Chapter Text
Izuku was sitting on the couch with Katsuki when the news broke. His hand idly stroked through Katsuki’s hair. The blonde was half-asleep on the couch. His head was pillowed on Izuku’s lap. One arm was thrown behind him. The other half-crossed his chest. He let out the occasional rumble as he dozed. Izuku’s attention divided itself between the news report playing on the television and the document he scrolled through on his phone. Both of them looked up at the newscaster as they spoke.
Turning to current events, we’ve received reports of Quirkless individuals across Japan going missing. Police speculate involvement by a human trafficking ring. If you or a loved one are Quirkless, please take proper precautions. Authorities are recommending curfews for Quirkless individuals, as well as safety measures such as traveling in groups or with a Quirked family member or coworker. If anyone has information regarding this phenomenon, authorities have set up an anonymous tip line.
Izuku’s hand in Katsuki’s hair stopped, shaking slightly. Katsuki tensed in his lap. The newscasters began discussing the missing Quirkless citizens. Izuku flinched as one of the newscasters on the screen rolled their eyes.
“ Are we really wasting precious resources on the Quirkless? There are so many other issues that need more attention than our most useless demographic of citizens.” The man on screen opened his mouth once more, but was cut off as the television clicked off. Izuku could see his own face reflected in the black emptiness of the unpowered television. Katsuki shifted off his lap.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kick his ass,” Katsuki growled, pulling himself up off of Izuku’s lap. He turned to Izuku. “You okay, Freckles?” Izuku blinked at him, eyes wide. He shrugged. Katsuki’s brow furrowed and he pulled the other into his arms. Izuku shivered as the warmth from Katsuki’s hands shot through his bones. His arms came up, squeezing Katsuki’s shoulders. They pulled away from each other. Izuku gave him a small smile. Katsuki opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the incessant buzzing of both of their phones. Izuku frowned and pulled his phone out. His eyes widened as messages flashed across the screen. He looked up at Katsuki for a moment. The blonde’s phone flashed in time with his. Izuku turned back to his phone, fumbling with it for a moment before unlocking it. He clicked on the messaging app, tilting his head as he was himself being mentioned multiple times.
Class 💅💅
Kirby: hey did u guys see the news?
how rude was that newscaster omg
@deku do u want me to fight hiim for u
Sonic: Uraraka! That is not an appropriate reaction!
However, in the event you decide to do such a thing…
I saw nothing.
Midoriya, are you safe?
Gay-lien Queen: what a douche omg!!
dont listen to him, midobabe
hes just a bigoted dicknugget
Pikachu: guys u should check twitter
that newscaster is getting absolutely roasted
200+ messages unread
Izuku frowned, closing out of the messaging app and clicking on the blue icon. The top trending topics were:
- #Quirkless
- #trafficking
- #cancelNNS
- #NoMoreQuirkless
- #SportsFestival2xxx
Izuku’s stomach roiled as he read through the various tweets. There were many people expressing outrage at the newscaster’s unsavory comment. Some did express their concern for Quirkless people, but a majority simply admonished them for speaking their opinion in such a public forum. There was a small but very vocal group demanding an apology.
And there were some…there were some that agreed with the newscaster. That said ‘good riddance’ to the ‘useless’ members of their society.
The majority, however, were simply in disbelief that Quirkless people still existed. Izuku sighed. Then, he watched in amazement as #SportsFestival2XXX jumped from the fifth trending topic to the first. He frowned, clicking on the tag.
Izuku was greeted with his own grinning face. His brows rose.
He remembered this Sports Festival. It was in his third year at UA. He hadn’t been allowed to participate during second year because he was still recovering. He remembered the anxiety that coursed through his veins as he stepped out into the arena, the sharpness of everyone’s gazes as they looked at him. The burning pride as he stood next to Katsuki and Ochaco, All Might draping the first place medal around his neck.
No one in his class had been surprised. Many others were, though. He remembered seeing article after article speculating that he had cheated, that his opponents had let him win, that UA was playing favorites. Nedzu and Aizawa ripped into those reporters with vindictive pleasure. But Izuku felt as if his victory had been…tainted, almost.
Before he could process just what the public was saying about him, there was a buzzing noise from both of their phones. They both looked down.
Dad Might and Co.
Dad Might: Young Midoriya
Are you alright?
You as well, Young Bakugou
Kacchan: we’re fine, all might
Are you okay?
Dad Might: I’m quite well.
Thank you for asking, Young Bakugou
Deku: hi all might!
Please stay safe!
Dad Might: Thank you! :3
Katsuki snorted and looked up at Izuku.
“Did you teach him to use fuckin’ emojis?” Izuku gave him a small smile, not quite reaching his eyes.
“No, Kacchan. The blame for that lies with Mina.” The two men leaned against each other. Izuku plopped his head into the juncture of Katsuki’s neck and shoulder. He turned his face, feeling the curl of his breath against the other’s skin. A hand, broad and calloused, came up and brushed gently against his cheek. Izuku let out a sigh.
“You okay, Sunshine?” Izuku made a hesitant little noise in the back of his throat. “C’mon, baby. Talk to me.”
“I’m…scared, I guess?” Izuku shrugged his shoulders. “ I don’t know. It just feels like it did after our last Sports Festival. And- and I feel so…exposed.” Katsuki hummed quietly in reply.
