Chapter Text
“Are you sure you’re going to be fine?”
Denki gave his friend a flat look.
“It’s an honest question.” Mina raised her hands, as though to ward off an attack that they both knew would never come. “I’m just concerned.”
“I know.” He flashed a cocky grin meant to distract her.
“Kami.”
“Mina.”
“It’s just not something you’ve done before.”
“I know. But I’ve got this. No sweat.”
He was all too aware that he was the last person anyone would expect to look after Othya. He was easily distracted, forgetful, hyper, and a million other things that spelled out irresponsible and immature. No one would look at him and believe he was a member of Katsuki’s inner circle. Denki had always been proud that Katsuki relied on him, and believed in him. But he’d never looked after Othya before. He was usually out with Katsuki on the road. Mina and Eijiro were the only ones trusted with Othya.
“But you deserve a break. It’ll be good for you to have time together, just the three of you.”
Eijiro had been planning this little get away for ages. Mina had been working hard for months, even after the birth of her daughter. It had taken some careful planning between Izuku and Eijiro to convince Katsuki that the empire would be in good hands while he and Izuku were touring the empire and Mina and Eijiro took a short break from their own duties.
There were no diplomats expected to arrive, no treaties that needed to be signed, or trade agreements to be hashed out. Most of that would need to wait for Katsuki to return home as it was. All Hanta and Denki had to do was keep the castle in one piece and remind those who would attack while Katsuki and Izuku were away that the place wasn’t defenseless. Should be pretty easy.
Maybe if Denki told himself that often enough, he would believe it too.
“We won’t be gone long,” she promised, as though she could read his thoughts. “A lot shorter than Katsuki and Izuku.”
He knew she couldn’t read his thoughts. That wasn’t one of her many wonderful talents. It was more like she was reading his mood in the way only a close friend could. The problem was, Mina knew him too well. They’d been friends for years now. He’d seen her frustrated and down before her mating with Eijiro, when she’d thought she would never be with him. Denki had seen her kicking herself, doubts about her family assailing her. And she knew things about him no one else knew. It was great, for the most part. It wasn’t so great when she knew how to see through most of his masks. Especially when he didn’t want her to.
“I’ll be fine,” he insisted, trying to set them both at ease. “I’ve got Hanta with me.”
At least he wasn’t alone in this. He and Hanta worked well together in a battle, covering each other’s weaknesses. And Hanta was always quick to keep Denki safe when he’d overloaded his brain on electric charges and spells. They’d looked after each other for years now. Well, Denki tried to look after Hanta. Sometimes he wondered how well he did that. Still, their partnership would translate well to this, right? The same way Mina and Eijiro or Katsuki’s and Izuku’s did.
Wait.
Not like that.
Not like that at all.
“True.” Her smile turned sly. “Speaking of which, maybe something…?”
“Nope.” Denki kept his grin firmly in place.
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“Not at all?”
“Not even a little. Strictly platonic best friend territory.”
“Why not?” She arched an eyebrow.
“You know why not.” She was the only one who knew.
“Kami…” Mina frowned.
“It’s not worth it.” That’s why easy sex without emotions was a lot simpiler.
“You don’t know-” she started.
“What’s not worth it?” Eijiro asked as he stepped into the room.
“Getting your mate pissed before you head out.” Denki laughed and pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against. “You’d flatten me.”
“Mina could flatten you herself,” Eijiro said, glancing at his mate with a knowing smile.
Mina softened, her frown disappearing almost immediately.
“Well, yeah,” Denki agreed easily. “How’s my favorite girl?”
“Good.” Eijiro’s smile warmed, pride all emanating from his body. He shifted his right shoulder towards Denki to show off the small bundle of joy. Her skin was a soft, rosy pink, unblemished by the golden sunlight outside. Two baby pink horns barely peeked out of the mess of black hair that stuck out in every direction. Her eyes were closed, her breathing even in a deep sleep.
She was the cutest thing Denki had ever seen and everyone in their little group of friends was charmed by her. Even Katsuki had been known to hold her shortly after her birth when Mina and Eijiro had been sleepless parents in desperate need of a break. Katsuki had been found more than once working in his office with Chiyo babbling as only babies could in his arms.
