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Shoto sighs in exhaustion, attempting to insert his key into the lock of the apartment. He’s already three tries in, having dropped the key twice, and all he wants to do is crash on the bed with Izuku.
Finally, after what felt like way too much time to be spent unlocking the door, Shoto manages to fit the key inside the lock and successfully get inside the apartment without further hassle. Though his shift that evening hadn’t been the worst he’s experienced, it was certainly one of the most tolling of that week.
Every muscle in his body aches. He bitterly wishes the agency called someone in with a better-suited quirk for dealing with the elusive shadow quirk he dealt with during his shift, especially since he was now nursing a rather sore spot on the left side of his torso where the perpetrator got in a nasty hit. But, the job was completed nonetheless.
Upon entering the living room, after removing his shoes and setting his keys down, Shoto is greeted with the not-so-unfamiliar sight of Izuku. Although typically he’s not passed out on the couch.
No matter the time, Izuku always makes sure he’s awake to welcome Shoto home from his shift. When the situation is reversed, Shoto always stays up to welcome Izuku home as well.
As Shoto steps towards his slumbering partner, he takes note of how disheveled Izuku’s appearance is. Heroics certainly has the work cut out for them, Shoto muses in his head. It's been hard to maintain a decent sleep schedule while bearing the stress of the country and trying to enjoy life before it flashed by.
Seeing Izuku up close, it looks as if the man had barely made it to the couch, somewhat stripping on the way before passing out face down. Izuku’s hero costume is pulled down to the waist to reveal the black tank top he always wore beneath, and while one foot was completely sockless the other's sock still hung on for dear life.
From past experience Shoto knows Izuku will wake up in more pain if he remains in the position he’s currently in on the couch, especially if the light crust of dried blood on the latter's temple is anything to go by.
Shoto tiredly shakes his head at Izuku’s unkempt state then decides to head to the bathroom to run a bath for the two of them.
Soon their bathroom is filled with light steam. The wonderful scent of vanilla and lavender flooding Shoto's senses as the bath nears its filling capacity. Once the bath is in order Shoto pads back to his boyfriend.
Lightly shaking his arm, Shoto makes his first attempt at waking Izuku.
“Izu”, “Hey, baby wake up” he whispers. Pausing to see no reaction from the other Shoto huffs quietly to himself for not the first time that night and goes to try again with more force.
“Izuku, honey I really need you to wake up,” Shoto says a bit louder, lightly jostling Izuku’s shoulders before moving to turn the man on his back. Slowly, Izuku blinks open his eyes trying to search for his boyfriend in the dark of the living room.
“Sho? You’re back already?” he mumbles trying to push himself into a seated position. Helping him sit up Shoto hums a confirmation. “ I just got back”.
“Damn I was really out” Izuku mumbles more to himself as he rubs his eyes before facing the other. Shoto leans in, cupping Izuku’s cheek with his left palm and capturing warm lips in a chaste kiss before pulling back.
“I drew a hot bath for the both of us, god knows we both desperately need it, so why don’t we head to the bathroom?” Shoto offers, standing up and holding his hands down for Izuku to grab.
“That sounds lovely, it just might take me a few to get there,” Izuku laughs, taking Shoto’s hands and slowly pulling himself up to a standing position. Shoto could tell from the wince of Izuku’s face that his muscles were sore from his shift as well.
A few minutes later the two heroes are in their bathroom, peeling their hero suits off their sweat-sticky skin. Once Shoto gets his own suit off he turns around to see how Izuku is faring, only to find his boyfriend about to step into the tub with his support bands still around his upper arms and knees.
“Sunshine wait, you don’t want to bathe with those on” Shoto chastises, pulling his partner back from the tub.
Unfazed, and still half asleep. Izuku stands compliant as Shoto pulls off the support bands and drops the damp garments in their pile of clothes.
“There, now we can get in,” Shoto says softly while directing Izuku back to the tub.
Once the shorter man is situated in the tub, Shoto climbs in behind and wraps his arms around the other’s defined torso.
