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“You ready, Shouto-kun?” Izuku asked as he finished tying his red sneakers in the entrance hall of the apartment he shared with his parents, at least for the summer break.
He turned to his boyfriend standing in a slightly oversized sweater he had borrowed from dad and with his shoes on, looking ready to go if not for the clenched fists by his sides and the downcast, somewhat anxious expression. Izuku felt a pang of worry pierce through his chest at seeing Shouto like that.
He stepped in front of the heterochromatic teen and gently took one of the trembling fists. Shouto startled a bit, but relaxed after a moment so Izuku could entwine their fingers. His right hand reached up and cupped Shouto's cheek, tilting his head up enough so Izuku could look him in the eye. Emerald green met warm grey and cool blue, those beautiful eyes filled with distress and trepidation.
“What's wrong?” Izuku asked as he carefully caressed the edge of Shouto's scar with his crooked thumb, rough from hard work.
“What will they think of me?” Shouto answered in an uncertain whisper.
An understanding smile pulled at the corners of Izuku's mouth. Shouto had come so far since their first year at U.A.. After the Sports Festival, the ice that had encased his heart had slowly, but surely melted away, like snow before the sun. He had become more open with his emotions, or at least tried to. He still had trouble expressing how he felt some times, but he didn't have to explain them to Izuku. Most of the time, he could read Shouto like an open book. Like now, for instance. Shouto was afraid of being judged by the people he had come to care about, who where like family to them at that point, given what they all had gone through together.
“They're our friends, they'll understand.” Izuku assured in a soft tone. “And if I know Ochaco-san, she'd probably be ecstatic.”
When Shouto seemed unconvinced and tried to look away, Izuku guided his gaze back with the hand still on the other's cheek.
“Hey, it's going to be okay. I am here.” He said calmly and with a small smile. “I will always be here, no matter what. There is no force in the universe that can keep me from you. And whatever happens, whatever the future holds in store for us, we'll get through it, together.”
When he saw some of the doubt dissipate from Shouto's eyes, Izuku smiled a bit brighter. His boyfriend was still nervous, Izuku was too, but he knew he wasn't doing this alone.
“I love you.” Izuku almost whispered, butterflies still fluttered in his stomach every time he confessed this fact. “All of you.”
A ghost of a smile tugged at Shouto's lips and Izuku couldn't stop himself from reaching up for a short, but tender kiss.
“I love you, too.” Shouto whispered after their lips parted and Izuku felt the hot and cold of his breath swirl over his skin, making it tingle with pleasure.
“Come on.” He smiled widely. “They're waiting for us.”
With a slightly more confident nod from Shouto, Izuku turned back to the entrance, tugging at the cool hand he was still holding. But before they could take a step towards the exit, they were startled by a loud bang on the door that echoed through the apartment, followed by a thundering, angry shout.
“Shouto!”
Izuku whipped his head back to his boyfriend to see his eyes widen in fear, squeezing Izuku's hand tightly while his other went to cover his abdomen. A protective anger boiled up in Izuku's chest and crashed like violent waves at seeing this reaction from Shouto towards his father. What was Endeavor even doing here? He wasn't supposed to be back from his mission for another three days. And by then, Izuku and Shouto would have been back at the dorms for the start of their second school term. And how did Endeavor know where Shouto was?
“I know you're there, Shouto! Come out!”
More shouts and loud bangs reverberated through the halls while Shouto took a step back and started to breath a little heavier.
“Izuku?” Mom emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, wet from doing the dishes.
“What's going on?” Dad asked as he stepped out of the study, also having been disturbed in his work.
“It's Endeavor.” Izuku almost hissed, standing between his terrified boyfriend and the door that kept out the man he had lost all respect for.
“How did he find us?” Mom asked a bit nervously.
“That doesn't matter right now.” Dad replied seriously, taking control of the situation as he stepped up next to Izuku.
Meanwhile, Endeavor became more and more impatient. A shout of “Open the door!” was followed by more pounding on said door.
“Izuku.” Dad pulled him on the shoulder so he forced Izuku's glare away from the front door and made him look at the man. “Take Shouto to the study.”
“Why the study?” Izuku wondered, even through his boiling anger.
“It has a reinforced door and can be locked from the inside. Now go!” Dad ordered while pointing to the end of the hall.
Izuku briefly pondered over why the study would need a reinforced door with a lock, but then thought that dad must have kept some sensitive documents there, given his job. He nodded and pulled Shouto along with him. But when they passed by the kitchen, they were halted by mom laying a hand on Izuku's arm.
“Sweetie, I know you're angry, but please try to calm down a bit.” She urged. “It won't help Shouto.”
