Work Text:
Keigo refuses to admit that, had he taken help from his friends earlier, he might’ve found Souta faster. Everyone knows already, of course, because how else could Keigo have found Souta not even a month after Kumi’s birthday if not for the added help he was getting?
Unfortunately, finding Souta and getting Souta to use his quirk are two vastly different tasks.
“What do you mean, you can’t do it on purpose?”
Souta shrugs as he pays for his coffee and drops a tip in the jar beside the register. “Just that. I don’t know how to activate my quirk on purpose.”
Keigo follows him out of the coffeeshop. “That makes no sense.”
“Look, I’m really glad that things worked out for you with — uh, what’s her name? Kumi? — with Kumi, but that was an accident. There’s no way I can do that again!”
“Wait, so your quirk only activates when you’re startled like you were back then?”
Souta nods. “Yup. Every time I’ve used my quirk to date has been accidental. I’m not bothered by it. Not using my quirk is good for me.”
“Well, it’s bad for me!”
“I’m really sorry, Hawks, but I can’t help you. Why don’t you try adoption? Or surrogacy?”
Keigo frowns. “I want a baby that’s mine and Touya’s.”
Souta sighs. “Well, my quirk isn’t all that unique. There are reports of stuff like this happening all over. Maybe you can find someone who does know how to use their quirk?”
“No one else’s — that we know of — is permanent. What if I accidentally piss them off and then poof, my child disappears?”
“I don’t think anyone is cruel enough to do that.”
“You never know.”
Souta stops outside a building and shrugs. “I wish I could help you, Hawks, but unless you can scare the daylights out of me, I can’t give you what you want.”
“No,” Touya says as soon as Keigo finishes relaying his meeting with Souta.
“I didn’t even suggest anything.”
“You want to try to scare the man.”
“Wh- he’s the one who said it would work if I scared him enough!”
“What are you gonna do, Kei? Follow him around and spook him randomly?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Baby, that’s called harassment.”
“But I want a baby!”
Touya sighs. “There are lots of babies that need adopting.”
“I want our baby!”
“You’re impossible.”
“We’re home!” Jin calls as he enters, followed by the same from Kumi.
“How was school today, birdie?” Touya asks, ruffling her hair when she hugs him after Keigo.
“It was okay. Sana fell asleep in class so I drew a mustache on his face. Sensei said I’m not allowed to do that anymore.”
Touya grins. “As funny as that is, your teacher is right. Don’t do that again, okay?”
“Fine,” Kumi grumbles. She turns to Keigo. “Did you meet the baby man? What did he say?”
“He said we can try.”
“He did not,” Touya says. “Don’t listen to your father. He’s just a dumb chicken. What do you want for supper?”
“Mm, I want Papa’s famous grilled steak!”
Touya gives her a smile. “Anything for you, birdie.”
As Touya walks towards the kitchen, Kumi turns to Keigo. “Am I gonna be a big sister or not?” she whispers.
“I’m working on it,” Keigo whispers back.
“I can hear you!” Touya snaps.
Kumi and Keigo share a wide-eyed glance before breaking into soft laughter. Touya sighs from the kitchen.
Keigo looks up from his chat with Iori. “What about Haruna?”
“Didn’t the All Might Junior idiot name his kid Haruna?” Touya asks, glancing up from his little desk in their room.
“Wait, Deku has a kid? With who?”
Touya stares at Keigo. “His wife, dimwit. That bubbly chick Miko was obsessed with.”
“He’s married?!”
“He’s been married for four years! Everyone knows that! And don’t you dare ask me when that baby was born or I’ll throw you off a building. Miko was even invited to the baby shower.”
“Oh! I remember! The kid’s turning two this year, isn’t she? Hm, I’ll tell Iori no.”
“Why are you even talking about baby names? Souta said no when you met him two months ago. Adopted babies usually come with their own names.”
“Baby, I think adoption is great and I support it wholeheartedly. But I do not want to adopt a baby.”
Touya rolls his eyes. “Leave me alone, I have a shopping list to prepare before my next class.”
“Ooh, what about Atsuki?”
“Keigo. That is your nephew’s name.”
“Huh? I don’t have a nephew.”
Touya stares at Keigo like he’s one of Kumi’s homework problems. “Did you hit your head recently? Like, in the last month?”
“No, why?”
“Oh, so you’re just stupid then.”
“I am not!”
Keigo gasps.
“There it is.”
“I forgot!” he whines, burrowing under the duvet. “I can’t believe I forgot their adoption went through last month. Don’t tell Shoto. He’ll never let me live it down.”
“What are you worried about him for? I’ll never let you live it down.”
“Kill me now,” Keigo grumbles into the duvet.
“Sorry,” Touya says, going back to his shopping list. “Murder constitutes forfeiting my freedom. You’ll have to find someone else.”
