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Around 10 am on a Saturday is when all hell breaks loose. Aizawa busts through the dorm entryway, carrying with him a screaming child.
No, Midoriya realizes, taking one look at the fluff of red and white hair atop the child's head, this isn't an ordinary baby.
"Todoroki??" Mina's astonished gasp comes from somewhere off to Izuku's left.
The baby continues to scream.
"I can't- I can't do this. I already have Eri." Aizawa's exasperated voice shouts over Todoroki's cries.
"No worries, Aizawa-sensei, it is our duty as Todoroki's classmates to take care of him in this vulnerable position." Iida's sharp voice cuts through the wailing, Sero winces from across the room.
"Whose baby is screaming loud enough to wake the dead? I'd like to have a fucking word with them." Bakugo stomps into the common room, eyes swollen and puffy.
He freezes when his eyes hone in on the baby's trademark hair.
"Is that fucking Icyhot?" He asks, quieter this time.
"Yes. He was hit by a quirk yesterday. I thought I would be able to handle him but, I can't. Please." He thrusts the child out at arm's length toward Iida.
"Of course, sensei." Momo nods, eyeing Todoroki's small form.
"I'll trust you can keep him alive, now if you'll excuse me I have some vomit I need to go clean up." Aizawa deadpans before speedwalking out of the dorm.
The door slams shut, only causing Todoroki to cry louder.
"I've never heard this much noise out of him, he's usually so... stoic," Mina says, cringing as Todoroki lets out a particularly ear-piercing scream.
"Iida-Kun, have you ever held a baby before?" Ochako asks him, observing the way Iida looks incredibly stiff while holding Todoroki.
"Er... no. This would be my first time." He admits, patting Todoroki awkwardly on the shoulder.
"Here, let me." Izuku steps in, taking pity on Iida.
It was a good idea, because Iida relaxes significantly, shrinking down and plopping himself on a couch. Izuku holds Todoroki out in front of him, looking the child in his eyes.
They're wide, almost bulging out of his head. Red and puffy from all the crying he'd been doing. The most jarring thing, however, is the lack of rough scar tissue around his left eye.
Todoroki's face is so soft and smooth. The red blotch of rough skin over his left eye he'd acquired at no more than five years old nowhere in sight.
"Sometimes I forget he wasn't born with it," Uraraka comments from over his shoulder.
"Yeah," Izuku hums in agreement, pulling Todoroki onto his hip.
The baby has stopped crying and is now reaching up to rub at his eyes. A chorus of coos rings from around the room.
Todoroki pulls his small hands down, blinking adorably up at Izuku who smiles down at him.
Todoroki smiles a wide, toothy smile. He must be around 10 months going by the two prominent teeth sticking out of his top gum.
Todoroki reaches his chubby arms up and squeezes Izuku's face between his hands, giggling as Izuku's face smushes in his grip.
Seeming to have forgotten his previous meltdown, he flops forward and rests his head under Midoriya's chin.
Izuku is pretty he's never seen anything more adorable in his life.
"That is the cutest effing thing I've ever seen!!" Kaminari squeaks, clasping his palms over his mouth.
"Deku... oh my god I think he's asleep." Uraraka whisper-screams over his right shoulder, causing Todoroki to wiggle in his arms. Izuku glares at her after he stills again. "Sorry," she grins guiltily, stepping back slightly.
Bakugo, who has yet to say another word, saunters up to Izuku and Todoroki, eyeing the baby with suspicion. He grunts.
"Go lay him on your bed, headphones over here can make sure he's okay from down here. We need to have a discussion about-" He gestures toward the sleeping Todoroki, "this."
"Aww look at Bakugo being a dad." Kirishima clasps his hands together, making kissy noises.
"Dadkugo!!" Kaminari says loudly, causing Todoroki to stir in Izuku's arms.
Izuku directs his pissed off glare at Bakugo, "Hit him for me," he commands, eyes darting to Kaminari's frozen form.
