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Bakugou Katsuki hasn’t celebrated his birthday in years, not after each one started to bring some sort of bad luck.
He spent his 17th birthday alone. He didn’t make it a point to keep everyone updated when his birthday was and it was only a few days before it when Deku had left UA. Just a stupid note he left behind, like that would make any difference. With the commotion of his childhood friend being gone, the whole class had been too occupied trying to figure out a way to bring him back than to realise when his birthday came around. He didn’t even care, he just wanted that stupid nerd back in the class and wanted to actually apologise to him.
It was just the first birthday he had where Deku hadn’t sent him that stupid text at midnight.
“Happy birthday Kacchan! I hope your day is filled with joy & peace.”
It had been mere days after that when he had actually died in a war and then had been brought back to life again.
His 18th birthday had been spent in hospital, barely conscious. Some jerk of a villain had tried really hard to end Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight and they did get close to it but it was going to take more than a pesky gun quirk to kill him.
He does remember seeing red and white hair whilst he was in and out of consciousness. He was later told that yes, Shouto had been visiting him a lot whilst he was in hospital. Stayed the whole day on his birthday apparently. Not that he remembers any of that.
Shouto then spent days and weeks looking after him when he was finally released from the hospital. He wasn’t allowed to go back to hero work right away and Katsuki spent most of the time complaining about that fact whilst Shouto would remind him it’s for his own good as much as others because how could he perform as well as he wants to and save people safely when he’s still healing? He knew Shouto was right, of course he was. Bastard seemed to be right about a lot of things.
Like the one night when Katsuki had invited him over because apparently that’s what they did now and they spent the night sharing food and watching a dumb movie on his couch and he had so casually rested his hand on Shouto’s thigh before he over thought it when he noticed Shouto stare at his hand so he removed it quickly. Shouto had looked at him then with a weird look before he decided to speak.
“I think you like me.” He had said and it sounded so stupid really, like he was so sure but also wasn’t. “I think you like me but you don’t know how to like me… or you’re afraid of it?” And God, once again he was right.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Katsuki bit back, defensive because of course he was.
“You like me… you just don’t want to admit it. Is it because you’re afraid I’ll reject you? If that’s the case then you don’t need to worry about that. I like you too.” Katsuki had been at a loss for words. He remembers trying to say something but not being able to actually get it out. He remembers not saying anything and then kissing Shouto. Remembers Shouto kissing back.
He remembers Shouto at some point after that night becoming his boyfriend.
On his 19th birthday he was back at the hospital, only this time it wasn’t for himself. Shouto laid on the hospital bed, eyes closed and unmoving except for his chest that would rise and fall carefully. The only other thing indicating that he was still alive except for the beeping of the heart monitor that filled the room.
He had been called to attend a scene, as one of Endeavour’s sidekicks, Shouto was often called in as backup whenever the pros needed extra help.
Katsuki still remembers how his phone slipped from his hand and the screen shattered when Deku had called him to say Shouto had been seriously injured. A fucking building had collapsed and they hadn’t been able to find Shouto for hours. Katsuki had arrived at the scene as fast as he could, after the call. Deku had to hold him back from marching right over to Endeavour and screaming in his face because how could he have let this happen?
So, he spent his 19th birthday in hospital holding the hand of his lover who he didn’t know would even wake up again. He thinks out of all the shitty birthdays he’s had, this one was the worst.
Shouto had woken up a few days later, delirious from all the pain medication he was on, but awake. Alive.
It was then Katsuki’s turn to look after him whilst he healed. His leg had been seriously messed up and could only have a few sessions with any healers a week since it took so much energy out of him to heal that as well as all the other injuries he sustained. Shouto was out of hero work much longer than Katsuki had been and even when he was allowed to go back he wasn’t allowed on any serious missions and he was no longer on backup call. It was for the best, he still needed to fully recover but Katsuki understood how frustrating it was.
And so, when his 20th birthday was just around the corner he made a point to tell Shouto he didn’t want to celebrate.
“But, it’s your 20th? It’s a big birthday, Kats, you’re going to be legally an adult. Shouldn’t we do something to celebrate that?” Shouto asks.
“I don’t care. I haven’t celebrated my birthday in years, this one is no different.” Katsuki shrugs.
“I’m sorry.” Shouto pouts and Katsuki lets out a little huff of a laugh as he pulls Shouto into his arms.