“I like Kiyoko,” Kumi says, pointing to a name on Keigo’s list.
“Yeah?” Keigo asks. “I was gonna scratch it off.”
“Hinotori Kiyoko,” Kumi says, scrunching her nose up. “It sounds nice.”
“It does, actually. All right, we’ll leave it on there. What about Naoyuki?”
Kumi wrinkles her nose and shakes her head.
“What are you two up to?” Shuichi asks.
“Me and Papa are going through some names Iori sent us. Wanna help?”
Shuichi joins them at the table. “Sure. Ooh, Taiga is nice.”
“I like it,” Kumi says. “Add it, Papa.”
“Okay.”
“What about Rui?”
Shuichi nods. “That’s a good one too. I don’t like Shinju.”
“That’s actually my PA’s name,” Keigo says. “I’m not naming my kid after Kimura. Her head will swell to twice it’s size.”
“What are you doing?” Touya asks, walking into the dining room.
“We’re going through baby names,” Shuichi says. “You should help. This kid isn’t gonna be mine.”
Touya narrows his eyes at Keigo. “Have you still been asking Souta for help? Kei, it’s been four months. Leave the guy alone.”
“I’ll get it right one day! I just have to spook him properly.”
“Baby,” Touya says, heaving an exasperated sigh, “that man is going to file a restraining order against you.”
“I like Takato,” Kumi says after a moment.
“Oh, that’s a good one,” Shuichi says.
Touya sighs as Keigo writes the name down.
“Hi,” Keigo says, tapping Souta’s shoulder.
“Jesus!”
“Nope, just me.”
Souta glares at Keigo. “When I said you’d have to scare me, I did not mean for you to take it as a challenge.”
Keigo pouts.
Souta sighs. “Fine, but replace my damn coffee.”
Keigo gets up and practically sprints to the counter.
The barista sighs when she sees him. “Again?”
Keigo smiles sheepishly. “I’ll tip extra.”
“You should probably start paying Souta for the trauma you’re inducing.”
“I’ll give him whatever he wants when I get my baby.”
“Poor guy,” the barista says, handing Keigo a new coffee. “You’re lucky he’s letting you do this. He must like you.”
“God, I hope that’s it.”
“Kei, help me!”
Keigo looks up from Iori’s latest list to see Tenko looking frantic. “What now?”
“Natsuo asked me out. All my clothes are boring.”
“Just take something from Himiko’s wardrobe. You like her fishnet stockings, don’t you?”
“I’m not wearing fishnets on a first date!”
Keigo frowns. “Honey, Natsuo’s seen you pass out over the toilet after a night out. There is nothing you can do that’ll scare him off.”
“Oh, you’re right. Thanks.”
“You should probably go shopping, though,” Keigo calls after him. “Miko’s moving into her new apartment with Iori after Christmas this year!”
“Fuck!”
Keigo ends up helping Tenko choose an outfit — a feat that takes at least three hours.
Tenko collapses on his bed. “It’s not fair that you never had to do all of this.”
“Well, I kind of did things out of order.”
“Cheat.”
“Tenko, Natsuo’s seen you in everything at least once. Trust me, he likes you, not your clothes.”
“I still want to surprise him, though.”
“You should wear Miko’s leather miniskirt. That oughta surprise Natsuo.”
Tenko sits up. “That’s not an entirely horrible idea. But I don’t have anything to wear with it!”
“What about with this?” Keigo asks, pulling a Dynamight themed cropped hoodie out of Tenko’s wardrobe. “Hey, isn’t this Miko’s too?”
“Ew, no. I’m not wearing his brother-in-law’s merch on a date with him. And she said I can have it. Bomb bitch bought her the new one for her birthday.”
“Fine,” Keigo says, putting the hoodie back. “Here, what about this?”
Tenko studies the flimsy white t-shirt Keigo holds out. “I could wear that with my favourite jeans.”
“There you go!”
Tenko flops back on his bed. “Miko’s wearing my boots today!”
“So?”
“Those are my lucky boots!”
“You don’t need luck, honey. You and I both know this whole thing is just a formality. You’re practically dating already.”
With a great amount of effort, Keigo convinces Tenko that his sneakers are just as good as his boots and finally manages to sit him down in front of the mirror to do his hair.
“Can you do it like Aizawa does his hair whenever he has to attend a press conference?”
“Sure.”
Finally, Tenko is ready to leave. When Natsuo knocks on the door, he’s greeted by Touya. “I’m so proud of you for using our front door! I didn’t think you knew we had one.”
Natsuo glares at him. “Where’s Tenko?”
“He’s on his way. Oi, brat! Your stupid boyfriend’s here!”
“Touya!” Tenko whines from inside.
Keigo pokes Touya’s side. “Stop being mean. Natsuo, you look very nice.”
