Work Text:
“Bakugo! Watch out, Time Lapse!” Someone screams from above, but before he can even turn his head, he’s hurtling to the ground and everything goes black. He can’t breathe for a few minutes, he feels his lungs begging to catch a little bit of air, but he can’t. His head is spinning and he feels like he’s being stabbed in the lungs hundreds of times before everything stills. With a blink of his eye, everything is clear.
Literally. Everything, including himself. He can see the ground right through his arm.
‘What the fuck? What the fuck happened to me? Oh, right. I was hit by that motherfucker, Time Lapse. What was his quirk again? Tch, he sent people to the future. Dumb fucking quirk, if you ask me.’
He looks around finding that he’s in the middle of a shopping center. He feels as if he’s been here before, but he can’t quite place it. As he stands up someone walks right through him.
‘Okay so I’m clearly a motherfucking ghost. Fucking great. I wonder how long this fucking shit is going to last.’
He walks around, avoiding the others on the street as they pass by. He knows where he is now; it’s the exact same spot he was when he was hit. Makes sense. He cocks his head to the side and notices a hero merchandise shop. He walks in without having to open the door and immediately goes into shock.
Deku’s grown, green ass body is splattered on a goddamned body pillow and he doesn’t think his eyes can ever recover from the seductive look the pillow is giving him from behind his mask. He gags. He looks over to the next item and swears out loud because next to the large Deku pillow is clearly a grown up version of himself.
He studies it carefully. He’s fucking huge for one. His red eyes are full of determination behind the black mask, and he’s wearing his trademark grinning scowl in nothing but an X of grenades across his chest.
‘Who the fuck approves this shit? It's borderline pornographic! At least Deku has some fucking clothes on. What the actual fuck? I have to wash my eyes out for a fucking year to unsee this shit.’
His eyes roam around everything else in the shop. He unconsciously smiles at the sight of the fuck ton of Alien Queen and Red Riot merchandise. He spies a Lightning Bolt sweater and Earphone Jack headphones. The store is mainly made up of Deku, Shoto, and Ground Zero mech.
‘Ground Zero. That’s not a terrible hero name,’ he snorts. Around the corner there is a whole display of soft and squishy merchandise. ‘Of-fucking-course, she would have this type of shit.’ It’s all limited edition, all pastel pink, and all screaming fucking Roundface. The display reads, ‘Uravity: The Ultimate Squishy Collection. Collect Them All!’ The rack is pretty much empty, save the pricier items.
‘So mostly everyone has done well for themselves.’ he walks out of the shop and starts to wander around the town. Several minutes after arriving in the financial district, he hears a loud explosion go off. He runs over to catch the action first hand.
His jaw drops. ‘That’s me. That’s fucking me.’
His eyes widen watching his future self destroy four villains at once with one blast. Ground Zero has a black eye but kicks off an unsuspecting fifth person from behind him, stepping on his chest and spitting in his face.
‘Holy shit, I can’t believe I almost missed this shit.’ He runs up to the action and watches the police take in the villains as Ground Zero literally kicks them away. His eyes flick up to the grown man and he wants to know what he’s saying into the comms in his ear.
‘Eh, it's not like anything can actually hurt me here.’ He jumps up over the rubble to get closer, close enough to see the dark circles under eyes, even the bruised one, and the tired lines over his face. He looks badass as hell with a scar running through his undercut but also worn. ‘Damn, I am old.’
“Damn it, Momo, of course I tried to minimize the damage.Do you think this is my first fucking time to the damned show?” Ground Zero spits into his comms.
‘Momo? Who the hell is Momo?’
“I did what I fucking could. If you wanted a careful hero you should work at your fucking wife’s agency, not mine,” he growls as he surveys the area once more.
‘Of course he did what he could. He locked up five villains what the fuck was that bitch’s problem?’ He watched his face go soft before rolling out what he deemed a decent apology.
“Okay, okay. Don’t go into early labour because of me, fuck. I told you if you can’t handle the stress to just take an early fucking leave. I did have a strategist before you decided to get knocked up.”
‘Strategist? What is a fucking strategist? Why did he need one? He’s clearly good on his own. I don’t see a fucking sidekick or a team anywhere.’
