. Damages that were irreversible and one day, inevitable. Something the two grew to accept and vowed to stand by their partner through because sometimes it was frightening to realize you weren't immortal. Even more so to realize you were dying.
“He alright?” Bakugou asked the nurse, catching her as she left the room. She seems confused for a moment before recognizing him, her face carefully masked.
“The doctor is still with him if you wanted a word,” she told him.
“Just wanted to know if he’s alive and awake.”
“Well, he is both,” the nurse replied with a smile. “He is very strong! You can enter if you wish.” With a nod he did. The doctor stood leaning casually against the bed, talking to his husband who looked a bit confused.
“Ground Zero,” the doctor greeted and Katsuki gave a nod. Eijirou turned to face him and Katsuki tried not to let that confused look bother him. The doctor gestured to the door he led Katsuki out of and shut behind him.
“Something up?” Katsuki questioned and the doctor shook his head.
“No, I just didn’t want him to be distracted. You are caught up on what happened I assume?”
“More or less.”
“Riot received a nasty bump on his head, which he does get a lot but he came too this time suffered some memory delays. He seems out of it for the most part, but we are unsure if it'll last or if there is a potential head injury we are missing.”
“Is it serious?”
“As minor as a head injury can be, I suppose. But because it is a head-related injury I want to ensure everything is alright. Police said no quirk should be involved but I'd like to keep him for a few more hours just in case.”
“Okay,” Katsuki agreed as if he had a choice. “Is it okay to see him?”
“Of course,” the doctor replied stepping aside to give him access. “Just know he is a bit slow to respond.”
“He’s always been,” Katsuki muttered and the doctor gave a small smile as Katsuki passed. When he came Eijirou's eyes scanned him slowly, and Katsuki waited for a smile or recognition but it didn’t come.
“Already forget about me, shitty hair?” Katsuki taunted and Eijirou gave an awkward smile.
“S-Sorry, I hit my head…”
“Hit it a lot harder before. You’re getting soft.”
Eijirou watched him for a long moment and Katsuki could tell he was trying to remember him. This hadn't been the first time this happened. Eijirou took a lot of hits to the head and after the first few, damage was starting to show. Katsuki had his own fair share of lingering injuries physical therapy helped with, but if he was honest it was frightening knowing one day he'd be forgotten by his husband and possible, never be remembered again.
But Katsuki let those thoughts linger only briefly before he shoved him down. Eijirou always came back to him, no matter how hard of a hit he took. And he'd continue to, so long as Katsuki was by his side.
“I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “But I really know you.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“It’s right there, just…tip of the tongue.”
“Want a hint?” Katsuki asked reached out to curl his finger around the metal chain around Eijirou’s neck and pulling until he found the ring. Eijirou followed it, his hand slowly coming up to look at it closely.
“Are we married?” He asked quietly and Katsuki gave a hum.
“Almost twenty years.”
“Twenty?” Eijirou repeated. “You serious?”
“Why? You not like me?”
“No, you’re hot!” Eijirou blurted before taking a moment to realize what he said and blushing.
“Yeah?” Katsuki teased. “You ain’t so bad yourself.”
There was a faint knock on the door and the nurse came back in with a slight bow muttering about one last thing she needed.
“This is my husband!” Eijirou declared and the nurse gave a smile. “My husband…” he trailed off trying to recall against and Katsuki waited for him. “O…” He muttered. “O….To…Go…” Eijirou’s eyes suddenly lit up as his grip on Katsuki’s hand became a vice. “Bakugou!”
Katsuki grinned pulling him into a kiss that Eijirou was slow to respond to but loving all the same.
“Couldn’t forget me if you tried, huh Ei?”
–
Katsuki traced over the arms around his neck, his gentle smile fading slowly as he went over the many pale lines scattered about the tan skin. Eijirou had far more scars than Katsuki did. Even though he was harder than steel, a crack left a mark.
“Hey,” Eijirou called, his thumb tracing over Katsuki’s shoulder, pulling him back from his mind. “What is it?” He asked, sparing his arms a glance.