"Ah wait!" He whispers, "I didn't mean it I'm sorry."
Bakugo grins, "Gladly," he lunges at Kaminari and whacks the top of his head.
"Okay fine, I deserved that." Kaminari groans, rubbing the impact point.
Todoroki fists a hand in Izuku's shirt, and he can feel the drool start to seep through as he breathes heavily.
"Alright, I'll be back." He turns around and heads to the elevator, careful of every obstacle in his path. He rubs a hand across Todoroki's soft back, and only now realizes that he's wearing a UA brand onesie.
I wonder if this happens often.
He lays Todoroki down on his bed, careful to line a few pillows next to him so he doesn't roll off, but not close enough to his face that he could suffocate on them.
He's extremely adorable like this, but Midoriya can't help but be painfully aware of just how helpless he is.
As if sensing his worry, Todoroki's eyes peek open slightly. He fusses when he realizes he's no longer being held.
"Shit," Midoriya curses, terrified of another tantrum.
He walks into the baby's view, holding a hand out for Todoroki's grabby fingers. His hand is promptly crushed by Todoroki's surprising grip strength.
He stays like that for a moment before Todoroki's breathing evens out once again, and he is able to carefully slip his hand out of the vice hold.
He gingerly backs out of his room, clicking the door shut as softly as possible.
He looks up, prepared to return downstairs, but Ochako is already standing there.
Midoriya's eyes widen, taking in her feral grin and phone pointing at him.
"You-"
"Saw the whole thing?" She finishes, "Oh of course. I can't possibly let my best friend put my other best friend, who is now a baby, to sleep without documenting it for said best friend when he goes back to normal." She taps her phone again, effectively capturing Midoriya's shocked face on her camera forever, "That would actually be illegal."
Izuku collects his thoughts and rolls his eyes at her for good measure before storming down the hall past her.
"You'll thank me when this is over!" She whispers after him.
Everyone is waiting for him when he arrives back downstairs. Jirou has her ear jack plugged into the wall, and the rest of them are spread out across the common room.
"So..." He begins awkwardly, not exactly sure what to say, "He's uh- he's asleep."
A few nod in response, Tsuyu hums.
"Who's going to look after him, kero? Do we know when he'll go back to normal?" She breaks the silence, much to Izuku's appreciation.
"I think Deku is doing a great job already!" Ochako nudges his shoulder from behind.
"Yeah do you have a kid sibling or something?" Kaminari asks, raising his hand for some reason, "You were super good with him."
Izuku thinks for a moment, he hadn't really done anything out of the ordinary.
"I guess I just knew what he wanted. I wasn't around younger kids much growing up." He explains, hoping to placate the room.
"Deku's creepy mom vibes have nothing to do with this shitty meeting. When is fucking Icyhot gonna quit being a baby." Bakugo yells at the room, though Izuku notes that he has significantly turned down his volume.
"I vote we let Midoriya handle it." Sero shrugs, pointedly ignoring Bakugo.
There are various hums of agreement throughout the room and Midoriya suddenly feels very overwhelmed.
"H-hold on guys, are we sure this is what Todoroki would want?" He holds his arms out defensively, blushing from everyone's eagerness to volunteer him.
"Fuckin catch up, stupid Deku. Half n' half isn't here." Bakugo grunts at him, kicking his feet up on the coffee table.
"Midoriya does have a point, what would Todoroki want if he was here." Iida prompts, also disregarding Bakugo.
"Well, kero, I think he would trust Midoriya to look after him. After all, you two are close are you not?" Tsuyu stares at izuku, awaiting an answer.
"I mean, yeah we're friendly, but I don't know if he would trust me to babysit him yet." Izuku would really like to not be having this conversation right now.
"Hey, there's still a yet. That means you're getting there!" Kirishima pipes up, probably trying to encourage him, but not having the desired effect.
"Guys, I don't know. I don't have experience with this stuff." He sounds more resistant than he would like, but this whole situation is really stressing him out.