“How will I survive, now that you’re taking my princess away?” Denki shook his head. “I’ll waste away without her cuteness.”
“You’ll survive,” Mina said, a smile in her voice and an unspoken apology in her eyes.
“Are you sure?” he teased. “Can’t you leave her with me? You guys want your alone time and all, right?”
“Do you even know how to take care of a one-year-old?” Eijiro cocked his head slightly.
“I’ve babysat!” Denki protested. “A lot!”
“But every hour of the day?” Mina arched an eyebrow.
He sighed. “Alright… no.”
“I’ll bring Chiyo right to you when we come back to avoid withdrawal, sound good?”
“I knew I was your favorite.” He pressed a gentle kiss to Chiyo’s forehead before backing away.
“Don’t tell anyone,” Eijiro ordered. “Katsuki will be offended.”
Denki paused at the door, his grin wide and true. “You know he’s the first person I’m going to rub it in the face of.”
Eijiro and Mina groaned in tandem.
“Enjoy your vacation!”
He beat a hasty retreat, his smile slowly fading the further he walked from Mina and Eijiro’s suite.
He had never met people who had earned their happiness more than his friends. Mina and Eijiro had suffered enough over the years, afraid of hurting one another, afraid of not being enough. They had more than earned this moment together, more than deserved the happiness that radiated from their beings like a soft, warm aura. The fact that Mina no longer had bruises on her soul from her family’s careless abandonment, that Eijiro seemed to allow himself confidence and happiness. And now, with Chiyo, their joy was a soft radiance, ever present.
And Katsuki and Izuku had gone through a lot to be together too. After fighting Izuku’s father, wars, and Katsuki’s gods alike, they had more than earned their happy ending. Katsuki seemed even stronger now, his shoulders broader, as though the crown and its responsibility wasn’t quite so heavy now. And Izuku was making advancements in leaps and bounds in alchemy, as though in finding a place where he belonged, he’d unshackled his mind. And together… Well, together they were golden and untouchable, their elation so obvious that it was almost painful to observe.
Denki was thrilled for his friends and the joy they had found. But knowing what they had, and knowing he would never be able to share in that with someone… Yeah, sometimes the hurt was just a little too much.
He was rubbing his hand over his sternum - as though that could relieve the sting - when he slammed into another body.
He stumbled back. “Oof.”
A hand, warm and familiar, caught him by the elbow and pulled him forward. Their chests brushed, and a heat that had nothing to do with the summer humidity on the horizon rushed through Denki’s body.
Denki felt his heart stutter to a stop in his chest. Why now? Why in this second, when he was hurting for everything he would never have? When his walls were so godsdamned low already?
“Hey.”
His heart slammed back to life, a painful staccato beat against his ribcage.
“Denki?” Hanta frowned, his brow creasing with concern. His hair fell across his forehead, a little longer than his preferred style. He would need a cut before the worst of the summer heat descended.
All Denki had to do was close his eyes and he would be able to picture Hanta’s muscled build, lithe and lean in a way that Eijiro or Katsuki were not. Denki had heard plenty of people say that Hanta had been born with a plain face. It was a joke among their little group that his face was easy to forget. But Denki had never seen it. Hanta’s eyes were dark and usually full of understanding, intelligence, and humor. He was good looking. Sure, he wasn’t flashy like Denki was, but flash didn’t have to be everything.
Was it any wonder that Denki was attracted to him? And what was worse, he liked Hanta. Hanta was the one who made his heart skip a beat. It wouldn’t be easy sex with Hanta. It would mean something. And it would hurt like a bitch when it ended.
“You alright?”
He blinked. “Huh?”
“Like what you see?” Hanta smirked, teasing and cocky in a way few people got to see.
Denki’s mouth went dry as fear welled, his stomach twisting into a painful knot.
“What?” He pulled away, eyes widening. “No! No, I mean- Why would I-”
And then he did what any self-respecting newly appointed temporary regent of a massive empire would do.
He turned on his heel and bolted.