“It’s hardly your fault.” Katsuki kisses the top of his head. As far as he’s concerned, if he could get through this birthday with no one getting seriously injured then he’d be happy with just that.
Katsuki keeps himself busy in the next few days, trying to settle the anxiety he feels, trying not to think about what could potentially go wrong. He’s constantly on edge whenever Shouto is called in to attend a scene, he’ll stare at the news coverage and any sign that something was going to go horribly wrong he was out the door and at the scene himself despite not being given instruction. He’s thankful that every time Shouto makes it out with only a few scratches at best.
The night before his birthday Shouto had been acting weird. More weird than he usually is, he didn’t understand why until it was 11:59pm and then Shouto was coming into the bedroom with a cake in hands singing ‘happy birthday’ to him with a soft smile on his face. He knows the moment it hits midnight when he blows out the candles because his phone dings signaling a message.
Deku.
He’ll read it later.
“Did you do this now because you want to eat the cake right now?” Katsuki asks.
“I… no! Although, I wouldn’t give it a miss.” Katsuki laughs and gets up, pulls Shouto back out of the bedroom and to the kitchen where they share some of the cake.
“Damn, this is good.” Katsuki says as he takes a bite and he notices how Shouto perks up.
“You think so?” His eyes are all sparkly and Katsuki loves him. He really fucking loves him.
“Yeah, it tastes amazing.” Katsuki smiles.
“I made it.” Shouto says and Katsuki stares at him. Shouto doesn’t cook or bake anything.
“You… made this?” Katsuki asks slowly.
“Yeah. You’re sure it’s good?” Shouto asks, a little hesitant.
“Shou, it’s so good. I thought you bought it from one of those fancy cake making places that cost a bomb.”
“No, I asked Momo to teach me how to bake a cake and then I made this one myself.” Shouto shrugs and Katsuki smiles at him.
“It’s amazing, thank you.”
“It’s okay. Happy birthday Katsuki.” Shouto kisses him then.
When they decide to go to bed, Katsuki finally reads that text from Deku.
“Happy birthday Kacchan! Finally 20, huh? The first one of the whole class to finally be legally an adult. Even in that you’re coming first. Wishing you to have the best day.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes and for the first time since receiving these texts from Deku, he replies.
“Thanks, nerd.”
The morning of his birthday consists of Shouto snuggling up to him, placing his head on his chest and watching the boy fall right back to sleep again. Katsuki enjoyed the mornings where they both didn’t have to be up to head into the offices, it meant he got to be like this with Shouto. Just existing peacefully and knowing Shouto was safe and here. He didn’t want to jinx it but this birthday had already been the best one he’s had in years.
When Shouto wakes up again it’s with a small whine that makes Katsuki laugh. That boy hated waking up no matter what time of day it was.
“Good morning, Princess.” Katsuki says as he places a kiss onto Shouto’s head.
“Hmn, morning.” Shouto mumbles out. “What time is it?” He asks and Katsuki reaches over for his phone to check.
“Just gone 11.” Shouto then sits up quickly startling Katsuki. “Woah, what’s wrong?” He asks, alarmed.
“Nothing, sorry. I just forgot about something. We need to get ready.” Shouto says and Katsuki is confused.
“Ready for what? We don’t have to go in today.”
“I know. But since it’s your birthday and we both are off I thought we could do something? I know you didn’t want to celebrate but it’s important.” Shouto kisses his cheek before he’s shuffling himself off the bed.
“Okay… sure. Any hint on what we’re doing so I can figure out what to wear at least?” Katsuki asks.
“Hmm… just a button shirt and slacks or even jeans will be fine, Kats.” Shouto then wanders out and into the bathroom. Katsuki should have known Shouto wasn’t going to let this whole birthday go. Ever since Katsuki had first told him about his terrible birthdays, Shouto had made it a point that he wanted to make Katsuki have the best ones and then the last one Shouto ended up in hospital and he wouldn’t stop apologising like it was his fault a damn building collapsed on him.
Katsuki spends the rest of the morning replying to birthday messages he received and promising his parents he’d go and see them soon after his mother complained about not seeing him or Shouto in a while.
As he starts to actually get ready, he wonders what it is Shouto has planned, he doesn’t think it could be anything too big he’d have noticed Shouto trying to plan something like that from a mile away. He goes over the past week in his head and nothing seemed to indicate Shouto had been acting any differently. He shrugs the thought off as he buttons up his white shirt, tucks it into his black jeans and fiddles with his hair in the mirror until he decides it looks good enough.