"Izuku, can I call you Izuku? Buddy. Pal." Kaminari strolls over to him, slapping a loose hand on his shoulder. Izuku stares at him. "Let me tell it to you straight, we're entrusting you with the hottest guy in class. We trust you not to fuck it up. Plus Todoroki would definitely trust you too.
Izuku swallows, the majority of the group nodding solemnly behind the grinning blond in front of him.
"I'm definitely not doing it because of that." Izuku glares at his traitorous friends.
Kaminari quirks an eyebrow at him.
"But I guess I can manage. Todoroki is my friend, after all." He sighs, shrugging off Kaminari's hand as the room erupts into (semi)quiet cheers. None of them particularly interested in babysitting for an undisclosed amount of time.
"Shut up you fucking shitty extras, bratoroki is gonna start bitching again." Bakugo reprimands them, for once making a valid point. He stands and storms upstairs, hands shoved in his pockets.
Sero wheezes from the corner of the room, "BRATOROKI."
"If he hears that when he goes back to normal, he's definitely gonna be pissed." Izuku chides, turning towards the stairs and following after Bakugo.
"Wait!! I wanna come see the baby too!" Kirishima calls after him.
Izuku rolls his eyes but doesn't say anything. They walk with quiet steps up to Midoriya's floor.
Kirishima takes a deep breath before pushing the handle and slowly creaking the door open.
They both sigh in relief at the sight of Todoroki sound asleep in the nest of pillows on Izuku's bed. Izuku steps forward first, careful to avoid the part of his floor that creaks. He motions for Kirishima to do the same, holding a finger to his lips and pointing at the offending floorboard.
Kirishima nods, toeing the path Midoriya had just completed until he stops at the side of his bed.
Todoroki's normally uniform part has now blended, creating a soft swirl of red and white. His eyebrows are scrunched together, arms spread out in a T shape- barely moving every so often.
His feet kick slightly. Small chubby legs restlessly moving as he dreams.
Midoriya and Kirishima both awe.
"I've never seen him so calm." Kirishima whispers to Izuku in the quiet room, "Although I suppose I've never seen him sleep before."
Izuku nods, unable to take his eyes off of the small body sleeping soundly in his bed.
"Wait, dude. Where are you going to sleep?" Kirishima's completely reasonable question bothers Midoriya. He turns to glare at Kirishima when Todoroki turns his head to the side.
"I don't know, Kirishima. Probably the floor." There's not much bite to his words, but it's enough to make Kirishima cringe. Obviously, he's not going to kick the ten-month-old out of his bed.
"You're right, sorry man." He backs off, returning his gaze to Todoroki.
"It's weird seeing him without his scar, huh." Izuku really wishes Kirishima would read the room for once.
Though his statement is reasonable, and Izuku can't deny he's had the same thought today.
"Yeah, it's kind of eerie." He keeps it short, willing Kirishima to take a hint.
The last thing Izuku wants is an unhappy baby.
"I'm gonna go grab some food, want me to bring you something?" Kirishima points his thumb to the door.
Izuku's stomach growls.
"Yeah, thanks Kirishima." And while he is grateful to be alone in the quiet again, the thought of being left to care for a baby all by himself makes him anxious.
Kirishima waves goodbye to the baby, saying something to the tune of see you later, lil man.
Midoriya is alone in his room for three blissfully quiet minutes, just watching Todoroki breathe before someone else has the audacity to step into his haven.
Izuku glares at his wall, really hoping he'll turn his head and see a quiet one.
Anyone but Kaminari, anyone but Kaminari, anyone but-
"Kacchan?" Izuku whispers, jaw-dropping at the sight of the blond standing uneasily in his doorway.
Bakugo narrows his eyes at Izuku before stepping farther into his room.
"If you're gonna insult the sleeping baby I will kick you out." Izuku deadpans once he realizes Bakugo intends to stay.
Bakugo rolls his eyes, "yeah yeah," he waves off his concern, plopping himself down carefully next to where Izuku had been sitting. "Just wanted to enjoy while he doesn't know how to speak yet."