Izuku turned his gaze to his trembling boyfriend. He held his head down and his wide, distant eyes stared into nothing. The hand on his abdomen was now clutching the fabric of the sweater tightly. He looked rather pale and ready to throw up his lunch. Izuku felt his hand become a bit too cold and the vice grip on it actually hurt. A sudden sadness bled into his heart and calmed some of his raging anger. Shouto needed him.
Izuku gave mom a nod in understanding and received a small smile in return. He tugged gently at Shouto's hand and pulled him further along the hall. Mom walked up to dad as soon as Izuku had resumed his way to the study.
“Inko, please stay in the kitchen. I won't have him threaten my family.” He heard dad say.
“This is my family, too. And besides, we all know that I'm the calm and collected one.” Mom countered in a smug tone.
Izuku gripped the door handle to the study and glanced back to his parents before he opened the door. Dad smiled down at mom with fondness in his eyes while mom slipped her hand into his, looking determined. They were the best team Izuku knew. They turned to him as he guided Shouto into the room. He gave the power couple a stout nod, which they returned, and closed the door behind him, immediately locking it.
Izuku let out a sigh to calm himself and then turned to his left where Shouto sat with his back to the wall, knees up and arms wrapped around his stomach while a thin layer of ice crept up his jawline on the right side of his face. He was so scared. And even though Izuku understood why, it still pained him to his core to see him like that. Izuku slid down the door to sit next to his distressed boyfriend. He wrapped an arm around Shouto's shoulder and pulled him close, tucking the head of white and red hair under his chin, while he heard dad open the front door.
“Endeavor, what brings y-”
“Don't play me for a fool! I know my Shouto is here!”
At hearing his father's voice, Shouto stiffened in Izuku's embrace while the cold of his Quirk made him shiver. Izuku pulled him even closer and rubbed his right arm in an attempt to warm him, whispering hushed words of reassurance.
“It's okay, Shouto. I am here.” He gently pecked the crown of Shouto's head, feeling his heart clench painfully in his chest.
“And what if he is?” Izuku heard dad challenge.
“I demand you hand him over! Otherwise I am permitted to enter the premises on the suspicion of kidnapping!”
Shouto took in a sudden, shuddering breath and Izuku felt his right arm become uncomfortably cold, to the point where it started to worry him.
“It's alright.” He hushed. “Dad's got it covered. But you're getting too cold, Shouto. You need to warm yourself back up.”
“S-sorry.” Shouto whispered with a shiver and Izuku felt the warmth of his left side seep into him, from where he had Shouto pressed against his chest. But the trembling didn't fade.
“Good luck with that. I'm not forcing him to stay, nor will I force him to leave. And you are not permitted to do anything without the presence of a police officer, Endeavor. I know my rights.” Dad countered, which was followed by an annoyed huff.
“I'm sorry.” Shouto whispered, sounding anxious. “He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. I'm causing you so much trouble. Maybe I should just leave.”
Oh no, not over Izuku's dead body. Shouto's weak attempt to get free from his hold was thwarted when Izuku held him tighter. He knew Shouto didn't want to leave, he just didn't want to be a burden to anyone, which he could never be.
“You're not causing us any trouble, Shouto, Endeavor is.” Izuku said firmly, but kindly. “And remember what I said?” Shouto turned his head so that he could look up at Izuku, who made sure his smile was warm and bright. “There is no force in the universe that can come in between us.”
Shouto lowered his head and Izuku knew it was in thought, since the trembling ceased somewhat.
“I suggest you leave, before the neighbours see reason to call the police.” That was mom with a sickly sweet tone in her voice that sent a shiver down Izuku's spine, despite Shouto's left side still pressed against him. She was in Protective Mother Mode. You did not want to mess with mom when she was in Protective Mother Mode.
“I'm not leaving without my son!” Endeavor insisted, clearly exasperated.
“I want to talk to him.” Shouto said, voice steadier than before.
The sudden declaration made panic take Izuku's breath for a second. “Shouto, you can't-”
“I'm not going with him.” Shouto assured. “But maybe I can get him to leave.”
He looked up at Izuku and the cyclone of terror that had swirled wildly in his grey and blue eyes, had calmed to a mild storm. He was still scared and doubtful, Izuku could see that, but there was also courage breaking through the clouds.
“Are you sure?” Izuku asked, because he wasn't about to let Shouto do something he didn't want to do.
“No,” Shouto replied, lowering his gaze before looking back up, again. “But you're here.”
Flutters filled Izuku's chest as a blush dusted his cheeks a light pink, which grew brighter when Shouto gave him the smallest of smiles. He trusted Izuku so much. And Izuku could never and would never betray that trust.