It’s not long after that Shouto finally returns back into the room. Dressed in a dark blue button up and some black slacks. When he comes closer Katsuki notices the light shimmer on his eyelids and how his lips are pink and shiny.
“I feel like you’re spoiling me.” Katsuki says as he pulls Shouto even closer to him. He knows Shouto doesn’t do this for him. Knows he does it only for himself but he also knows that Shouto knows Katsuki likes this lip gloss the best because it tastes like strawberries.
“Why’d you say that?” Shouto asks and Katsuki smirks a little as he leans in to kiss Shouto. He laughs lightly into the kiss when he gets the hint of strawberry. “Kats, I’m going to have to apply it again if you just kiss it off.”
“What a shame.” Katsuki kisses him again before letting him go to put it back on. He laughs at the look Shouto gives him in the mirror as he does so.
“We have to be there by 2, if we leave in 10 minutes we’ll be fine.” Shouto says which was fine by Katsuki he was ready anyways. Shouto leaves the room again and Katsuki follows behind him. He grabs his shoes to put on and raises an eyebrow when Shouto chooses his black strappy heels.
“You’re gonna complain your feet hurt.” Katsuki says because he always does.
“It’s fine. We’re not going far. Plus, I probably won’t be on my feet that much for them to hurt.” He says as he threads the strap through the buckle. Katsuki still has no idea where they’re going but he can guarantee by the end of it he’ll be carrying Shouto home because his feet do in fact hurt.
When they finally leave there’s a car waiting for them already, Katsuki recognises the driver to be Endeavour’s driver. He’s only met him a few times. He doesn’t know why Shouto called for the car to take them to wherever it was they were meant to be going and why Katsuki just couldn’t have drove them there himself but Shouto leans closer to him in the back of the car and explains that there’s going to be alcohol and it’s Katsuki’s birthday so he shouldn’t have to be the designated driver.
They pull up to a building Katsuki’s never seen before. It doesn’t look much like a restaurant so he rules that out. Shouto is out of the car, thanks the driver as he always does and Katsuki gets out behind him. Shouto smiles at him and takes his hand and leads him into the building. Shouto’s heels click against the tiled floor once they’re inside. It’s quiet. Too quiet and if Katsuki didn’t know any better he’d think Shouto was leading him to his death. Shouto stops in front of a door, turns to him and kisses him once on the lips.
“I love you, Katsuki.” He smiles.
“I love you too, Princess.” He wants to ask what’s going on, wants to know what he has planned but Shouto is already gesturing for him to open the door. Katsuki looks at him before pushing the door open and it takes one second for the room in front of him to go from darkness to being illuminated by different coloured lights.
“Happy birthday!” Katsuki’s eyes go wide when he sees all the people gathered around the room. His old classmates are here, his friends. Even Eijirou who the last time he checked in with was overseas on a mission with Fatgum. The said redhead doesn’t waste any time bolting to him and almost knocking him over when he latches himself to him.
“Jesus Ei!” Katsuki grunts, trying to keep himself from toppling over and bringing Eijirou down with him.
“Happy birthday man, I’ve missed you.” Eijirou tells him before he pulls away and grins widely at him.
“Yeah, yeah. Missed you too I guess.” Katsuki says and Eijirou smacks his shoulder. Katsuki’s then tasked with greeting everyone else. Denki is just as excited as Eijirou to see him, which doesn’t really make sense since Katsuki sees Denki quite a lot still. Whenever Iida proposes a get together Denki is always there. The only ones who don’t attend every one of them are the ones that are away on missions at the time. Which usually consists of Deku, himself and Eijirou. Sometimes Shouto but not much lately since his injury.
Katsuki’s almost surprised to see Camie and that baldy bastard is here too but if Shouto is the one that put this together it makes sense he’d invite them despite Katsuki constantly telling him they’re not his friends.
As he looks around trying to work out who exactly decided to show up he also looks at the place itself. The music was coming through some speakers that had been set up in each corner. LED lights had been hung around the room, banners and streamers had been hung up too. Some reading “Katsuki” and others reading “Dynamight”. There were balloons dotted around here and there too in the shapes of explosions and Katsuki did think they were kind of cool. There was a makeshift bar tucked away in the corner, he notices Aizawa and Present Mic are already sitting there sipping on something. At the opposite end of the room were tables full of food. When he walks over to see what was laid out someone stops beside him.