Izuku stares at him.
Bakugo frowns at him, "Okay yeah, that's it."
Izuku nods, more to himself than anyone else.
They sit in silence for a moment before Bakugo reaches up to touch Todoroki's open-faced palm gently.
Midoriya glares at his movement as if that will deter him.
"If you wake him up-"
Bakugo huffs softly, "I see they picked the right dumbass for the job. Relax though, I've actually been around children."
And his expertise is evident as Todoroki's tiny fists wrap themselves around Bakugo's index finger.
Izuku's gaze darts between his childhood friend and his best friend. Both of which are smiling softly. Content.
"I can't believe you're being so gentle with him." Izuku is in utter astonishment.
"You underestimate me, nerd. I do have a moral compass." He wiggles his finger gently, Todoroki's tight grip clutching on, "And I like kids."
This is all news to Izuku, whose jaw remains slack at the realization that yes, Katsuki Bakugo does have a soft side. And it's for babies?
"Oh but also I'm not going to make fun of my boyfriend just because he's temporarily a fetus."
Wait.
"Huh?!" Izuku chokes, suddenly unable to breathe properly.
Todoroki stirs slightly, restless with the sudden noise.
Bakugo snorts beside him.
"Guess he was a brick of a sleeper even as a baby."
WAIT.
Izuku's mouth finally catches up to his brain, "Did- did you just say boyfriend??" He whispers, staring at the side of Bakugo's face.
Bakugo wipes the smile off of his face, removing his gaze from Todoroki and onto Izuku.
"What, didn't think it was possible for Kacchan to have human emotions?" He retorts condescendingly.
Izuku scowls at him, "Honestly, no."
Bakugo rolls his eyes again, looking back at his- boyfriend??
"Been dating since the first year sports festival." Bakugo grunts by way of explanation.
Midoriya gapes at him, "Kacchan that's a whole year!"
Bakugo grins, still holding Todoroki's hand with his finger, "Yep. Guess this is my anniversary present. Honestly, I'm not even mad about it. He's fucking adorable."
"Well," Izuku turns his head away, "That is not what I expected to happen."
Bakugo snorts next to him.
"Are you really okay with me taking care of him?" Izuku can't imagine this is Bakugo's ideal circumstance.
"Fuck no. But I don't plan on leaving you two alone too much, and you're much more capable of preventing Shouto's early death than those other shitty extras." His grin weakens slightly, and over a decade with Bakugo tells him he's freaking out inside.
"Hey, he's gonna go back to normal soon. Quirks like this don't usually last more than 24 hours." Izuku attempts to calm him.
Bakugo nods gravely, "I know he will."
-20 hours earlier-
Todoroki holds his right hand up to his eye. Cooling the inflamed skin.
"Shit Shouto, that bastard really did a number on your face." Katsuki plops next to him on the bed, tugging at his boyfriend's hand to peek at the welt underneath.
Shouto glares at him. "And how exactly does this worry you more than the fact that he hit me with his quirk?"
"Because now that your hot face is gone, there's nothing else for me to love." Katsuki snorts at Shouto's souring expression.
"Your sense of humor is rancid." He turns away from Katsuki, pouting.
"Hey, hey you know I'm just teasing." Katsuki wraps his arms around Shouto's midsection, pulling them both down onto the sheets. "I love you even though your face is ugly."
Shouto punches him.
"Yeah, I deserved that." Katsuki winces, rubbing his chest.
His boyfriend sighs, farther chilling his hand in an effort to bring down the swelling. His right side forms small ice crystals.
"Hey, do we know what that shithead's quirk was?" Katsuki wonders aloud, running his fingers over Todoroki's freezing skin. It sends goosebumps in waves across his body.
Shouto's pout returns, "No. Just that it'll probably take effect sometime tonight since it hasn't already. I could just die in my sleep, then I won't have to go to class on monday."
Bakugo frowns.