“Feels so nice” Izuku sighs as he melts into Shoto’s chest. The two remain silent for a while, Shoto maintaining the water’s temperature, and just soak in each other’s presence. It had been so long since the two of them were able to enjoy a long, quiet moment together without worrying about being called in for an emergency shift.
Noticing Izuku’s breaths beginning to even out, Shoto moves his hands up to the other’s shoulders, starting to push him to sit up on his own.
“Here, sit up so I can wash your hair” Shoto gently prods, then reaches for the shampoo bottle.
“Only if I can do the same to you” Izuku responds, smiling lightly and eyeing Shoto from the side.
Pouring a generous amount of shampoo into his palm, Shoto begins massaging wet curls until a thick lather has built up. Izuku hums in contentment as the dirt and grime of that day’s work is rised away, leaving a fresh feeling in its wake.
Finishing off with the conditioner in Izuku’s hair, they both turn around so Izuku can have access to do the same to Shoto.
“Rough day for the both of us huh” Izuku says, more awake and eyeing the wounds on Shoto’s back while he works on detangling wet red and white hair.
"Nasty bruise you got today" he continues. One hand momentarily leaves Shoto's head to faintly trace the new bruise.
Shoto knew the bruising wouldn’t disappear for at least a couple of weeks, and that was if he was lucky enough to avoid further injury.
“If only our line of work didn’t ensure it” Shoto sighed, thinking of the numerous times the two of them and their comrades have been injured in the line of duty. Some times, worse than others. Shoto shifts to face Izuku in the tub once more, seeing the expanse of emotion on his face.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Izuku whispers, pulling Shoto into a long hug from behind and burying his face in the side of Shoto’s neck.
“And I’m glad to be here with each other,” Shoto replies, squeezing Izuku’s forearms back to convey his own emotions.
Shoto feels Izuku's smile and press a small kiss on his neck in response, while also gaining a final squeeze before the arms relax around him.
“As much as I’d love to continue we really should go to bed, getting less sleep isn’t gonna make tomorrow’s shifts any better” Izuku laments, shifting to get up.
“I guess a bed would be more agreeable than the bottom of this tub.” Shoto replies while standing up. Izuku let's out a small laugh and just shakes his head.
Offering a hand to Shoto, Izuku tugs the other man up into a standing position. For a brief moment Shoto allows himself to take a deeper appreciation for Izuku in all that he is. He looks alluring, water running down his toned body, yet his face displaying nothing but sincerity.
Izuku must’ve been doing the same since he didn’t question the prolonged silence between the two, or the fact that neither of them were stepping out of the tub.
“Thank you for the bath.” Izuku says softly, grabbing Shoto’s biceps and leaning up to capture his lips.
Shoto melts into the kiss, savoring every second of it
before Izuku pulls back.
“Let’s get ready for bed shall we.” Izuku says and slowly begins climbing out of the tub. The two of them slowly go through their nightly routine, and ten minutes later finally drop down onto their respective sides of the bed they share.
“I’ll get the light, Izu." Shoto reaches over to the bedside lamp, dousing the light and enshrouding the room in darkness, save for the sliver of city light coming from behind their curtains.
When Shoto turns back to face Izuku, he finds the other tucked beneath the covers already, awaiting snuggles. A small smile spreads across his face, as he lies down to face his boyfriend.
Izuku cracks open his eyes and Shoto leans in for one last kiss before they both fall asleep. This kiss is much more languid, both of them using their free arms to come up and cup each other’s face, and it tastes like a promise for more.
“Good night Sho, love you” Izuku mumbles against Shoto’s lips once they part.
“Love you too, goodnight sunshine” Shoto whispers back. Dropping their hands, Shoto turns to face his back towards Izuku.
Despite the hell their profession can drag them through, Shoto can't help but be thankful for heroism bringing the two of them together. Once settled, a strong arm drapes itself across Shoto's torso, and their legs become entangled as sleep prevails.