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Natsuo watches Tenko coddle seven-month-old Taiga and keep him entertained. He remembers when he first met Tenko. He looked at ease talking to a three-year-old Kumi, but he reminded Natsuo of himself with Daichi. It seemed like he just liked Kumi, but from a safe distance.
Of course, as the years passed, Natsuo learned that Tenko cared more about Kumi than he did about anyone else.
But this is something different altogether. Tenko holds Taiga at every opportunity he can get. Taiga even barfed on him one time and Tenko only let go of him to change his shirt. He even changes Taiga’s diaper! Tenko never changed Kumi’s diaper. Keigo complains that Tenko holds his son more than he does.
Natsuo’s seen Tenko around kids before, but he’s never seen Tenko with a baby. Well, he has a photo of Tenko holding Deku’s newborn daughter when Deku visited Eraserhead to show off his first child and Tenko happened to be there too, but Tenko looks like he’s holding a live bomb. (Natsuo later learned that quite a few Pro Heroes were already aware that Tenko was not, in fact, dead and was actually a vigilante working with Aizawa.) With Taiga, Tenko holds him close and tickles his tummy and brushes his nose against Taiga’s.
It’s cute.
Natsuo’s totally gonna marry Tenko.
Shoto is an asshole. And so is Katsuki. They’re both absolutely no help when it comes to planning a proposal. Katsuki even laughed at him for admitting that he wasn’t sure how.
They confessed that neither of them put a lot of thought into it and happened to propose at the same time during one of the rare times their patrol shifts coincided.
Natsuo’s parents are even less helpful. Enji left the conversation as soon as Natsuo said he wanted to marry Tenko and Rei had to explain that no, Enji isn’t against Tenko, he’s just finally feeling guilty about Rei’s arranged marriage.
Fuyumi tells him to ask Touya. Natsuo is not asking Touya for help — yet, at least — because Touya will accidentally tell Tenko and spoil the surprise. The same goes for Keigo and Jin and Shuichi. Atsuhiro is still convinced he’s not in a relationship with Ichika, so he’s obviously no help. Kurogiri tells him to take Tenko out on a date and propose like that. Natsuo thinks that’s too boring.
He supposes he could ask Himiko for ideas. Her wedding is in two weeks, so clearly, either she or Iori successfully proposed. But Himiko goes on a long-winded tale of months of planning and a treasure hunt for the perfect ring that frankly overwhelms Natsuo. Iori tells him to just do what feels right. Proposals aren’t the same for everyone.
He complains about it all to Minami when he drops Daichi off after her shift one day. She snorts and reminds him that her son is the result of a one-night stand. She might be a good mother and a good friend, but she has zero knowledge on romance. She helps him shop for a ring and listens to him brainstorm ideas, though.
Natsuo spends most of Himiko and Iori’s wedding watching Tenko. It’s no secret that Natsuo thinks Tenko looks amazing in a suit — something that happens very rarely — and Touya even calls him out on his staring. But as enticing as Tenko looks, it’s not the suit that draws Natsuo’s attention. It’s the way the Yanase wedding’s lighting makes Tenko look like an angel.
It’s the way Natsuo finds Tenko prettier than both brides and that when Ochako hands her baby boy to the nearest person so she can take a silly photo with Himiko, it happens to be Tenko. So now Natsuo has an eyeful of Tenko holding a newborn — properly, this time. It’s the fact that Natsuo wants to marry him so bad.
The dancing and the laughing and the shouting tires most of them out quickly enough.
“You can crash at my place,” Natsuo offers when Tenko leans on him as they leave, mumbling something about vowing to never touch wine again. “It’s nearby.”
“Mm, I like your apartment,” Tenko says. “Smells nice. Like pretty flowers.”
Natsuo doesn’t have the heart to tell Tenko that it’s just the air freshener he sprays to fight off the stench of his neighbours smoking a really shitty brand of cigarettes on their balcony.