Shouto pauses, realizing his boyfriend is being eerily quiet.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I was just kidding." He looks back at his boyfriend.
Katsuki sniffs, sitting up in a failed attempt to hide his emotions. He turns his head away, silently begging Shouto not to comment.
Shouto doesn't say anything, but what he does do is arguably worse.
He scoops his anxious boyfriend up in his arms and hugs him. Hugs him.
Katsuki would normally shove him off, but he's feeling particularly generous today. Or he's just an emotional wreck, but he can lie to himself all he wants.
"Hey, Katsuki, I didn't mean it. You know we'll wake up tomorrow and I'll probably have two belly buttons or something." Shouto's evasion does help Katsuki's mood. Even if he knows his boyfriend is under-exaggerating the inevitable.
I'm only upset because, for all we know, you could be right.
"Thanks, Sho." He mumbles into the taller boy's shirt. If there has been one downside to dating this tree of a man, it's that he is just that. A tree. They were only two centimeters apart when their first year started, but now Shouto was a good five inches taller than him. Bakugo likes to pretend that it bothers him.
Shouto hums in response, rubbing a soothing circle across Katsuki's back.
"You know I would be a mess without you- I... I'm just worried. Is all." He's gotten a lot better at opening up to Shouto since they had a fight four months into their relationship that nearly brought down the whole thing. Katsuki had learned after a week of sulking that occasional discomfort was better than how empty his life was without his dumb Icyhot boyfriend.
"I know. I'm worried too, you know my humor isn't... great... for moments like this." Shouto grimaces into Bakugo's hair.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I love your dry-ass gallows humor."
Shouto snorts, hugging Katsuki tighter for a moment before letting him go. If there's one thing Shouto knows his boyfriend needs, it's physical touch.
Katsuki sighs.
"Well, might as well hang out for the rest of the evening. Just in case I do wake up to a corpse tomorrow." He winces at the idea. Trying not to imagine what his boyfriend would look like. Eyes sunken in, skin as pale as the sheets below him, face trapped in a permanent look of terror.
"Okay, Kat, let's go distract you before you have a panic attack. I don't really want to think about it either." Shouto tugs on Katsuki's arm.
He hadn't noticed his racing heartbeat. His breath had probably quickened too.
Shit. I don't like this.
"Yeah okay."
They ended up going to get food, then remained in Bakugo's room for the rest of the evening.
Until he woke up to an empty bed.
He spent the morning in tears, in and out of panic, until he heard a commotion from the common room.
And his boyfriend wasn't dead.
Just... small.
-Present-
"Hey, bud, I know. Being a baby probably sucks." Bakugo bounces the distraught child on his hip, holding the small head in the crook of his neck.
"Kacchan, I think he's hungry." Midoriya squeaks when Bakugo glares at him.
"Well no shit, genius. You got any baby food handy? Didn't think so."
Midoriya glares back, "You know I think he's about ten months old."
"Thanks, Deku, you're a real lifesaver. I thought my boyfriend was gonna starve but we can just use your facts to feed him." Bakugo rolls his eyes, just as agitated as Shouto that he wasn't getting any food.
"Actually, you ass, I was referring to the fact that he can probably eat something that we have here. You know. Since he's got teeth?" Midoriya looks at bakugo, utterly unimpressed.
"Oh." Is all Katsuki manages.
"Yeah oh. Go get him some banana or something." Midoriya waves his hand dismissively at him, then reaches out and plucks Todoroki from his arms.
Bakugo glares at him for a moment but decides he doesn't really want to hold the hungry baby for any longer, so he leaves to go storm the kitchen.
"Hey bro!" Kirishima appears out of fucking nowhere behind him.
"What, shitty hair."
Kirishima inches closer, just barely outside the Bakugo Explode Zone. Which for Kirishima and Todoroki, happens to be especially close.
"How's Todo doin'? He asks innocently, hands folded behind his back like a schoolgirl.