“Whatever, just have the re-build team charge the office. I made the mess, I’ll fucking pay for it. Chief Togata will take over from here, I did my fucking job. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” Ground Zero rips the comms from his ear and stashes it into a pocket in one of his gauntlets. He surveys his mess and smirks, it's too roughed up for the media to get in to swarm him. He walks straight by his teenage self and plops himself down in a makeshift medic tent.
He studies him carefully as he cracks his neck, ‘I’m fucking huge. I must not do anything outside of hero work and working out. Damn.’
Ground Zero takes off his mask and peels off his gloves. He reaches over for an oxygen mask when Katsuki sees it.
‘What the fuck is that? What the fuck is on his fucking hand?’ His eyes zero in on the flash of light bouncing off his left hand. ‘Is that a fucking- A goddamned- Is that a motherfucking wedding ring? What the fuck? I’m fucking tied the fuck down? To fucking who? What the actual fuck?’
He watches his hand lay limply in his lap, the ring clear as day encased around his finger. It’s a plain gold band, nothing special on it or anything like that. Katsuki is so shocked at the revelation that it takes him a couple minutes to register what’s happening.
Ground Zero has taken off the oxygen mask and was talking into a Bluetooth device in his ear. When did he get that? “—home to collect them and then I can process the paperwork after. It’s been two days. I think we’ve tortured them enough.”
Katsuki realises that Ground Zero was headed out and promptly shoots up to follow. He’s walking for almost twenty minutes when they come to a five story building.
‘Zero Gravity Agency. That’s a weird fucking name. Don’t pros name their agencies after themselves? What was he thinking?’ They walk into the lobby. It all looks very professional and pristine. The dark woman at the front desk looks very tough and smirks when Ground Zero walks by.
“Did you get your ass handed to you today, Sir?” she asks him in an island accent as she types with her long nails into the computer.
Ground Zero rolls his eyes and mutters, “Fuck off, Witch, you know damned well who won that fight.”
She wears a shit eating grin and laughs, eyes never moving from her screen, “I can’t believe you got punched in de face. I suppose I owe you thanks, I won de pool from this marning.”
‘Is he just going to take this shit from this bitch?’
Ground Zero laughs, “You’re a greedy fucking witch eh? I already pay you a salary and you’re betting against me? For more money?”
‘That sounds more like me. Damn, I couldn’t have gotten that fucking soft.’
The receptionist smirks as she types, “Absolutely boss. I have complete faith in you as a hero, God willing, but you’ve won every day this week, I knew it was coming.”
Ground Zero walks away, calling over his shoulder, “Tch whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow, Witch.”
She stops typing for a moment, “Uh huh. Oh, before you go, did you tell Yaoyorozu Sama to leave before processing her paperwork?”
‘Yaoyorozu like the class rep? The fuck? She works at my agency?’
He turns back around and nods, “Yes, I’m taking it home with me.”
‘Why would you take her work? Shouldn’t she do it her fucking self?’
“Nope.”
‘I like this bitch she knows the value of actual work.’
She snaps and starts to scold him, “I will be taking that. You ‘aven’t been home in tree days, Boss.”
‘What? He can fucking manage one lazy bitches extra crap.’
“I can manage my own paperwork.” He grunts.
She crosses her arms and says defiantly, “I will do it. If you’re gonna go home I want you to be home. You can’t be Ground Zero all de time you know.”
‘What the hell does that mean?’
To his surprise Ground Zero smiles, “Thanks, Witch.”
“Eh heh. Whatever.” He turns around and continues down the hall again.
‘This place is fucking huge.’ He walks down the hallways until he notices a door labelled, ‘Ground Zero,’ and walks through the wall as Ground Zero walks through the door.
The office is big. There’s a handsome desk in the middle of the room. There is also a sofa and closed shelves against the wall. In the corner, there’s a wardrobe.
Ground Zero punches in a code into the pin pad of the door and it opens. He changes out of his hero costume in favour of black sweat pants and a black hoodie. He throws on a beanie and sunglasses and heads out the door again.
‘Damn, I did good.’ Katsuki is just about to take a look at the frames upon his desk when he hears the door close. ‘Shit. I can’t lose him.’ He dashes after him. They run down a stairwell and open a door to a parking garage. He gets into a black SUV and starts to pull out of the underground lot.