Somehow, Natsuo convinces Tenko to change his clothes before he sits down. With Tenko mildly drunk and wanting nothing more than to go to bed, Natsuo finds himself rubbing Tenko’s lotion into his soft skin to make sure his face stays so pretty and smooth. Tenko would be upset if one missed day led to a decline in all the work he’s put in over the years.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” Tenko mumbles as Natsuo helps him under the covers. His eyes are already closed and Natsuo is sure he’s snoring already. “I love you.”
Natsuo smiles and kisses his forehead. “I love you, too.”
Tenko hums and smiles like a toddler who just received a candy bar.
God, Natsuo wants to marry him right now.
Touya and Keigo stare in silence.
“Are you. . .” Touya trails off for a second, frowning slightly at Natsuo, who looks like he’s about to take his finals again for the first time. “Are you asking me for permission?”
Natsuo clenches his fists on his knees, sitting stiff as a board on the couch, and nods once.
“Why?”
“Well —” Natsuo fidgets slightly, “— you’re the closest thing Tenko has to parents. You always tell me to bring him back safely and you get mad when he sleeps over without telling you and he always talks about how you’d both stay with him when he used to have nightmares even if it was three in the morning and — yeah.”
Keigo gets up from beside Touya and sits beside Natsuo instead. “You can relax, Natsu. Breathe.”
Natsuo takes a deep breath.
“Are you worried we’re going to say no?”
Natsuo shrugs. “I mean, I’m gonna ask him to marry me either way. It’d just be nice, y’know?”
Keigo smiles and pats one of Natsuo’s hands. “You have nothing to worry about. Tenko loves you and you make him very happy. There’s no reason not to marry him if that’s what you both want.”
Natsuo looks at Touya, who still looks like he’s trying to figure the whole thing out.
“Touya,” Keigo hisses.
“Oh — uh — yeah. Yes. But just so we’re clear, I don’t care if you’re my little brother. If you hurt Tenko, ever, I will push you out of a moving car on the highway during rush hour.”
“I won’t,” Natsuo promises.
“Then, yeah. You, uh, got your permission? I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”
Keigo smiles at Natsuo. “There you go. You can relax.”
Natsuo feels like a heavy weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He hadn’t realised how important it was to him that Tenko’s family accepted him. He hadn’t even cared this much when he briefly thought Enji didn’t.
“Thank you.”
Natsuo wakes himself up with a sneeze. He glares at his ceiling, pissed to be up before the sun has fully risen, but his irritation doesn’t last long. Tenko is curled up against him, his head on Natsuo’s chest and his arm tightly wound around Natsuo.
“I’m gonna marry the shit out of you,” Natsuo whispers, smoothing Tenko’s hair down so it doesn’t make him sneeze again.
“Okay,” Tenko mumbles, burrowing closer — as if he can get any closer.
Natsuo feels his face heat up. “Are you awake?”
“Awake enough.” Tenko yawns as he props himself up on his elbow. “You are being serious, right? Because if you’re just messing with me, I’ll tell Touya about you.”
Natsuo shudders as he remembers the complete truth in Touya’s threat about hurting Tenko. “I’m serious.”
“Good.” Tenko yawns again. “Because I’m gonna marry the shit out of you, too.”
Tenko whines when Natsuo sits up and leans over to his bedside table, rummaging in the drawer for a moment.
“I wanna sleep,” Tenko whines. “I haven’t had a late day in months. Lay down again or I’ll break up with you.”
“In a minute,” Natsuo says, pulling out something wrapped in newspaper to hide it and closing the drawer. He tosses the newspaper on the floor as he turns to face Tenko. “I’ve been thinking about this for months, trying to plan something grand or perfect, but nothing ever seems to be good enough.”
Tenko sits up properly, yawning again. “What’s that?”
Natsuo opens the box and offers Tenko the ring Minami helped him choose. “Marry me?”
Despite already agreeing less than a minute ago, Tenko flushes beet-red and nods quietly. If possible, he turns even redder when Natsuo takes his hand and slips the ring on his finger.
“Do you like —” The rest of Natsuo’s question gets thrown away with the box as Tenko tackles Natsuo and wraps around him like a koala.
“I love it. I love you.”
Natsuo sighs and kisses the top of Tenko’s head. “I’m glad. I love you, too.”
Aizawa squints at Tenko from his corner of the rooftop they’re taking a break on. “Are you humming?”