"How about you go and ask him yourself? Oh wait, you can't. Because he doesn't know how to talk yet." Bakugo turns and practically spits at him.
Kirishima winces, "Okay I get it, touchy subject. How are you doing then?"
Bakugo's glare does not lessen.
"My boyfriend. Is a baby. An absolutely fuckin adorable baby, but he's a BABY." Bakugo yells, slamming the knife down into the slightly overripe banana he is currently chopping.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Kirishima peeks his head over Katsuki's shoulder, "You makin' his dinner?"
Bakugo grunts, sliding the tiny piles of mushy fruit into a bowl.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Bakugo walks past him and out of the kitchen.
"Hey, wait!" Kirishima calls after him.
Bakugo pauses, he doesn't turn, but he pauses. One hand on the stair railing.
"Do you know if they're gonna tell his dad?"
Katsuki's breath catches in his throat. Fuck he hadn't thought about that.
Slowly he turns to face Kirishima, whose contorted face matches how Bakugo is currently feeling inside.
"I... don't know. I sure fuckin' hope not."
Kirishima nods, then frowns deeper, thinking for a moment.
"What about his mom?"
Katsuki hadn't thought about that either.
"Probably not, or if they did it would be after he's normal already. But maybe... I wonder if they'll let me see her if I have him with me. He's still pretty recognizable as a baby." Bakugo is well aware of Rei Todoroki's current living conditions, and he'd met her a few times himself. Todoroki hasn't been able to come out to his father, but he was insistent Bakugo meet his mother. Which had gone much better than when Todoroki met Bakugo's mom.
"You would know better than me." Kirishima shrugs, then his phone buzzes loudly in his pockets. He opens it and holds it up to his ear, pointing at it with his free hand.
Bakugo takes the opportunity to leave.
-
The next day, Todoroki still isn't back to normal. He had slept in a small crib made entirely by Momo. It was a surprisingly peaceful night, but Todoroki has basically passed out after eating. They convinced Present Mic to change him when he dropped by for the A.M. dorm check since he was the only person nearby who actually knew how to change a diaper.
Todoroki's mood had significantly improved after he was in a fresh outfit.
Bakugo had just stared at him for a while that morning, silently begging him to change back. But he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy staring at his boyfriend. God, he felt weird still calling him that.
"I promise I'm not being creepy Sho, I obviously don't consider us dating right now... because that would be gross... but I can't not call you my boyfriend because you're gonna go back to normal soon. Or you fuckin better anyway. God this is so fuckin weird." He runs a hand through his hair, "I'm stressing way too much over this. If you were here you'd probably call me a dumbass or some shit. It would still make me feel better though."
Todoroki smushes the back of his hand into his face.
"You always know what to say," Bakugo tells the baby, quietly. He runs the back of his index finger along Todoroki's smooth cheek.
Todoroki's eye cracks open at the contact, and he babbles happily when he notices that Bakugo is the one smiling down at him.
"Yeah, 'pbfffft' to you too. You wanna go see your mom today? You usually go visit her on Sundays anyway." Katsuki ruffles the red and white swirls on the top of his head.
"Abababamamamapfffffff" Todoroki spits up at him, Katsuki snorts.
"Yeah, mama's gonna be real happy to see you too, Sho." Horrified at how utterly soft he just sounded, Katsuki reaches down for the baby and pulls him onto his hip.
They make their way down to the kitchen, where Momo makes a highchair for him and Katsuki feeds him some more banana.
"I know, bud. You'll be able to eat something other than this yellow shit when you grow all your teeth back." He points his banana covered finger at Todoroki, who stares up at him with wide eyes and an equally as messy mouth, "Which better be fuckin' soon."
Someone slape his arm.
"Kacchan! Don't swear in front of the baby." Midoriya grits at him, eyeing the clueless Todoroki who babbles in a request for some more banana.
"Deku, I've heard WAY worse come from his mouth. It's not like he can even fuckin' talk yet anyway."
"Pbbbbbffffft"
"See?"