Katsuki settles himself in the front seat, ‘I drive? Why would I drive? I should have people who drive me.’
Bakugo calls for the car to play, ‘Post Work Playlist’, and music begins to play. Katsuki bobs his head along with the tune as he watches the scenery go by. It's eerily familiar, too familiar in fact. His eyes widen as he realises where they are headed.
They pull up to the gates of his parents’ home, ‘Holy fuck do I still live with my parents?’
Bakugo gets out of the car and sticks his key in the door.
‘Holy fucking shit. I still live at home. What the fuck. Why the fuck do I still live at home?’ He follows him inside. It looks more or less the same. His mother comes around the corner.
‘Wow, this hag hasn’t aged a fucking day.’
“You could at least call before you show up unexpected, asshole.” She spits at him.
‘Good to know nothing’s changed.’
He rolls his eyes, “I have a fucking key, why would I call? You knew I was coming.”
His mother huffs, “I didn’t know what time you were going to be here, you overgrown brat.”
“Yeah, well, I’m fucking here.” He rolls his eyes and walks into the living room.
His father is sitting on the couch, watching the news avidly.
‘Holy shit he looks old as hell.’ His father had lines running down his face, and a few age spots here and there. He studies his face and feels himself becoming uncomfortable with the idea of his dad ageing.
“Hey son,” he calls from the couch. “It's been going on for about an hour now, she’s close.”
The Pro Hero on the screen is tearing the villain apart. The newscast is from a completely different district, nowhere near where they live.
He turns around and is shocked to see that his older self is very much invested in this fight.
‘Why does he care about this?’ The Pro on the screen has her back turned to them. She is using some sort of a weapon on the villain, her hair floating around her head and making it difficult to see her face.
‘Why is the television muted?’
She launches an attack on the villain and he catches a glimpse of her cheek when a loud crash from the kitchen takes his attention. He immediately turns his head toward the kitchen doors.
“Oi! What the hell is going on in there?” Bakugo barks.
Katsuki feels his heart drop into his stomach, as he watches the door open and a brown haired little girl in a red onesie comes barreling out.
“Papa!” she squeals and runs into his legs.
Bakugo bends down to receive her. “My baby girl, I missed you.”
Katsuki feels his brain short-circuiting. Is this how Kaminari feels anytime he tries to think too hard?
She has shoulder length brown hair with a pair of big red doe eyes and his jaw. She has to be around three or four years old. Fuck, he has a fucking- He doesn’t finish his thought as two more brown haired toddlers come through the kitchen. The boy is wearing a Deku onesie and the girl is clad in a Froppy onesie
The little boy looks identical to his older sister, save the long brown hair. The little girl holding his hand is what Katsuki could only describe as his exact clone. They all looked fairly close in age, maybe a year apart.
The two kids trail behind and throw their arms around their father when they reach him.
“We made cookies for you and Mama!” the tallest of the three says proudly.
“Aw, I wanted to tell him.” The boy fidgets as he whines.
“Did grandma help?” Bakugo asks, lifting all three of them off the ground.
“No, grandpa did. We wanted them to taste good.” The little clone says bluntly.
‘Oh my god. That one is my favourite. She’s definitely my kid.’
It's surreal to watch the tower of muscles and badassery that is his future self hold these kids.
“I missed you guys.” He says to them, “Were you good for your grandparents?”
“Yeah! We were! We were good.” They say all at once.
Bakugo laughs and says sarcastically, “I’m sure you were.”
His stomach begins to knot as he wonders who their mother could be. He gets increasingly uncomfortable watching the scene unfold.
“We were Papa!” They try to convince him.
The little boy brings his head up and asks, “We go home today?”
Bakugo gives him a kiss on the head, “Yeah, Babe, we’re going home.”
‘When do I get this fucking soft?’
“Is Mama gonna be home?” The clone asks.
“No, sorry, Cheeks. We get to see Mama tomorrow.” he says, putting them down. “Go get your things. We’re gonna go soon.”
The children scatter back into the kitchen.
“What time do you think she’ll be in?” His father asks.
Bakugo shrugs, “I don’t know to be honest, probably after I put them to bed.”
“Papa! I’m all ready to go home.” The little boy has on his backpack and a container full of cookies in his hands.
“Good job Babe, but you still need to wait for your sisters. Can you start putting your shoes on?” Bakugo asks.
