Chapter Text
Katsuki feels stable in his life.
He has two loving parents, the best friends anyone could ask for, a partner he doesn’t deserve, and the coolest mentors any kid who grew up a hero fan could ever imagine having. And he gets to see all these people every single day of his life and grow up with all of them.
It’s really the first time in his life he has no genuine reason to act out. Of course, that doesn’t stop him from being an ass- but he’s grateful and trying to show it best he can. But recently something is bothering him. And he hates it. Because it’s something really fucking stupid. Really, how weak is he to be worrying about this of all things when he couldn’t ask for more?
He has a dad. His name’s Masaru Bakugou. Katsuki loves him. He loves Katsuki.
So why the ever loving fuck has Katsuki been feeling jealous of Izuku’s relationship with All Might?!
“…Bakugou.”
Seriously?! Why?! Is Katuski really that sensitive that he can’t stand All Might not looking at him with the same fatherly love that he looks at Izuku with?! Is he really that weak that he’s mad that he doesn’t call All Might ‘Toshinori’?! Is he-
“Kacchan!”
Fuck.
“Huh? Oh- y-yeah?” Katsuki stammers, looking back to see a worried Izuku and then forward to see an annoyed looking Aizawa at the blackboard.
“I know you aren’t on the pain medication that was making you high as a kite anymore, Bakugou. Pay attention.” Katsuki’s blood boiled as he heard Denki and Tsu snicker on the other side of the classroom. “Summarize crisis plan 2 relating to a quirk incident with a mentally unwell civilian.”
-
“Are you okay, Kacchan? I don’t think I’ve- no I-i’ve definitely never seen you that zoned out like you were earlier.” Izuku said quietly, taking advantage of the busy locker room of the other boys putting on their hero costumes so no attention would be put on Katsuki.
“I’d lie but I can’t get that shit past you because you’re a stalker and you know me too well.” Katsuki grumbles. “I was just thinking about something stupid. Genuinely stupid. Like you’d think it’s stupid too.” He reluctantly admits, clicking his gauntlets into place and turning to help Izuku zip his suit up.
“…Is it something to do with me?” Izuku says after a moment, looking over his shoulder at the blond worryingly. “I-if I did something-“
“Shut up, you didn’t do anything. It’s just- it’s-“ Katsuki felt the urge to push Izuku away, to snap that ‘It’s nothing nerd! Stay out of my business!’. But he had to fucking resist. He’d really be weak if he acted like the pissy 14 year old he used to be. “I-it’s something I can figure out on my own. Okay? And I’ll tell you if it starts actually messing with my head. But I’m not gonna tell you now.”
“…Okay. Thank you, Kacchan.”
“For what? I didn’t-“
“For trusting me. And knowing how to make me not worry.” Izuku says immediately, grabbing Katsuki’s hand for a split second just to squeeze it.
“Jesus christ you’re sappy. Come on, we’re gonna be fucking late.”
“Love you too!”
“SHUT UP, SHITTY IZUKU!!!”
“Goddamn, he’s gonna blow out my eardrums one day.” Eijirou groans from behind the two.
-
“Izuku, my boy… is something going on with young Bakugou? He seemed especially aggressive during basic training today. Or is he just excited to be off the numbing medication?” Toshinori said, chuckling a bit to himself as he poured his and Izuku’s tea.
“…I feel bad for telling you his business… but y-you know me a bit too well for me to lie.” Izuku sighs, slumping back onto the very worn sofa in the meeting office that’s been his safe haven for almost 2 years now. “He told me it’s not a big enough deal for me to worry about but said that it’s also stupid enough that he doesn’t wanna talk about it with me. So… I don’t really know if there’s something going on or not.”
“Hm. That is a little odd for him… though he’s been changing a lot recently. Maybe he’s just working something out with himself or a friend.” Toshinori says thoughtfully, settling down next to Izuku and handing the boy his cup of tea.
“But he was beyond zoned out during class today… I-I can’t help but worry…” Izuku groans, his leg bouncing as he takes a sip of the definitely too hot tea. “I-If it gets worse and he won’t tell me still… can you try to talk to him? He’s too concerned with burdening me so- m-maybe he’ll talk to you. You’re his hero as much as you are to me.”
Toshinori would never admit it, but his heart swelled a bit at Izuku’s observation. He’s been wanting to get closer to Katsuki in the same way he’s gotten close to Izuku and plenty of class 1A. Most of the kids rely on him and Aizawa being their on-campus parental figures since it’s unfortunately safer for them to not live with their own parents. But Katsuki had always been very tight knit with his parents and went home every chance he got. On top of that, the boy seems to avoid Toshinori when it comes to anything but hero work and training. So the thought that Katsuki would maybe allow him to get close and talk to him made him happy, even if he’s worried about the boy.
“Of course, Izuku. If we notice him getting stressed and distant I’ll step in.” Toshinori reassures, reaching over to give Izuku’s shoulder a squeeze. “Now why don’t we-”
Toshinori and Izuku both jumped as the door slammed open, but we’re on high alert immediately when they saw the serious expression on Aizawa’s face as he stood in the doorway.