“Am I? Oh, sorry.”
“Okay, spit it out. You’ve been in a strangely good mood all day. What happened?”
If Aizawa thought Tenko’s humming was strange, he doesn’t know what to call the shy, delighted smile on Tenko’s face as he curls in on himself and rocks slightly.
“I’m getting married,” Tenko says softly.
“Huh?”
“I know, right? I can’t believe there was a time when I just hated the whole world.” Tenko holds his hand out, up against the night sky, watching the silver band and its stones sparkle. “It’s all thanks to Kumi, you know. Mm, do you think I should ask Natsu about making Kumi one of our flower girls?”
“You’re getting married?”
“Mhm!” Tenko nods vigorously.
“Wow.”
“You’ll come for the wedding, won’t you? And bring Eri.”
Aizawa scoffs. “As if she would let me say no.”
Tenko sighs, hugging his legs and resting his head on his knees. “Before Kumi, I didn’t think I deserved any of this.”
“I know.”
“D’you think you can get me into Tartarus?”
Aizawa narrows his eyes at Tenko. “Why?”
“I wanna show Sen- All For One that I didn’t need him to have a purpose for me after all. I also kinda wanna see his face when he finds out that the cute boyfriend I’m marrying is quirkless.”
“As much as I would like to, I can’t.”
“Ah, it’s fine. Maybe we can just ask the guards to send us surveillance footage of when he does find out.”
“That . . . is not a bad idea. I might be able to get you that.”
Tenko whips his head to Aizawa, ruby eyes sparkling. “Really?!”
“Jeez, you remind me so much of Eri. Yeah, think of it as a wedding present, okay?”
“Okay!”
Natsuo finds Kurogiri sitting at the table with Taiga in his lap. “Designated babysitter?”
“Hm? Oh, yes. Tired of dancing?”
Natsuo sighs and takes the empty chair beside Kurogiri’s, turning it around so he can watch the wedding guests. “Kinda.”
“Here,” Kurogiri says, passing Taiga to Natsuo. “Now you have an excuse.”
Natsuo grins. “Thanks. Hi, baby.”
Taiga bubbles out a string of incoherent sounds, his cute little wings flapping excitedly when he recognises Natsuo. They’d started growing in a few months after Taiga arrived, but they’re still not strong enough to lift him into the air — which is good, Natsuo can’t imagine Taiga’s parents having an easy time with a baby that can fly.
“I can’t believe you’re already a year old.”
Taiga babbles back.
Natsuo glances at Kurogiri. He can’t really tell what expression the man is making, but after years of Kurogiri watching him sneak in and out of the house at odd hours, he’s gotten used to Kurogiri’s body language in lieu of facial expressions. “Something on your mind?”
“I’ve never seen Tenko smile like that before — except when he’s with you.”
Natsuo follows Kurogiri’s gaze to the center of the hall, where Tenko is dancing with Fuyumi, listening intently with a smile that makes his entire face light up. Natsuo hopes that Fuyumi isn’t embarrassing him.
“I wasn’t made to have my own thoughts and feelings, but I do, and I’ve always wondered if anything could ever give Tenko back the childhood he lost. Kumi was a miracle. She gave him new life and a new purpose but you? You make him inexplicably happy.”
Natsuo feels his face heat up.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to fluster you.”
“It’s fine.”
“I’ve always been glad that he’s had Kumi and Keigo, but I’m also glad he has you. I hope you both have a long and happy marriage.”
“Thank you.”
In the middle of the hall, Fuyumi glances behind her to see Natsuo playing with Taiga. She turns a teasing grin on Tenko. “Whatcha lookin’ at?”
“Nothing!”
“Why so red, Tenko?”
“Don’t be mean to me.”
“Sorry. You signed up for this when you decided to marry my brother. Now I have legal rights to tease you as any good big sister would.”
“Shut up.”
“Slow down,” Fuyumi says with a snicker. “You just got married. Enjoy it for a while before you start thinking about kids.”
“I’m not thinking about kids!”
Fuyumi gives him a knowing grin.
“Shut up,” Tenko mumbles.