Midoriya rolls his eyes.
"Oh, I was gonna tell you. I'm takin' him to see his mom." Bakugo casually informs him, sticking another banana covered finger into the baby's mouth.
Midoriya sputters, "You- you're- what?!?!" Katsuki stares at him while Todoroki gnaws at his finger, "You think they're gonna let you in? You're gonna take him in PUBLIC?!?!"
Bakugo narrows his eyes at Izuku, "Yeah dumbass, I've met her a shitton of times," which happens to be an exaggeration but he needs to make a point, "Plus I'll just ask Momo to make him a hat. Nobody will recognize him."
Midoriya considers then, then sighs dramatically, "Well I suppose it can't hurt. But you better be careful."
"Yes, mom." Katsuki turns away from the pouting teenager and comes face to face with a pouting baby. "Hey, it's not my fault you're a baby now. The banana is all we have." He explains (unnecessarily) to the baby with incredibly scrunched red and gray eyebrows.
Todoroki hits the table a few times before Katsuki rolls his eyes and picks the baby out of his chair, thumping him on the back a few times.
Todoroki lets out a large burp and settles instantly, much to Midoriya's amusement.
"Yeah, that's why you were fussing, huh brat?" Bakugo holds the giggling Todoroki out at arm's length.
"Wow, and you called ME a mom." Izuku snorts from behind him.
"Shut up, shitty Deku. At least I know how to take care of my kid. Also, I'm taking his bag so his actual mom can change him this time. I refuse to take part in that." He wipes off Todoroki's face before removing the Ziploc bag he had taped to his chest as a makeshift bib.
"Well, I wish you luck on your venture then. Make sure and say hi to his mother for me."
"Fuck you, Deku, I'm not your errand boy. Make Todoroki tell her when he comes back."
"Hmm." Izuku strolls out of the kitchen before returning a moment later with the bag Aizawa had dropped with him, "Well, take care." And with that, he's gone.
Finally some peace and fuckin' quiet.
Bakugo and Todoroki head out a mere fifteen minutes later after he convinces Momo to make him a hat. He only gets one because he's generous enough to let her make it bright pink with little hearts on it.
Bakugo takes a hundred pictures.
For blackmail... obviously.
After a ten minute walk and a thirty-minute bus ride, they arrive at the psychiatric facility that houses Todoroki's mother.
The staff up front initially refuse to let Bakugo in, of course, since he's not a relative. When he takes off Todoroki's hat, though, that gets him a pass. After the nurses stop fawning over the baby, naturally. Bakugo can't blame them, and Todoroki just sits there staring at each of them with the widest eyes imaginable. It could put Deku to shame.
"I think Rei is going to be thrilled." The nurse pats Bakugo on the back and directs them to Rei's floor, "Normally we wouldn't allow this, but she's been making substantial progress."
Bakugo nods, refusing to let himself lose it at this perfectly reasonable hospital staff for touching him. He takes a deep breath, like Shouto had taught him, and knocks on door 298.
"Come in!" Rei Todoroki's soothing voice can be heard from in the door.
Bakugo looks at the nurse, who gives him a curt nod, then at Todoroki, who makes a grabby motion at the door. And he enters.
Rei is facing away, looking fondly out of the window.
"Shouto? Is it Sunday already?" She says softly, not bothering to turn around.
Bakugo gulps.
"Um, Todoroki-san?" Bakugo says much quieter than he intended, "It's Bakugo- uh, Katsuki. Shouto introduced us a few times?"
"Ah yes, Katsuki-Kun. What brings you here-" Rei turns her head enough to see Bakugo standing there, and her eyes widen impossibly when her gaze lays on Shouto.
She brings her hand up to her mouth, eyes swelling with tears, "Oh my baby."
Katsuki has never felt more uncomfortable in his entire life. He doesn't know if he should be comforting her or ignoring her sudden burst of emotions. He steps hesitantly toward her and Shouto raises his arms up, reaching out to his mom.