But Eijirou was alive. He continued to live despite the scars across his body. And although Katsuki feared new ones and adored old ones, he did his best to remind himself to look beyond both and instead feel proud. Proud of his husband’s strength, his determination, his power.
Katsuki trailed his hand back down the arm to the hand on his shoulder. He slides his fingers into open spaces and gave a squeeze before he looked up at his husband.
“I can’t believe you choose to fight beside me.” He said and Eijirou’s brow furrowed and Katsuki reached his hand up to gently bury it in Eijirou’s hair and pull him closer. “You could be with anyone, or just by yourself and be so strong and powerful. And you choose me. I don’t know where I got this fucking luck.”
Eijirou’s eyes crinkled as he flashed a blinding smile that made Katsuki’s already racing heart flutter.
“Who else would I choose?” Eijirou asked pressing a kiss to Katsuki’s forehead. Katsuki shut his eyes and soaked in the affection. “It had to be you, Katsuki. You know why?”
Katsuki let out a hum, opening his eyes slightly.
“Who else is going to launch me like a cannon across town?”
Katsuki’s face broke out in a wild grin and Eijirou laughed as Katsuki pulled away suddenly and slid his arms down to his hips and grabbed his husband before lifting him into the air.
“No one!” Katsuki shouted raising his husband above his head and Eijirou let out a shriek of laughter.
–
Kids were a tricky thing to navigate. Eijirou always wanted one, but he knew Katsuki never did. Eijirou also excepted the fact that as a hero, he wasn't the most suited to be a father. He lived every day as if it was his last, and it would be unfair to save a child only to orphan them once more.
Katsuki humored his fantasy. They checked out orphanages and adoption programs. Many declined them but few were willing to offer a foster like home temporarily. They tried it once or twice, taking in a total of three kids at separate times for no more than a week each.
To say Eijirou loved it would be an understatement. He adored those weeks. He took them off from work just so he could spend the entire day with the child they had temporarily. It was fun and even Katsuki enjoyed the more quiet times.
Still, it was temporary, and every time the child had to go Eijirou cried and Katsuki would feel guilty and apologize for not being able to fully give Eijirou what he wanted. Eijirou never blamed Katsuki for this.
Eijirou accepted this fate though. He knew they couldn't have a kid on their own. And so long as they both worked they couldn't adopt one just to neglect it. So his dream remained his own in passing. He lived it through every child he saved and everyone he saw at hospitals or orphanages he'd visit for charity work.
It wasn't a child, but it was as close as he could get.
–
Of course, the time would one day come. Their age only grew and their skills, though still sharp, were losing their edge. Injuries got more severe and took longer to heal. Headlines focused on newer heroes as their ratings slipped slowly until neither remained in the top ten any longer. It was then, the day Katsuki received a notice from his manager that he slipped down the final number to eleven, that he knew it was time to retire.
It wasn’t unexpected or even unplanned, but it didn’t make handing over resignations and the announcement any easier. Eijirou long accepted the end of his career, far earlier than Katsuki. He planned hobbies, even possible second jobs to work because he knew he’d be restless. Katsuki spent a long time in denial, but as the injuries piled up the weight started to get to him. It didn’t sink in for him until he slipped down that final ranking, no longer within the top ten heroes.
Katsuki had been very quiet that night, and Eijirou gave him time to be. He didn’t press or try to help, because he knew Katsuki just needed time, and even if they had less than others, they still had some.
Eijirou shut off the light to the bathroom and spared the empty bed a glance. Knowing exactly where his other half would be, he let his feet carry him there. Katsuki sat in his office chair, staring up at the wall of memorabilia, newspapers, poster, his life. Eijirou entered quietly and stood behind him, placing his arms around his neck and leaned down to press their heads together.
“I don’t know what else to do,” Katsuki admitted in a small voice, his eyes scanning over the wall and Eijirou followed it. “This is all I’ve ever wanted. All I’ve ever dreamed of. This is all I worked for. There is nothing else.”