“What are my two favourite Hinotoris up to?” Minami asks, shoving herself in between Tenko and Natsuo. “I missed you morons while you were on your honeymoon and just when you got back, I had to go on a stupid two-month trip just to attend those stupid seminars as a representative of my hospital. I feel like I haven’t seen my boys in years!”
“Why do you have a key to our apartment?” Tenko asks.
“Emergencies. Natsu and I always have each other’s keys.”
“I gave you a key in case you need help,” Natsuo says, “not to show up randomly.”
“We don’t have food for you,” Tenko says.
Minami shrugs. “It’s fine. I’m your best friend. I’ll be fine.”
“Says who?” Tenko asks.
“Says me. Natsu’s my best friend, so that makes you my best friend by default.”
Natsuo sighs. “Where’s Daichi?”
“I dropped him off at the Komoris’ place. He and Kumi have a sleepover with those two kids. That means I’m all yours for game night.”
“Game night is on Wednesdays,” Tenko says, trying to shove Minami off the couch.
Minimal refuses to move. “Should we play Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit? I’m shit at both, but you guys hate Scrabble.”
Natsuo sighs. “Fine. You can sleep over.”
“Yes! So, what are the two of you up to?”
Tenko tries to snatch the paper Minami picks up, but she won’t let him.
“Who are all these people?” Minami asks, scanning through a list of names. “Oh, wait, I know this woman. Her gynecologist works at my hospital, so I see her every time she comes to see him. We’re kind of friends, I think.”
“Is she nice?” Tenko asks. “Like . . . as a person?”
Minami shrugs. “I guess. I know these two, as well. One’s my neighbour but she’s kind of rude and the other was in my quirk ethics class when I took it the second time. She was nice, I guess, but she’s a little difficult to be around because she doesn’t like people much.”
She watches Tenko grab a pen and scratch both women’s names off the list.
“If you don’t know these people, why are they on this list? What’s this even for, anyway?”
Minami glances between the two of them when they share a glance.
“Minami Sakura,” Natsuo says, “you are the first person to find out about this, so you have to keep it a secret for now, okay?”
Minami nods quickly.
“This is . . . we’re looking at a list of potential surrogates.”
Minami frowns for a second before her eyes widen and her mouth falls open. “OH!”
“You can’t even tell Daichi, because he tells Kumi everything and Kumi tells her parents everything and it’s a secret for now, okay?”
Minami nods. “This is amazing! Oh, you guys! I’m gonna cry! Can I help you choose a surrogate?”
Tenko shrugs. “You seem to know a lot of them. Sure.”
Minami bounces giddily on the couch. “This is so exciting!”
Months go by and their game night Wednesdays have been replaced by the three of them poring over possible surrogate mothers. There’s something that Natsuo and Tenko don’t like about each woman.
Finally, one Wednesday, Minami throws her head back and sighs. “It seems to me that you two just aren’t comfortable with the idea of a stranger carrying your baby. Which is not helping you in choosing a surrogate.”
Tenko sighs. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Minami lifts her head and stares at Tenko for a moment. “I’d do it. If you want.”
“Huh?” Tenko and Natsuo both ask.
Minami shrugs. “My hospital has a great maternity plan, so I’d be fine. Plus, I know all the OBs there, so you know you can trust the doctor I’d be seeing, too. Not to mention, as Chief Resident, I know all the residents and I can choose my best ones just for your peace of mind.”
“Sakura, we can’t ask —”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” Minami reaches for the bag of chips on the table. “You know me. You like me. You trust me. I don’t have any health issues that could cause any complications. My first pregnancy went smoothly even though I was young, so you know I’ll be fine. Come on, tell me I’m not exactly what you’re looking for.”
“Well, you are,” Natsuo says slowly, “but . . . this is different.”
“I love my son, Natsu, but I don’t love him just because I birthed him. He’s cute and he looks exactly like me and I love him, but he’s my son because I wanted him. I wasn’t afraid when I found out I got knocked up. I was excited and I was delighted to be a mother. Daichi is my son because I wanted him to be. Atsuki is Dynamight and Shoto’s son because they want him to be. His birth parents’ identities don’t matter. I can give you the baby you want and I’ll be fine.”