She looks up at Katsuki, unsure.
"Is... is it really him?"
Katsuki nods, "Yeah, some bast- er- jerk hit him with his quirk. So now he's a baby for a little bit." He shuffles his feet on the ground when Rei finally takes Shouto.
"Mamamamamama," Todoroki rambles, grabbing his mother's hair and face, pulling her glasses off.
She giggles, "I see."
Katsuki can't help but watch with incredible happiness as Todoroki's mother plays and talks with her son. He's so happy that he was able to see her today, and not his bitch of a father.
"Thank you, Katsuki-Kun." She says softly, holding a sleeping Shouto in her arms.
"Of course, I thought you, um... would like to see him." He looks away from her piercing gaze.
"That's not what I mean." His eyes dart back to hers, "You brought him to me, yes, and I am extremely grateful. But you bringing him to me means you would know exactly what he would do, and what he would want. You take care of him. And I'm incredibly thankful that he has someone like you in his life." She smiles affectionately at him, then looks back down at Shouto, running her fingers across the top of his head.
Oh. Oh. Katsuki is not used to this. If he wasn't so full of himself he would probably be sobbing right now. In fact, he's pretty fucking close.
"I-" Katsuki gulps.
Rei holds out a hand, "And before you go on some self-deprecating schpiel about how you're not good enough, yes my son talks a lot about you, I just want to let you know that I know about you. Probably more than you think."
Bakugo would feel threatened right now if he weren't in utter shock.
"I can safely say that even though you've made some big mistakes, you're changing. And I think it's for the better. I know Shouto agrees. He doesn't keep around those he doesn't trust." She continues, squinting at him, "I already consider you part of the family, and I have since he first brought you to meet me. It took him years to work up to where he could see me, and the first person he brought with him was you. I hope you understand the significance of that."
Yeah, Katsuki is gonna sob at some point in the near future. Or take a power nap. He's not sure yet.
He swallows thickly, nodding. He doesn't trust himself to say anything without his voice cracking.
"Good." Rei closes her eyes and hugs Shouto close to her chest for a brief moment before taking a deep breath and handing him back to Katsuki.
"Make sure you come with him next time he visits. Tell him I want to talk to the two of you. Together." She points her finger at him, the most stern he's ever seen her look.
He nods vigorously.
Then she grins, "I'll see you next weekend then."
Katsuki can only manage a small wave before fleeing the room, and subsequently the hospital.
He bursts back into the common room, not realizing until after he sits down with the still sleeping (seriously??) Todoroki that he forgot to put his hat on before he left.
Oh well.
He proceeds to step quietly upstairs, and if Kaminari saw him walking on his tiptoes, trying not to wake up Shouto, no one would ever believe him.
He flops down on his bed after placing Todoroki next to him.
Shouto stirs and peeks an eye open, staring into Katsuki's soul. Offering a challenge.
Katsuki pokes a finger at his tiny nose.
"You, mister, are going to take a nap. Because I am going to take a nap. And I better not hear any more wailing until 6 o'clock. Got it?"
Todoroki shuts his eye.
"Good baby." Katsuki muffles into his pillow.
And sometime during their nap, Shouto grabs onto Katsuki's finger. And he doesn't let go.
-
Bakugo wakes up to an empty bed.
This would not be alarming usually, except once he fully wakes he clearly remembers falling asleep next to a baby.
He looks around the room carefully.
The crib is there, the diaper bag is there, and the baby is not there.
"Uh... Shouto?" He calls hesitantly.
A red and white mess of hair pokes out of his bathroom.
"Hey Kat, did I wake you?" His sleepy boyfriend responds, rubbing his eye with a toothbrush occupied hand.
Katsuki just stares for a moment.
There is no more small baby, just a large baby.
"Uh, no, sorry. Just... nevermind." He mumbles halfheartedly, already falling back to his pillow.
A beat of silence... then-
"Katsuki why did I wake up wearing a diaper?"
Bakugo rolls over and promptly falls back asleep.