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Sometimes Bakugou thought he’d already experienced the most joyful moments of his life. Getting to tell Izuku he loved him, getting top surgery, getting married, adopting a daughter… his bucket list of joy was entirely checked off. He couldn’t envision a happier life. There was nothing else that could improve it.
And sometimes life surprised him.
Bakugou and Izuku’s daughter, Hikari, was five now, and she’d started kindergarten in the fall with other kids her age. Bakugou loved getting to watch her grow into her own remarkable little person. She was going through a princess phase now; watching Disney movies obsessively and insisting on wearing “twirly dresses,” as she called them. She was outgoing, friendly, and a natural leader– all of her dads’ best qualities combined.
In the days leading up to Father’s Day, she’d become suddenly secretive, in the clumsy way only five year olds could be. Izuku had asked her after school one day what they’d done in class and she’d become defensive, claiming she couldn’t tell him. It was a stark contrast to the way she’d normally ramble on and on after her dads picked her up. Another time, Bakugou had gone to get her lunch box from her backpack to empty and wash it, and she ran up to him, clinging to his leg to stop him.
Bakugou and Izuku speculated she was hiding some sort of Father’s Day gift from them, so they found it endearing rather than worrying. They let her keep her secrets, watching fondly with a smile.
On the morning of Father’s Day, Hikari climbed into her dads’ bed and shook them awake.
“Daddy, Papa, get up, get up!” she urged them, bouncing up and down with a giddy smile. She was hiding something behind her back.
Bakugou groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Hm?” he mumbled.
Izuku propped himself up on an elbow and smiled at their excited daughter.
“Good morning!” she said when she saw they were both awake. “Happy Father’s Day!” She pulled a card from behind her back and held it out to them. On the front, in bold purple marker, were the words, “Happie Fathers Day,” and a wobbly heart.
Bakugou felt his heart melt at the sight. It wasn’t the first Father’s Day he’d gotten to experience as a dad, but the feeling never got old. As far as gender affirming moments went, celebrating Father’s Day took the cake. Hearing his little girl call him Papa and give him a card to celebrate the day warmed his heart.
He reached out and took the card from Hikari, and opened it. Inside, she had written, “I love you Papa and Daddy!” and drawn a picture of the three of them. Izuku was on the right, with his signature curly green hair and a big smile. On the left was Bakugou, with wild spiky hair and a fond expression. Between them, holding their hands, was Hikari in a pink princess dress. “Papa,” was written with an arrow pointing towards Bakugou, and, “Daddy,” with an arrow towards Izuku. “Me,” was written between them, with an arrow pointing towards herself. There were hearts all around them.
“Oh, Hikari, this is wonderful!” Izuku said. “Did you draw this yourself?”
Hikari smiled proudly and nodded. “Mhm! Look, that one’s you, and that’s Papa, and there’s me!”
Bakugou felt tears spring to his eyes. He loved his little family so much. “It’s beautiful, thank you Hikari,” he said, wiping his eyes.
“Don’t cry, Papa!” she said, lunging forward to hug him. Her little arms wrapped around his middle and squeezed.
“I’m okay, sweetie, just happy,” he said with a sniffle. He stroked her hair reassuringly while Izuku hugged his arm.
“We have a surprise for you too,” Izuku told her.
She bolted upright, eyes wide with excitement.
“We’re going to the beach today!”
“Yay! The beach, the beach!” Hikari cheered, bouncing again.
“Yep!” Izuku said, chuckling. “Now go get ready, okay?”
“Okay, Daddy!” She scrambled off the bed and raced down the hall.
When they were finally alone, Izuku wiped Bakugou’s cheeks. “You okay?”
Bakugou nodded. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it,” he admitted. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be a dad. I’m just so happy.”
Izuku smiled at him and hugged him. “I know,” he said. “You’re a great dad, you know.”
Bakugou felt himself welling up again, and Izuku lightly punched him.
“And you call me a crybaby,” he teased.
Bakugou sat on the beach towel on the sand, shaded by a large umbrella. He and Izuku watched as Hikari ran up to the shore and yelled and laughed as the waves chased her. The summer air was warm against his bare chest. His top surgery scars had faded as much as they were going to, but he didn’t mind the faint marks that remained. They were a part of his history, like every other scar on his body.
He thought back to when he first came out. He was so angry all the time back then, convinced he’d never feel comfortable in his own skin. Hiding in the same hoodie every day, slouching to conceal his chest, rarely talking because he hated his voice, feeling so jealous of other boys who didn’t have to worry about any of the things he had to. If his younger self could see him now, he wouldn’t believe it. Shirtless on the beach, celebrating Father’s Day as the dad of a wonderful little girl? His younger self wouldn’t be able to wrap his head around it. He wished he could tell that boy he once was just how good things were going to get. He wished he could tell him to stay strong; that everything he wanted so badly and more was within reach.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Izuku asked, bumping shoulders with him.
“Just thinking,” he replied, watching the waves crash against the shore.
“Yeah? Good stuff I hope.”
Hikari laughed and waved at them. Bakugou waved back. “I’m so lucky,” he said softly.
Izuku kissed his cheek. “We all are.”