Natsuo and Tenko both look like they’re about to cry.
“I know that carrying a baby for me and a baby for someone else is different,” Minami says gently. “I’m not offering because I want another kid. I’m offering because I want you to have a kid. I’m offering because you’re my best friend in the whole world and you’ve helped me more with Daichi than even my parents. You helped me raise my son. I want to give you the chance to have your own baby. Let me do this for you, please?”
“Are you sure?” Tenko asks.
Minami places her hand on his cheek and smiles. “I am. On the condition that I get to be godmother, though.”
Natsuo laughs. “Of course.”
Tenko wakes up in the middle of the night to his ringing phone. He thinks about ignoring it, but when he catches sight of Minami’s name, he sits up and answers quickly.
Minami doesn’t give him a chance to even greet. “Daichi’s with my neighbour. Pick him up and meet me at the hospital. Bring me a slushie or I will run away with your child.”
Natsuo yawns when Tenko tumbles off the bed. “Who’s that?”
“Minami,” Tenko says, picking himself up quickly. “Baby’s coming.”
They pick up Daichi and get to the hospital in record time. Minami beams when Tenko gives her a blueberry slushie, grabbing it happily.
“You look relaxed,” Natsuo teases.
“I’m not in active labour yet.”
“Tenko, you hold her hand when it’s time.”
Minami glares at him. “Rude.”
“Sweetie, you fractured my wrist with Daichi. I love you, but not that much.”
“Asshole,” Minami snaps. Natsuo grins.
“Mom said a bad word,” Daichi tells Tenko.
“I think we can give her a break today,” Tenko tells him, patting his orange curls.
Minami’s labour lasts twelve and a half hours and Tenko isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to hold a pen again by the time Minami releases his hand. But it’s fine, because Natsuo is holding a crying baby girl and it’s their baby.
“I’ll go get Daichi,” Tenko says.
“No, you stay,” Natsuo says, passing the baby to Tenko. “I’ll get him.”
“Let me see my goddaughter,” Minami murmurs after a moment.
Tenko moves to hand her the baby, but Minami shakes her head.
“Just wanna see.”
Tenko tilts the newborn slightly towards Minami, who sighs. “I’m going to have to train you idiots in caring for curls, huh?”
Tenko grins. “We’ll learn.”
“She’s got Natsuo’s eyes.”
“Mm. But they’re big. Like yours.”
Minami shrugs. “Or yours.” She chuckles when Tenko’s eyes widen. “See? You look the same!”
“Sakura . . . Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Tenko. You deserve this. Just don’t ask me to do it again unless a minimum of three years have gone by.”
Tenko stares at Minami, who laughs.
“What? If you want more kids later, I’m happy to help out again. Maybe next time, you’ll have better luck than Natsuo.”
Tenko gives Minami a watery smile.
“Oi, what are you crying for?! I’m the one that pushed that kid’s big ass head out of me!”
“See?” Natsuo says as he ushers Daichi in, “Mom’s doing just fine.”
“Hi, baby,” Minami coos when Daichi bounds up to her bed.
“Wanna see the baby?” Natsuo asks.
Daichi nods quickly and turns to Tenko, who beckons him over.
“Say hi to Nao.”
“Oh, she’s so pretty! She looks a little bit like Tenko.”
“Told you,” Minami tells Tenko smugly. “I’m gonna take another nap. You guys’ll be fine, right?”
Natsuo pushes her hair back and nods. “We’re fine. Thank you, Sakura.”
“Mm, happy to help.”
“Aww,” Daichi says, “she’s doing that thing Taiga does when he’s bored.”
Daichi grins and copies Nao’s little nose scrunch.
Tenko smiles. Natsuo does the same thing when he’s bored, too.
“Were you crying?” Natsuo asks.
“Shut up. You cried first. Plus, Minami punched me in the ribs with my own hand at some point.”
“Oh!” Daichi says. “She grabbed my finger! She’s strong.”
Natsuo watches as Tenko holds Nao carefully and talks to Daichi. He wonders if Minami will kill him if he mentions that he might want another one in a couple years.