“This isn’t the end Katsuki,” He told him and the pained look in his eyes told Eijirou he didn’t quite believe that. “Heroes never die. We learned about them in school, and they’ll teach about us. You’re a legend Katsuki, you’ll always be there.”
“But I won’t be,” Katsuki stressed pulling away. “I won’t be there to save the day. I can’t.”
“Maybe not save the day Katsuki, but you’ve done that enough.” Eijirou knelt down and took Katsuki’s hand. It was scarred and almost fully numb by this point, but Katsuki could still feel the weight of Eijirou's fingers. “Now it’s time to let someone else do that. Someone else whose life you saved, whose career started by admiring you, someone who wants to do just as well as you or better. And they might, but they got that inspiration from you. And they’ll be big and they’ll talk about you like you talk about All Might. And you’ll always be their hero.”
Katsuki finally looked away from the wall and to Eijirou, his eyes glassy and Eijirou squeeze his hand and Katsuki returned the gesture twice as hard.
“I don’t want to,” Katsuki whispered and Eijirou reached out to him and pulled him into a hug.
“I know, Katsuki,” He muttered, “but you have to.”
That night was spent clinging to one another and wiping away tears. Eijirou would miss being a hero, of course, he would. But he knew to be one meant so much more to Katsuki. For once Eijirou had to take the reigns. He promised Katsuki they would retire together, and that they'd announce it together, and live out the rest of their lives together as promised years ago.
The small announcement at their respected agencies made them both tear-up. They held a party for them both that lasted for far too long but not a second was spent miserable. There were smiles and tears and many kind gestures that left the two feeling overwhelmed and thankful for their lives. Their sidekicks bawled and their managers did as well. Their teams of heroes and business alike all gathered together in honor of these two great heroes.
The public announcement was more formal but surprisingly more heartbreaking. They both expected many of the press questions and interviews, but what neither prepared for were the strangers on the streets approaching them both with gifts, thank you’s, and blessings. Families and loved ones they had saved showed up to offer thanks and give gifts. Two small events were held for them and others made completely by civilians who simply wanted to show their utter gratitude to them and Katsuki and Eijirou both couldn’t keep their eyes dried through the stories shared and visible proof of the lives they touched.
It was humbling beyond belief and when their final day came, their small home was filled with gifts and the two of them both struggled to give their final goodbyes but they did together, as they had done throughout their careers.
They both settled on a house of choice, out in the woods. Katsuki loved the isolation and Eijirou wasn’t picky. Their friends and family complained about the distance but Katsuki only told them that’s why he picked it to begin with.
It was hard to adjust. Old habits died hard. Katsuki still woke up bright and early even though his alarm no longer went off. Eijirou still found himself starting to pack up his uniform only to remember he no longer needed it. Both sat together watching old clips of the bast, and news of their future.
They weren't heroes anymore, but that was alright. It was someone else's turn to be.
–
They each struggled with their own age-related problems, Katsuki’s joints constantly aching and Eijirou’s memory coming and going. Both pulled their weight, with Eijirou helping Katsuki get to his feet or clean areas he simply couldn’t on his own anymore. And Katsuki was there to help Eijirou through his confusion.
The sundowners was hard for Eijirou, Katsuki saw it. But he remained optimistic about it because Eijirou always came back. Katsuki often found his husband in the kitchen or living room, looking around lost and confused and he’d slowly approach until Eijirou had his attention. Sometimes the look he gave Katsuki was that of a stranger, other times surprise, usually, both resulted in him eventually making some comment about his age. Katsuki would reply back he looked just as bad.
“Where am I?” Eijirou would always ask. “This isn’t the dorms.” He'd sometimes ask.
“We moved out of the dorms a long time ago, Ei.” Katsuki told him patiently and Eijirou’s brow scrunched up.
“We did?” Katsuki hummed running his fingers through Eijirou’s hair.