“You’re allowed to feel like that, sweetheart. Fuckers shouldn’ta brought it up, ‘specially with the news. Yeah, you’re a Pro Hero, but you’re allowed to be scared. It’s personal, and puts you in danger.” Izuku’s lip trembled and he felt the pinprick of tears at the corners of his eyes. “You’re allowed to be upset, Izuku.”
Izuku sniffled as he let his tears fall. Katsuki pulled him closer. Eventually, his tears ran out. Izuku gave an embarrassed little smile and pulled away from Katsuki, rubbing his swollen eyes.
“Sorry for crying on you, Kacchan.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.
“‘S not like I’m not used to it, Freckles,” he said, a smile tugging the corner of his mouth up. Izuku opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by banging at the door. Katsuki frowned and stood up, one hand trailing behind him as he strode to the door. Izuku stood up and walked to the bathroom, splashing water onto his face. He rubbed again at his puffy eyes.
I’m a Pro Hero just like everyone else, Izuku thought to himself, I should be better than this. He frowned at himself in the mirror and stuck out his tongue at his reflection before exiting the bathroom. As he approached the living room once again, he heard Katsuki’s baritone voice mixing with the familiar tones of their friends. He walked to the doorway and took in the scene.
All of the members of Class A who were not currently on patrol or sleeping were draped across their living room.
“Deku!” All the heads in the room snapped to him. Ochako, who had called out to him, jogged across the room and pulled him into her arms, swinging him around. Izuku made a choking noise like a squeak toy as Ochako squeezed him.
“Let him go, idiot!” Katsuki called from across the room.
Ochako laughed and let him down. Izuku stumbled as he regained his breath. “Sorry, Deku!” She laughed, rubbing the back of her head. “After that news report, we all wanted to check on you.”
Izuku felt himself flush at her words. Before he could reply, Katsuki did.
“Yeah, well, you did. He’s fine and you dumbasses can go home,” the blonde snarled, “He’s a fuckin’ pro hero and can take care of himself.”
“C’mon, don’t be like that, Bakugou,” Kaminari whined. He turned to Izuku. “Sorry about this, Midoriya. We’re all a little paranoid after everything, and you never texted us back.” Izuku let out a soft sigh, a tiny smile creeping across his face. His feeling of inadequacy dissolved in the face of his friends’ concern.
“Sorry, Kaminari. Kacchan and I were watching a movie. We checked in with All Might; he seems to be doing okay.” There was a palpable release of tension throughout the room as Izuku spoke. He couldn’t tell what had caused that, but was happy it happened. “We should probably have someone with him, though. He’s a pretty publicly known Quirkless person.” Iida hummed.
“Excellent idea, Midoriya! I shall contact him to sort out the details.”
“Thanks, Iida.”
The conversation turned to other things and Izuku fell back to the kitchen. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against the cupboard in front of him. The conversations in the other room flowed together, becoming a soothing sort of nothingness.
“You okay?” It was Katsuki. Izuku shrugged. “Mkay. Well, the idiots want to stay the night.” Izuku groaned, thumping his forehead against the cupboard door. Katsuki laughed.
“Do they have to?” Izuku knew his voice was whiny and exhausted, but he didn’t care.
“Normally, I’d kick ‘em out no problem. Don’t think we could take all of ‘em at once, though. They look annoyingly stubborn about this.” Izuku pouted and slumped his shoulders, resigned to the fact that they were apparently having a sleepover. He scrubbed a hand down his face and turned to Katsuki before promptly bonking his forehead into the blonde’s chest. He snickered at him and petted his hair. Izuku wrapped his arms around the other’s waist, melting into the touch. He felt the rise and fall of Katsuki’s chest against his head.
The quiet calm was broken by the chime of a text message. Both men groaned before Izuku pulled away to check it.
You Are My Dad (You’re My Dad! Boogie woogie woogie)
Ambien Man: problem child
Spoke 2 the commissioner - wants u to stay on patrol as normal
Dont forget abt dinner on fri
Problem Child: okay dad!
Ambien Man: i am seriously at my limit
Izuku snorted as he locked his phone before looking up at Katsuki. The man was leaning against the counter. It looked almost as if he was pouting.
“It was Aizawa.” Katsuki raised an eyebrow. “He just wanted to let me know we’d stick with the normal patrol schedule.” Katsuki’s lip curved but he said nothing, just nodding. Izuku walked to him and flopped against his chest. The blonde welcomed him easily into his arms. After a moment, Katsuki cleared his throat.
“Just…be careful, okay?” He asked in a low voice. “I know you can handle yourself, nerd, but I can’t help but worry.” Izuku smiled and tilted his head up so that his chin was pillowed in Katsuki’s chest and their eyes could meet.
“Only if you promise the same, cutie.” The tips of Katsuki’s ears flushed as his eyes widened the slightest bit. Katsuki tsk’ed and turned his head away at the attention. Instead of speaking, Katsuki held his hand up in a fist, little finger extended. Izuku grinned and hooked his own on the others.
Katuski rocked their hands through the air for a moment before brushing Izuku’s curls away from his forehead and pressing his lips to the skin there. Against his skin, the blonde mumbled.
“It’s a promise then.” He straightened up and pushed off the counter, dragging Izuku behind him with their still-linked fingers. “Alright, let’s go wrangle the idiots.”