“I hope it's to your taste. I didn’t realise cooking for a party could be so stressful. Too many people to consider.” He looks to the side and Fuyumi smiles at him.
“Shit. You made all this?” He asks.
“I had a little help. Your mother actually helped a lot.” She says. “Shouto wanted it to be perfect for you, all of it really. He was quite the party planner.” She says as she turns around, he follows her gaze and settles on Shouto who’s sitting with Rei and his mother.
“How the hell did he even do all this and I had no idea?”
“He was worried you’d find out. Or that you’d actually hate it. He kept fighting with himself because he wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do since you said you didn’t want to celebrate. He just felt it was important.” Fuyumi explains and he knows Shouto would have been toying with the idea for ages. “Here.” Fuyumi says and hands him a wrapped up gift.
“Fuyumi-”
“It’s not much but I think you’d like it.” She says before she’s wandering off into the crowd of people. He rips open the wrapping paper and snorts when he reads the title of the book she had given him.
“101 of the best spicy recipes”
He looks around again and spots Deku standing next to All Might sitting in his wheelchair. He makes his way over to them both.
“Kacchan!” Deku smiles at him.
“Surprised a big hero like you could get the time off to be here.” Katsuki says. There’s no real bite to it. They’re long past that now.
“Ah… well it’s a special occasion. Plus… Todoroki made it clear that I should be here today.” Katsuki laughs at the thought of Shouto somehow threatening Deku.
“Young Bakugou, look at you all grown up now.” Katsuki looks at the man before him. Grateful that he’s here. Grateful that even after everything he’s still alive to see this.
“I still have a long way to go, old man.” Katsuki smiles and All Might nods back at him. “Thanks for coming… both of you.” He says and looks at Deku. Wants him to know that he really means it. “I should go greet my mother before she talks Shouto’s ear off.” Katsuki says and he’s then making his way over to the table they're at. Rei smiles at him politely as he approaches, always so glad to see him and it makes him happy to know she likes him.
“Ah finally! I thought I’d never get to see you today!” Mitsuki exclaims as she jumps up from her chair and wraps her arms around him. “Happy birthday, you brat.”
“Get off me, you old hag.” Katsuki says but he doesn’t actually try to push her off at all. Enjoys the hug of his mother before they pull away.
“I can’t believe my boy is finally a grown up!” She says and looks him over. “Masaru! Get the camera!” She says as she looks at his dad. Katsuki groans.
“Do we have to do this?” He asks and Mitsuki shoots a glare at him.
“Of course we do! We must commemorate this!” She says and Katsuki glances at Shouto who just laughs at him in response. Katsuki is pulled into her as his dad starts taking pictures of them together. “Oh, Rei, would you be a dear and take one of us all together?” She asks and motions for Masaru to hand over the camera. Rei takes it and gets up to take the pictures as Katsuki is squished in the middle of his parents.
“Don’t you think that’s enough now?” Katsuki says.
“Nonsense! Shouto, sweetie! Get in here.” Mitsuki says and Katsuki watches Shouto’s eyes go wide and now it’s Katsuki’s turn to laugh at him.
“Yeah, Shouto. Come here.” Katsuki teases and holds his hand out for him. Shouto does get up then and Mitsuki moves to push Shouto next to Katsuki. He notices Shouto bends his knees slightly so he’s not as tall since his heels put him at an extra height.
“So beautiful.” Rei says as she takes more photos and Mitsuki is finally happy with the amount and lets them be. Katsuki steals Shouto away from the table, leads him towards the crowd of their friends dancing together and places his hands on his hips. Shouto smiles and wraps his arms around Katsuki’s neck. The song playing was a little too fast to just be swaying together to but it didn’t matter to them.
“Is it okay?” Shouto asks. “That I did this?”
“More than okay. Thank you, baby.” Katsuki leans up to kiss him. “I’m not sure how you managed to do all of this without me suspecting a thing though.”
“You were busy at the office or patrol most of the time. Distracting yourself which made it easy for me to plan and get everything together.” Shouto explains. “I know you didn’t want to do anything but-” Katsuki stops him by kissing him again.
“Shut up. I love it. I love you. It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“I love you too.” Shouto smiles. They stay like that for a while just holding each other and swaying to whatever song plays in the background even as their friends around them jump around to the songs.