“Okay.” He smiled down at his boyfriend before he reliquished his embrace and worked himself to his feet. “Together.”
He held out his hand to Shouto to help him up.
“Together.” Shouto echoed and took the proffered hand, the warmth of it bleeding into Izuku's veins.
He pulled Shouto up and unlocked the door that functioned as a protective barrier between them and the angry bellows and vehement arguments that came from the other side. Izuku glanced back at Shouto and received a nod of the head. Then he opened the door. As soon as he stepped out of the study and into the hallway, Endeavor halted in his tirade when cold and malevolent blue eyes fell on Izuku. Once, he would have frozen in fear, like a deer caught in headlights, under that denigrating glare, but that was in the past. He would do anything for Shouto, and if that meant protecting him from his own father, then so be it.
Mom and dad turned to them with surprised and questioning looks just as Endeavor's glare moved to Shouto. Izuku felt the grasp on his hand tighten. He returned it with a light squeezed of his own to comfort Shouto. It seemed to work, since he loosened the vice somewhat.
Endeavor's eyes traced down to their combined hands and scrunched up his nose in disgust. It sparked something in Izuku's chest and he wondered if that was what dad felt whenever he used his Quirk, because it burned white hot. Izuku knew Endeavor was aware of their relationship, it wasn't like they actively tried to keep it a secret from him, and he also knew that he didn't approve of it. Izuku was fine with Endeavor being disgusted with him, he didn't care, but Shouto was his son.
“Come, Shouto! We're leaving!” Endeavor ordered and turned to leave, fully expecting Shouto to follow.
“I'm not going anywhere.” Shouto said. He didn't look directly at his father, who glared furiously over his shoulder, but his voice was firm. “So, there's no reason for you to cause any more disturbance.”
“You impertinent child!” Endeavor growled, seeming like he wanted to take a step towards them, but was blocked by dad standing his ground and not letting the man enter the apartment.
Izuku himself also shuffled a bit closer to his boyfriend, ready to physically throw himself between father and son if need be.
“I now see I have given you too much freedom, if insolance is all that those supposed 'friends' have taught you. Especially that brat.” Endeavor turned his fierce scowl to Izuku, then. But he returned it just as fiercely
“Hey! My Izuku is a hundred times the hero you ever were.” Dad defended him, sounding royally pissed now, too.
“Hisashi, dear, no need to lower yourself to his level.” Mom assuaged him, which had the opposite result of more heated back-and-forths.
Izuku wasn't paying attention to them anymore when his hand started to heat up and the vice grip became rather painful. Shouto looked down at the floor, clearly agitated, with his free hand clenched in a fist so hermetically that the knuckles started to turn white. A few slivers of frost flurried down to the floor.
“Shouto?” Izuku asked carefully and more calmly than he actually felt. He felt enraged by Endeavor, but it was pushed to the side by the concern for his boyfriend.
“I'm pregnant.” Shouto suddenly blurted and everything went deathly quiet.
Izuku's surprise at the confession quickly turned to sad understanding when he saw the wide-eyed panic on Shouto's features while his right hand clasped at the loose fabric over his belly. He hadn't meant to say it, but the stress of this whole situation had probably come to a crescendo for him and it just came bursting out.
Those frightened eyes reminded Izuku of what had happened about a week ago. He had open the door to a panic-stricken Shouto panting heavily, as if he had run the entire way from his house to the Midoriya apartment, frantically holding a positive pregnancy test.
“What?!” Endeavor snarled in disbelief and outrage.
Izuku ignored both him and his own anger in favour of calming his distressed boyfriend. Stepping in front him, Izuku guided his jaw so that their eyes met. What he saw made his heart sink to the bottom of his shoes, but he still swallowed past the lump that had formed in his throat.
“Shouto, it's okay.” He said, smiling with a silent promise.
The realisation was clearly visible in Shouto's eyes when it seemed like he had come to a decision and the terror receded. He nodded once and then turned his gaze to his father with renewed resolve. Izuku retook his place next to him, resolute.
“I'm pregnant.” Shouto repeated, his voice still a bit uncertain, so Izuku gave his hand a little squeeze in support. “And I-... We want to keep them.”
To anyone who didn't know Shouto as well as Izuku, this probably seemed like another act of deviance towards his father, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. Because they had cried about it and then they had talked about it, with each other, with Izuku's parents, with Recovery Girl, even with their teachers. And after that first ultrasound, after hearing that heartbeat and seeing those images of a tiny human-being, their child, there really wasn't much of a choice left. And no matter what the universe decided to throw at them, may it be ridicule, scorn or even Endeavor, they would get through it all, together.