“Kay.” He smiles brightly and turns for the door. “Wait! I have cookies.”
“I can hold onto them while you get your shoes on.” Bakugo says holding out his hand for the container.
“Kay.” He hands over the goods and makes his way to the door.
‘At least they’re well behaved kids,’
“Cheeks-chan! That’s my Red Riot! You can’t have it!” The older girl screams.
‘Scratch that. They clearly inherited Mitsuki’s anger gene.’
“Onee-chan said I could play with it!” The little clone screeches back at her.
“But it's mine!” The older one screams again.
“Papa! Onee-chan and Cheeks-Chan are fighting again.” The boy calls in a bored tone from the door.
“Thanks Babe,” he says sarcastically, “I can hear them too.” He calls back. He runs a tired hand down his face.
“She started it! Cheeks-Chan is always taking my stuff and she doesn’t ask me!”
“Ladies, this is no way for two beautiful girls to act,” his mother intervenes. “Red Riot will stay at grandmas house for both of you to play with when you come back.”
“Aw, but I wanted to take him home,” the older one whines.
“We have a Red Riot plushie at home, Baby Girl. Get your bag.”
“But it's not fair!” She whines.
“Bag and shoes, Baby Girl,” Bakugo says firmly. The little girl pouts and turns around to get her things.
“They are going to pass out in the car, they’re so tired,” Bakugo comments to his mother, as the two girls make their way to the door. “Thanks for changing them into their pyjamas.”
She scowls, “Tch, you have a long ass drive ahead of you. You good?”
“Yeah. I’m good,” He mutters back.
It's dark out now. Katsuki watches Bakugo load the kids into the SUV. How did he miss their car seats in the back? Bakugo changes the playlist that features classical piano. He gets in the front seat again and they’re off.
Within a few minutes of the drive, the back seat turns quiet. He looks back and all three are passed out, heads rolling over to the side. He moves to the back and studies their faces.
‘I wonder what their names are. They must be about three or four. These two,’ he looks at the two smaller ones, ‘they must be twins, or just really close in age. I wonder why I don’t call them by their name? Well I don’t call anyone by their name.’ he climbs back up to the front.
The scenery is different. They’re definitely out of the city, closer to the countryside. They’ve been on the road for over an hour now. He wonders where he actually lives. It can’t really be in the middle of nowhere? Finally, Bakugo drives up into an old house covered in vines. He parks in the carport and carefully unbuckles each sleeping child from their seat. He takes the two little ones in his arms and gently wakes up the older one.
“We’re home, Baby Girl. Do you want to help Papa open the door?” he asks quietly.
Katsuki shivers. He didn’t think he’d ever heard a tone like that from anyone in his life. It’s warm and caring and so not like him. He tries to think back to his childhood. If he had ever heard an adult speak to him like that, he doesn’t remember it.
“Yah I can do it,” she says sleepily. She takes the key and tiptoes to get the lock. Once she turns it, the door lights up around the perimeter and a glowing keypad appears on the door.
“Do you remember the song?” He asks.
“Uh huh.” She hums a melodic tune and her little finger dances over the holographic buttons, imitating the tune she was singing. The door makes a beeping noise and the eyehole in the center if the door spins.
He looks the door dead on, and to Katsuki’s surprise a laser beams out. It scans through Bakugo’s eyes and finally he hears a deadbolt unlock. The door slowly opens and he kicks it to step inside.
“Good job, Baby Girl. You’re so smart. Mama only showed you that one time and you remembered.”
“Can I play on the tablet and wait for Mama?” The little girl asks while taking off her shoes.
“Mama is going to be home really late. I think it’s a better idea if we leave Mama a note to find in the morning.”
“Okay! Mama loves notes! I can write it, Grandpa showed me how to do letters and I remember them. You just have to tell me which letters to write and when to do the blocks.”
“The blocks?” he asks with amusement. She follows him down the hall into the bedroom. He lays down the twins in the same bed. He gently takes off their shoes, “What are blocks?”
“The blocks after the letters? Come on Papa you know how to write, you know what I’m talking about.”
Katsuki and Bakugo both get it at the same time, “Spaces.”
Katsuki feels a tug in his gut, ‘Shit that’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever heard in my life, fuck.’