“Thank you!” Natsuo says.
“Are those for Tenko?” Keigo asks, nodding to the small bouquet of flowers in Natsuo’s hand.
He nods. “Tenko said he likes blue flowers.”
“Okay, I’m ready!” Tenko squeezes past Touya and Keigo. He smiles at Natsuo. “Hi.”
“Hi. You look good.”
“Thanks. You too.”
Keigo fixes Tenko’s hair and gives him a smile. “Have fun.”
“I will.”
“Oh, these are for you,” Natsuo says.
The blush that colours Tenko’s cheeks as he takes the flowers is downright adorable.
“And this is for you,” Natsuo adds, handing Touya a folded piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“Baby names from Minami.”
Touya shoots Keigo a glare before turning to Natsuo. “Tell her we said thanks. And bring Tenko back before midnight. He has an early morning shift tomorrow.”
Natsuo rolls his eyes. “What are you, his dad? C’mon, Tenko, I got us evening passes at that amusement park you like.”
Tenko takes Natsuo’s hand and pauses at the picket fence to wave to Touya and Keigo before they’re off.
Touya closes the door and turns to Keigo. “Baby names? You’re not still harassing Souta, are you?”
“I’m not harassing him! He said I could!”
“If you go to prison, I’m not bailing you out.”
Keigo’s mouth falls open as Touya walks away. “What happened to ‘for better, for worse’?!”
“If I remember correctly, we just signed the papers.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
“Yeah, you’re not getting that until you stop harassing Souta.”
“I am not! Harassing! Him!”
Kurogiri holds his phone up to Keigo. “What is this?”
“A cell phone?”
“I mean, what did you send me?”
“Oh, it’s a poll. Kumi and I can’t choose between these five names, so we’re asking everyone what they think.”
Kurogiri scans the list. “And what if Souta gifts you a baby girl?”
“Oh, we’re settled on that. We like Takako.”
“Hm.” Kurogiri scans the short list again. “I like Toshiro.”
Keigo sighs. “Congratulations, you just evened the votes out again. I was hoping you’d pick between Tadashi and Takashi but now Toshiro has the same number as both of them.”
“What does Touya think?”
“He’s ignoring us. He thinks I’ll never get it right.”
Kurogiri shrugs. “Perhaps he has a point. Maybe you should stop pestering Souta and instead look at other options.”
“Ugh, not you, too.”
“It’s merely a suggestion, Keigo.”
“I know.”
“Good. And don’t worry too much about Touya. If he really wanted you to give it up, you’d know.” Kurogiri pockets his phone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a shift I need to get to.”
On an ordinary day just after July begins, Touya is enjoying a rare moment of silence in the house. Keigo, Tenko and Himiko are at work. Shuichi is taking a nap. Kurogiri is god knows where — probably putting in extra hours at the bar because they let him experiment with new drinks. Atsuhiro is once again visiting Ichika. And Jin is gone to fetch Kumi from school. Touya is startled out of his pleasant daydreaming when Keigo flies into the closed sliding door and lets out an undignified squawk.
Touya snickers as Keigo picks himself up and throws the door open, giving it a furious glare as he steps into the house.
It’s only once Keigo is standing in front of him with a familiar glint in his eyes that Kumi gets whenever she sees cupcakes that Touya realises Keigo is holding something suspiciously baby-shaped.
“What is that?”
Keigo beckons for Touya to stand, grinning madly. He’s nearly bouncing on his feet as Touya gets up and walks over.
Carefully, Keigo places the bundle in Touya’s arms. Touya stares at the baby swaddled in the blanket, whose tanned cheeks are adorned with pretty little freckles, in awed silence.
“Say hi to your son,” Keigo whispers with a delighted smile.
“Hi,” Touya whispers, watching the baby’s eyelids flutter open to reveal beautiful golden eyes that Touya adores.
The baby coos and reaches one arm up. Touya gives him a finger and watches his tiny little hand close around Touya’s finger.
“I forgot how small Kumi was when we first got her,” Touya says softly.
As if speaking her name had summoned her, Kumi calls out as she opens the door. “We’re home!”
Keigo holds a finger up to his lips as Kumi skips into the living room. Kumi’s mouth falls open and she drops her school bag on the floor.
Keigo gestures for her to come closer. “Come meet your baby brother, Kumi.”
Kumi walks up to Touya, who sits on the couch and lets her climb up next to him to stare into the blanket.
“He’s so tiny.”
“You were so tiny, too,” Keigo says.
“What’s his name?”
“Well, we still haven’t settled on a name, but —”
“Taiga,” Touya says decisively. He looks up at Kumi and Keigo. “You two liked that one, didn’t you?”
Keigo grins and nods. Kumi nods energetically. Her short hair bounces.
Kumi smiles at her brother. “Hello, Taiga.”