Work Text:
Toshinori’s house was beautiful.
It had light-blue paneling, and the sides of the house were lined with garden beds full of all kinds of herbs and flowers. It was close enough to the ocean that Izuku could hear the waves crashing as they walked up to the house.
It was a dream retirement home, and it was perfect for Toshinori.
“—are you even listening?”
Izuku waved a hand in apology. “Sorry, Kacchan, it’s just really pretty out here.”
Katsuki scoffed. “Not like you haven’t seen it before.”
Izuku shrugged in response and tuned back into Katsuki’s rant about the new sidekick at Best Jeanist’s agency.
The wooden steps leading up to the porch creaked as they walked up them. Katsuki paused his rant when Izuku knocked on the door.
They barely had to wait a few seconds before the door swung open. “My boys!”
Izuku immediately broke into a grin and went to hug Toshinori. “It’s so good to see you! How you’ve been?”
Toshinori beckoned them into the house. “Good. I’ve been trying my hand at gardening again.”
Izuku slipped out of his coat and smiled. “I saw. It looked like it’s going well.”
“Mostly, some of the flowers didn’t make it.”
Katsuki narrowly dodged a hug from Toshinori from he stepped through the entrance and huffed, “My mom’s been up my ass about gardening recently; she’ll talk your ear off about it if you need help.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
Katsuki hummed in response before lifting the dish he was carrying. “Where do you want this?”
Toshinori's eyes crinkled as he took the food out of Katsuki’s happily. “I’ll take it to the kitchen. Looks great.”
Katsuki grumbled something about how, “Of course, it’s great. I made it,” as he kicked off his shoes.
Toshinori waited for them to finish taking off their coats before wandering off into the kitchen to put down the dish with Izuku and Katsuki trailing behind him.
“Would either of you like some tea?” Toshinori called out.
Izuku and Katsuki took a seat at Toshinori’s small dining table, and Izuku shouted back, “Please, thank you!”
The sound of the tea kettle being flipped on was audible from a room over. Izuku took out a pocket notebook to make a crude sketch of the room while Katsuki stared out the window.
When Izuku spotted Toshinori carrying a tray with a steaming pot of tea and three cups, he pushed the notebook to the side. Toshinori took a seat across from them. “I’m going to guess this isn’t just a visit for the sake of it.”
“I mean—“ was Izuku’s response.
“No,” was Katsuki’s.
Izuku blushed as Toshinori laughed. “Well, I’m happy to see you two either way. How can I help?”
Katsuki grabbed a cup of tea and did not elaborate. They’d agreed earlier that Izuku would be the one to say it. “We did want to see you. It’s just, we also thought you might have some advice on something.”
Toshinori raised his eyebrows. “That being?”
Izuku sheepishly rubbed at his wrist. “We’re going to start an agency together.”
Toshinori gaped at him before, to Izuku’s terror, started tearing up.
“All Might!” Izuku snapped his head to Katsuki, alarmed.
Does he really think it’s that bad of an idea?!
Katsuki seemed to detect those thoughts because he just raised his eyebrows. “Happy tears.”
At second glance, Toshinori was smiling as he cried. “Sorry to frighten you, it’s just. I know you’ve wanted this for a while. I’m glad you’re getting it.”
A while is an understatement. Depending on when you start counting, Izuku has wanted this for anywhere between eight and twenty years.
Izuku had confessed this to Toshinori after the war. When Katsuki had been in a hospital bed. When their relationship was just starting to heal, and the last time Izuku had allowed himself to think about a hero duo was at the age of four. When Izuku was terrified Katsuki wasn’t going to come out of that hospital.
Izuku failed to stop the tears in his own eyes from welling up.
Katsuki watched quietly before shoving a tissue into Izuku’s hands with a scowl. “The two of you make a good pair of crybabies,” Izuku sniffles in reply. “Since Izuku wasn’t able to get to the damn point, we need contacts. We’ve submitted the request paperwork, and figured out the basics, but haven’t planned much beyond that.”
Toshinori had grabbed his own tissue from somewhere to dab at his tears, and he hummed thoughtfully. “I’m flattered you came to me. But, frankly, I don’t know how much help I’ll be.”
Katsuki shrugged. “It’s not a big deal if you can’t. We’ll figure out either way. But we need PR that isn’t shit, and we’re still looking for a place.”
Admittedly, it would be a very big leg up if Toshinori had any help to offer. Starting a hero agency took an insane amount of funding and support. Not to mention how it was very difficult and important to find trustable PR and secretaries considering the sensitive work hero agencies handle.
Toshinori took a sip from his tea. “I think I know a few people that could give you a hand.”
Izuku’s heart fluttered at the offer. Having even a few contacts really could make a big difference. He bowed his head. “Thank you, that’ll be a lot of help.” Katsuki grunted out his own thanks. Izuku fiddled with his sleeve awkwardly. “I also thought we’d ask you about the property damage insurance? We’re having trouble… well finding places that’ll insure us.”
Izuku internally winced at the memory of waves of rejections due to the destructive nature of their quirks.
“Heh, yeah, it’s kinda bureaucratic. When I started my agency…“ Toshinori went on, answering their questions as he detailed the process.
The process was very, very bureaucratic.
By the time they were done talking, the sun had started to set and the fog that had been surrounding the house that morning had cleared up. Toshinori scribbled names and phone numbers on a slip of paper while Izuku and Katsuki gathered their coats.
Toshinori ripped out the note and handed it to Katsuki before taking both of them into a hug. Katsuki was a little stiff but accepted it this time around.
He leaned back and shook his head. “You’re both such fine young men, and I could ask for no one better than you both as my successors. I know you’ll be putting my agency to shame in no time at all!”
Izuku felt even more tears threaten to fall, and when he glanced over at Katsuki he could see a faint blush over his cheeks.
“We’ll do our best.” Izuku promised. Toshinori smiled and ruffled his hair. They said their final goodbyes and stepped out of the house into the cool night air.
Izuku trailed Katsuki as he walked to their car, but before he could unlock the door, Izuku pulled him into a brief kiss. Katsuki stilled before relaxing into it.
Katsuki pulled back with a pleased look on his face.
Izuku smiled up at him. “I’m glad we get to do this together, Kacchan.”
Katsuki’s whole expression stilled before he he mumbled, “Me too.”
Yeah, they’d figure it out.