“Okay, Baby Girl. Can you put these away for me?” he asks as he passes her the shoes.
“Okay.” She takes them and runs back to the door.
Katsuki follows her and takes a look around the house. The walls are empty, but here is definitely a sign of a family living here. He finds it strange. There are toys littered here and there, little slippers and booties in the hallways. There isn’t one photograph anywhere.
He looks into the kitchen. The little girl is perched on his lap at the kitchen island. They’re writing their note. He leans in the doorframe, careful not to fall through it and he watches them.
‘It's probably not all bad to be this soft. I definitely don’t want to raise my kids the way I was raised.’ He flinches as he remembers the constant yelling, name calling, and the pressure his parents put on him to be the best.
‘No wonder I’m so fucking soft. I wonder how old I am. I’m certainly past ten years, twenty maybe? I don’t think I’d be irresponsible enough to have a whole fucking wife and kids before I hit number one. That’s my ultimate goal. Not any of this shit. Although, I hate to admit it but this shit isn’t terrible. The kids are cute. Well, of course they’re cute, they’re my fucking kids.’
Bakugo lifts the girl into his arms, “All done, this looks great. Mama’s going to love this.”
The little girl curls into his chest, “More than the cookies?”
“I don’t know about that. Mama loves cookies too. But I think she’s going to love your note a little bit more.” He walks her down the hall into a different room. He lays her in her bed and tucks her in, “Goodnight, Baby Girl. I love you.”
He kisses her head as she replies, “I love you too, Papa.”
‘Fucking finally.’
Bakugo carefully closes the door and sighs heavily. He goes into the next room and starts to strip for a shower.
‘Yeah, no let's find out what rank I am.’ Katsuki wanders until he finds an office. He’s disappointed to find that there isn’t much in it. He does find it increasingly odd that there is no décor in this home. There isn’t even a television. Were he and his wife minimalists? Bakugo comes out of the shower and makes his way to the kitchen.
Katsuki lets out a gasp upon seeing his future self prep lunches in bento boxes, shirtless. This man is covered in healed scratches and cuts, all in various stages of healing mapped over his back and chest. There is a large pink scar that starts on his shoulder and makes its way past the sweatpants that hung low on his hips. He shivers again. This man is a beast.
He’s transfixed, watching him move about the kitchen. He must have prepped the entire week’s worth of food, zipping the last lunch box when the door opened.
A short woman with a bandage on her cheek enters the house. She kicks off her shoes and cracks her neck, making her way into the kitchen.
‘She’s fucking gorgeous. Wow.’
She has big brown eyes and her body is lean and toned. He recognizes her brown hair from the kids, it’s up in a messy bun and he shakes as she walks past him. His eyes linger on her ass before he snaps himself out of it.
‘Who the hell is she? She’s definitely the hero they were watching on tv. Oh fuck, am I married to another pro hero?’
He follows her into the kitchen, and watches as she laces her arms around the man in there.
“Our babies are okay?” she asks with her head nuzzled into his back.
“Of course. They fell asleep on the way here. My parents really tired them out.”
She presses a kiss into his shoulder, “Good.”
“I have two surprises for you.” He smirks.
“Two surprises?” She smiles. He gives her a cookie with a piece of paper attached to it.
“I love you, Mama.” She reads out slowly.
“Baby Girl left you a note.”
She looks confused, “She- She knows how to write?”
He grins, “My dad taught her how to. She doesn’t know how to read them yet.”
“God, she’s so smart.” She beams a smile and Katsuki is suddenly reminded of the little boy.
He’s transfixed on them. He’s so interested by the way she completely invades his space, chatting about the rest of their day. He watches his future self spin around to hoist her on the countertop.
“Did you know that our fucking receptionist is taking bets on which one of us wins when we train?”
She grins wide, “Meila-san won a lot of money this morning.”
He tries to sound offended, “You fucking knew?”
Her laugh is like literal magic, “Oh yeah, the whole admin team gets a kick out of it. It brings out their team building spirit.”
“Team building spirit huh?” he growls, “So we aren’t going to stop it?”
She shakes her head, “Nah, I think we should let it slide. Besides, it gives me motivation. My people are counting on me.”
“The fuck? Your people?”
“Yeah well, you have your people, and I have mine.” She grins mischievously.
