Work Text:
"You know time isn't gonna move faster if you keep checking the time." Inasa said, looking at Shouto, arms crossed as he sat in his office chair in their shared office. Shouto had returned to work at his and Inasa's shared hero agency. He had left Ichiro and Ikuko with Fuyumi and Rei, at Fuyumi's apartment and Shouto couldn't help but to be nervous. It was his first time away from his babies after spending 3 months with them. He couldn't think straight. He could only think about his babies.
"Shou, we have 5 hours left in the workday, so why don't you actually get some work done, so we can get back and see our kids faster ?" Inasa suggested. Shouto continued to sulk. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in !" Inasa called. The door opened and in stepped Deku.
"Deku ? What beings you by ?" Inasa asked, standing up.
"I just came to drop something off for Shouto." Deku said with a friendly smile. He was holding a wrapped box. He then noticed that Shouto hadn't greeted him. "Is this a bad time ?"
"No, Shouto is just mopey because misses the twins, this is his first time away from them." Inasa explained.
"Separation anxiety. I've been there before." Deku said, approaching Shouto. "I was hesitant to leave Keita alone too, I still am but I remember that his grandma is taking good care of him so some of the guilt and some of the sadness melted away. I wish I could stay with Keita all of the time, Kaachan does too, but we're heroes. We have a job we committed to." He rested a hand on Shouto's shoulder. "Plus, them being away from you for a short while is good for them in a way because it reaches them independence and as long as you scented some of their blankets or clothes or even toys, it'll be like you're there with them, so they'll be fine."
Shouto shot up and looked at Inasa.
"I didn't scent their blankets... I didn't scent anything !" Shouto started to panic. Inasa sighed and walked over to Shouto, wrapping his arms around him to calm him down.
"Hey, calm down, I scented their blankets, so it'll be like their daddy is there with them." Inasa said.
"But what about their mama ? They need me !" Shouto said.
"They will be okay." Inasa assured. "Calm down. If anything bad happened, Fuyumi would've called us."
"Maybe it's best for Shouto to go home early." Deku suggested. "Just to calm down."
"No...no... it's fine. It's just-" he sighed and buried his face in his hands. "It's their first time away from their mama... what if they think I'm abandoning them ?"
"They won't think that, I promise." Inasa said.
"I thought the same when I had to leave Keita." Deku said. "It'll be alright, they won't notice that you were gone that long, they're probably peacefully napping, when I first left Keita at my mom's house, he barely noticed I was gone but was happy when I came back." He sighed. "There are some days they will miss you and cry for you, but you have to stay strong, they'll know that you'll come back."
"How do I deal with the guilt ?" Shouto asked. "It's eating me up inside."
"You just have to deal with it the best way you can, even if that means distracting yourself." Deku said.
"I suppose you're right Deku..." Shouto said. "There's no point in worrying and I have to start working at some point, I made a commitment, same as you, when I decided to become a hero."
"You'll be alright." Izuku said, patting his shoulder. "Now I have to get going, Kaachan will have a fit if I'm not on time for our lunch date." He started towards the door.
"See you later Deku !" Inasa called out.
"Bye guys !" Deku said, leaving. Inasa looked at Shouto.
"Well, let's get started." Inasa said. "Paperwork isn't going to do itself."
Shouto nodded.
"Right." He said, with a sigh. He actually felt like he would be able to work a little easier, his mind clear, after his talk with Deku.
~
After the work day, Shouto and Inasa headed back to Fuyumi's apartment to get the twins. Rei was playing with Ichiro while Fuyumi played with Ikuko. Shouto smiled at the sight. Fuyumi had left the door unlocked for them so they entered the apartment and were greeted with the sight.
"How were they ?" Shouto asked.
"They've been well behaved." Fuyumi said. "Ichiro did whine when it came to feeding time and refused to take the bottle for a little while but eventually remembered he had no choice and ate."
"I was afraid of that." Shouto said. "He hates bottles but he has to get used to them sooner or later."
"Which he will, it'll just take time." Inasa said. "How was Ikuko ?"
"Oh she was an angel, she rarely even fussed." Fuyumi said, bringing Ikuko over to them. Ikuko gurgled and let out a happy coo when she saw her parents. Fuyumi placed Ikuko in Shouto's arms. Shouto smiled as Ikuko reached to touch his face.
"Hello sweetheart." Shouto said. "Did you miss me ? I missed you." He nuzzled her cheek. Rei walked over, Ichiro in her arms. Ichiro squealed once he saw Shouto. Shouto shifted Ikuko into one arm and held Ichiro in the other, nuzzling his cheek as well.
"I missed you as well, Ichiro." He said, chuckling. Inasa leaned over Shouto's shoulder, seeing the twins smile as they looked at him.
"I missed you guys too, I'm so glad to hear that you were good for Aunt Fuyumi and Grandma Rei." Inasa said. He and Shouto looked up at Fuyumi and Rei.
"We should get going. We'll see you guys later." Shouto said.
"Yeah, see you guys tomorrow !" Inasa said, following Shouto as they headed towards the door.
"Bye Shouto ! Bye Inasa !" Fuyumi called out.
"Goodbye Ichiro and Ikuko ! Grandma can't wait to see you again !" Rei said, waving. Shouto and Inasa smiled as they headed out to the car, putting the twins in their carseats.
"Told you they'd be fine." Inasa said, smiling
"You were right." Shouto said, a slight smile on his face. Maybe he could finally work with a clear mind.