“Bakubro!” Eijirou shouts over the music causing them to pull away from each other. “It is an honour to present to you your first legal drink.” He announces as he gets down onto one knee and presents him with a glass of what looks to be whisky. Shouto giggles from beside him and Katsuki rolls his eyes as he takes the glass from him and easily knocks it back. “Wow, so manly.” Eijirou comments as he stands back up.
“How’d you even manage to convince the bar guy to give you that?” Katsuki asks.
“Oh. Actually… My dad knows him. It’s the only reason we were allowed to set up a bar in the first place. He knows the guy who owns the building too. Was just the best option.” Shouto shrugs and that makes a lot of sense. He looks around again.
“Where is Endeavour?” He asks.
“Not here. He wasn't exactly invited.” Shouto shrugs. Katsuki laughs and shakes his head.
“But your ex-villain brother was?” Katsuki says as he glances over to where Touya was standing drinking with Natsuo.
“Hey! Touya-nii promised he’d be on best behaviour.” Shouto pouts and Katsuki pushes his hair back to kiss his forehead.
Katsuki then gets dragged off to dance with his friends and Shouto opts to go sit with his mother before his feet start to hurt. Katsuki lets himself fully relax, he doesn’t worry about the potential of something bad happening this time around. Perhaps it’s due to the drinks his friends keep getting him to knock back with them but either way he’s glad he can let go of any anxiety and tension he had building up.
He’s not sure how long it’s been but Shouto comes back at some point to lead him away from the crowd. Katsuki can tell Shouto’s had a few drinks too and he wouldn’t be surprised if his own mother had been the one to get his boyfriend tipsy.
“I want to give you your gift.” Shouto says when they’re out in the hallway.
“What, and all this isn’t enough?” He asks, gesturing to the door where their friends and family are all behind.
“No, silly. I want you to have this too.” Shouto pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to him. It’s an envelope. Katsuki looks at him before he opens it up, he looks inside to see what looks like a small card. He pulls it out and turns it over in his hand and he gasps.
“Shou-” He stares at the card. Stares at the All Might card he’s had since he was a kid, it was a little tattered now. Had survived through a damn war and then some so of course it wasn’t going to be perfect but now it had a signature scrawled across it. All Might’s signature was now on the card. Something he had always wanted.
“I know you wanted him to sign it and I know you’d never ask him yourself. Not after everything that’s happened to us all so I asked him for you. He also wanted me to give you this.” Shouto says and hands him another envelope. Katsuki opens up and pulls out a letter.
“Bakugou,
I know of the hurt and guilt you carry around within you. I know of the burden you carry around on your shoulders.
I want you to know that none of it was your fault.
When I retired, it was a choice I made myself. A sacrifice I alone chose to make. That is not a guilt you should have to carry around with you.
Watching you grow into the hero you are today reminds me a lot of myself. You’re going to be a great hero, Bakugou. A hero that saves people and a hero people can rely on. You’ll carry All Might within you. Not in the same way that One For All is, but in the way you will carry my determination and strength.
Thank you, Bakugou. For carrying All Might along with you. For never letting that dream die.
I look forward to watching you rise, Dynamight.
Your friend,
Toshinori.”
He doesn’t realise he’s crying until Shouto is pulling him into a hug and holding him tightly. Shouto traces light patterns onto his back trying to calm him. Katsuki cannot believe that his hero had said those words to him. Had tried to lessen the guilt he’s always felt over the years, had told him what he was doing was essentially good. When he finally gets himself together he hands the letter to Shouto to read so he understands.
“Katsuki, I’m so proud of you.” Shouto says once he’s finished reading it and Katsuki has to will himself not to cry again. He pulls Shouto back into him.
“Shut up, Shortcake. Thank you for all of this. For the fucking party, for getting the people that matter the most to me to come, for the signed card. For being here.” Katsuki says into his shoulder and Shouto kisses his head.
“Always.”
Katsuki doesn’t remember much after that point except glimpses of going back to the party, dancing with Shouto and their friends. Chasing Touya around who had swooped in and thrown Shouto over his shoulder and had pretended he was Dabi again and taken Shouto as a hostage. He remembers Rei telling him she was happy Shouto had him and she was glad Shouto was finally happy. He remembers Deku at some point blubbering on him and promising to make more time to see him, Eijirou then crying and promising the same thing.
He remembers Shouto complaining at the end of the night that his feet hurt and carrying him back home on his back because even if it would happen every time, Katsuki loves him too much not to do it.
He remembers it being the best birthday he’s ever had.