He places his arms around her waist, pulling her slightly off the counter, “That so?”
“Mmhm.” She happily crosses her legs over his torso, bringing him closer to her, one of her arms around his neck, the other in his hair.
Katsuki blushes.
‘I should probably leave.’ But he doesn’t. He’s rooted in the spot watching his future self and his extremely hot wife share an intimate kiss.
He could hear their lips smacking against each other and he should be grossed out, he should be embarrassed but he’s simply intrigued at the dynamic. ‘How long have they been married? Has he met her yet?’
“Katsuki!” She squeals, breaking him out of his trance.
Bakugo’s head had disappeared. Into her chest. He goes completely red.
“Katsuki,” she laughs loudly, “Stop that I’m gonna wake them up.”
He pulls out of her and grins wickedly, “I just missed you.”
“Bullshit.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I just missed these,” he dives back into her chest, blowing raspberries into her.
She smacks his head and he pulls away from her again. “You’re ridiculous.” She chides, colliding her forehead with his.
“You love it.” He snickers back.
“I do.” She closes the gap between them again and kisses him, using her legs to pull him closer.
Katsuki drops his gaze. If he has to be nauseatingly domestic, he’s glad it’s with someone as beautiful as her. They seemed to really be disgustingly in love with each other.
She breaks their kiss and lays her head into his neck, “I can’t wait until we find a new place. I hate it here. It’s so far from everything and everyone.”
“We’ll find a new place soon, Angel.” He says with a hand itching her scalp.
“Mmm,” she moans quietly into him, “I don’t know how much longer we can stay in this safe house Katsuki, it’s hard on everyone, especially the babies.”
‘Safe house? That probably explains the security at the front door, but what happened that they needed to be here?’
“Yeah, I know. I saw you on the news today.”
She groans, “That news coverage is the reason why I’m so late. So much paperwork.” She complains.
‘Who is this woman? He needs to find out her name, her hero name, anything to find out why they were in a safe house. And fuck his stupid older self for continuing his trademark of using nicknames for people.’ He’s never going to figure out who she is at this rate.
He watches her slide off the counter and she starts to pull him towards the bedroom.
“Ochaco, hang on.”
Katsuki freezes. He knows that name.
“I have to put this shit in the fridge. You’re such fucking distraction.”
‘I know her. I fucking know her.’
She grins, “Not my fault, I’m gonna go take a shower. You gonna join me?” she asks coyly.
‘Holy shit. Holy shit. She asked me to get in the fucking shower with her.’
He smirks back, “Fuck yes. Go get yourself nice and wet for me, I’ll be a minute.”
Katsuki has steam coming out of his ears and he swears his nose is beginning to bleed. He feels hot. Incredibly hot.
He blinks and suddenly he’s not where he was two seconds ago. He blinks again.
The lights are blinding and the stale smell of the hospital claims his senses.
“He’s awake! Fucking finally. Call a goddamned nurse, my son is awake!” He hears his mother screeching. “Why is he so flushed? Does he have a fever? Why can’t anyone here do their fucking job?”
“Cut it out, you hag,” he rasps. Fuck, he’s thirsty
“No!” She practically screams, “You get yourself hit by that fucking stupid quirk and you’re telling me to cut it out? Hah? You were being so fucking reckless! I was worried you’d never come back!” She half screeches and half sobs.
His eyebrows knit together, “What do you mean?”
His mother takes a breath to compose herself, “That quirk puts you twenty years into the future and not everyone makes it back.” Her eyes start to fill with tears again, “Fuck, I’m so glad you came back, you ungrateful gremlin.”
‘Twenty years huh? I guess that makes sense. So I was thirty-six. I run my own agency. Had three kids when I was about thirty-one or two and I’m married to Roundface.’
“Someone is going to come and wipe your memory. It’s dangerous to know the future like that.” His mother instructs.
He nods in agreement, blushing at the thought of Roundface being his future wife. His incredibly hot fucking wife. He knows he’ll be okay.
He goes back to school a few days later and she catches his eye and he can’t help but recognise those big shaped eyes from somewhere.
Her face isn’t just round, he decides a few weeks later. It’s actually kind of pretty. And the way she uses her quirk kind of reminds him of an angel.
He smirks, now that’s a fitting nickname for her.