“Almost sixty years ago. This is our house. We moved here maybe ten or so years ago.” Eijirou’s face showed utter surprise. Lines of age only more amplified by his facial expression.
“We have a house? We share this house?”
“Course we do, you brick. We’re married.”
What always made it easiest to deal with Eijirou during these times was the utter elation that came every single time Katsuki told him about their relationship. Without even trying to hide it his face would break out in a blinding grin that showed his age by all the wrinkles it made. His grip on Katsuki’s hand would tighten and his eyes were loving.
“We got married?”
“Like I’d pick anyone else.”
“I liked you. I liked you a lot.”
“Yeah well, now I love you twice as much.”
“Tell me about it,” Eijirou always wanted to know. “Tell me about us.”
And Katsuki would. He’d talk about how they first started dating, the first shitty apartment with the homophobic neighbor, the second apartment with the shitty toilet, their partnership, their wedding, their lives. He’d recount it all like clockwork and Eijirou would listen to every word of it.
Of course, not every time ended well. Sometimes Eijirou didn't remember Katsuki at all. His memories were too far back that he'd panic and act like the child he thought he was. He'd ask for his mother who Katsuki could no longer call. Sometimes Eijirou just stayed silent and watched Katsuki closely. It was hard to tell what mood Eijirou's sundowners would leave him in. But when they left him in a good one it was always something to cherish.
Sometimes he’d fall asleep confused, other times they’d crawl into bed with Eijirou still a little lost but mostly whole. But usually, Eijirou came back, his body relaxing slightly as his massive grin shrunk into a warm smile.
“You forgot about the fire,” Eijirou muttered this time. And Katsuki looked at him.
“What fire?”
“That kitchen fire I started when I tried to make you that anniversary dinner and fell asleep on the couch.”
Now it was Katsuki’s turn to grin and he threw his head back in a laugh.
They were both losing their edge but Katsuki knew Eijirou would always be sharp.
–
Katsuki had endured many deaths, almost all of them painful. All Might’s passing left him mourning for months. The death of his parents had him clinging to Eijirou, his only remaining family. Deku’s passing was hardest, in a way he never thought possible and he wasn’t sure he ever got over.
But Eijirou’s was the worst. If not for the funeral that Katsuki spent silently crying all throughout, but the aftermath alone. He knew their lives were one and the same, but he never realized how truly reliant he was on Eijirou until he was gone.
He hated waking up alone and to a cold bed. He still cooked for two but couldn't eat for two. He still came home and expected to be greeted and went to bed expected a goodnight. Eijirou’s absence left a painful hole in his life that others believed to be the cause of his death.
“Inseparable,” Mina had spoken during the service. “Ever since they met they were always together. I figured they’d go together as well, but Eijirou’s was always terrible at waiting.”
“Unified,” Hanata added. “Throughout their careers, they were always on the same page. They didn’t even speak over the headsets or anything. They knew where the other would go and what they would do and they followed.”
“I miss them both,” Uraraka spoke last. “But I know how painful it must have been for Katsuki and I know how much those two loved one another. And even though I miss them both, I wouldn’t dare keep them apart for another second.”
They lay at rest together, both their cremated bodies resting within one tombstone in a cemetery made for heroes. Their grave was littered with gifts from loved ones to cherished fans all mourning the loss of the two heroes.
As the funeral party slowly departed, few remained. Few were left alive to remain. But those who did were close, a tight pack of friends with the weight of a generation on their shoulders.
“You know I miss them,” Ashido said, dabbing at her eyes. Her makeup long since ruined. “But they were always happier together.”
Hanata wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulders.
“You think Ei waited for him?” He asked and Uraraka gave a wet laugh.
“You kidding me? Kirishima wouldn't step move onto the next stage without him. If he did Katsuki would be pissed off so badly in his next life he'd find Eijirou and punch him square in the face.”
All three gave a laugh knowing she was right.
“You think there's something after all this?” Mina asked and Uraraka offered her a gentle smile.
“Not even death could separate these two. A love like theirs is strong. I know they'll find each other again someday. I know it.”