“Katsuki fainted in the gym. Paramedics are rushing in now- if you two wanna ride and stay with him then move your asses.”
There was only a half a second where Izuku wasn’t moving once Aizawa finished talking. The boy fired up the embers of his quirk faster than a blink and was sprinting down the hallway, Aizawa and Toshinori rushing behind him as fast as they could.
-
“He’ll be alright. In fact, he is alright. This kind of thing was expected to happen- his heart, while strong enough to keep him alive, has been altered by two quirks. It’s unstable.” Dr. Yoshida spoke softly. “Fainting is a very fortunate outcome, all things considered.”
Katsuki’s hospital room was quiet yet tense- as always. The usual suspects were in their usual places. Masaru sat upon a chair at his son’s bedside, holding Mituski’s hand as she stood tense taking in everything Yoshida said. Izuku sat next to Katsuki on the bed, anxiously fidgeting with the blond’s blanket. Toshinori leaned in the doorway, fidgeting just as much as Izuku was with the handle of his cane. And Inko just outside the room ready to comfort or drive home anyone if needed.
Katsuki found it depressing that he has his own hospital room. That he brought blankets from home because he was so sick of the scratchy ones supplied. That he’s friendly with nurses. Just another thing that bothers him not only because it sucks, but because he’s fucking weak for letting it bother him.
“So this’ll happen again you think?” Katsuki mutters, not looking up to meet Yoshida’s eye.
“Most likely. Like all things it will get better with time… but if you begin to show more symptoms like this more often then we have to look into it more.”
The room fell quiet as everyone thought- thought about how to go about dealing with yet another health issue Katsuki’s facing. Everyone but the boy himself could tell how much stress practically living in a hospital was putting on Katsuki- but at the same time the poor kid couldn’t express his frustration too much otherwise that might cause another issue with his heart.
“…I wanna go back to the dorms. I-I can’t afford to spend any more time away from school.” Katsuki says after a second. “I’ll take it easy but I- I c-can’t fall behind.”
“Katsuki…”
“Shut up, dad.” Katsuki’s voice cracked on the plea, and anyone could hear the tears held back behind the words. “Stop being soft. I’ll be fine.”
“Do not talk to your father that way! He is doing nothing but looking out for you-“
“STAY OUT OF IT, MOM!”
“Both of you-! K-Kacchan’s heart can’t handle this right now! Auntie, y-you know I’ll look after him fine at UA!” Izuku but in, getting increasingly stressed out by the minute. He stood up, walking towards Mitsuki.
“Izuku, we can’t keep asking you to bend over backwards for us and Katsuki’s health- you have so much to deal with already.” Mitsuki says shakily, taking Izuku’s hand firmly. “I know you two are closer than any of us can comprehend but you’re both only 17. The adults with you need to take on as much of this burden as we can. It’s the least you two deserve.”
Izuku and Katsuki both stopped trying to argue at that, the boys’ eyes shifting to the floor.
“…Masaru, Mitsuki- may I speak with you for a moment in the hallway?” Toshinori says after a second. The two nod, leaving the room with Toshinori. Dr. Yoshida and Izuku busy themselves with Katsuki in the meantime.
“What is it, All Might..?” Masaru says softly. Inko, who is still waiting in the hallway, shuffles over to join the conversation.
“Please, I insist you call me Toshinori, or at least Yagi,” Toshinori says to preface. “I just… had an idea. I’ve had a similar conversation with Inko before.”
Inko tilts her head slightly, the memory of that day already popping up in her head without Toshinori having said anything yet.
“We all know that keeping young Katsuki from his training is just as hurtful to him as being as sick as he currently is. I am just as worried as you are, especially when I witness him pushing himself every single day at school. It’s unfortunate, but ultimately, it’s his choice.” Toshinori starts.
“And Katsuki’s almost as stubborn as Izuku is. He always has been.” Inko adds, reaching up to squeeze Mitzuki’s shoulder. Toshinori nods in agreement.
“And as much as we don’t want to face it… he’s going to get worse before he gets better. And living in a dorm with only Izuku to check on him day to day isn’t going to cut it. So if he and you two are comfortable and agree with my stance on this…” Toshinori took a breath, for some reason nervous all of a sudden. “I am completely willing to be Katsuki’s full time caretaker. During school hours and not. Despite my own injuries, I recovered quickly and have been jumping right back into teaching. UA has the resources to accommodate a living space where Katsuki and myself will both be comfortable and safe- and somewhere that’s best suited for his current condition.”
The silence that came after he finished speaking was a little bit terrifying. Toshinori had been thinking about this for a while, but because of Katsuki keeping a distance between them growing closer, he hadn’t brought it up until now. He didn’t want to cross boundaries or do this out of his own desire to get closer to the boy. But now, he felt as if it was necessary.
“Y-you would do that? All M- Toshinori, you’d practically be his third parent…” Masaru said after a moment, his expression stunned but full of gratitude. Mitsuki has a similar expression, though she was better at hiding her teary eyes.
“Yagi, I know you’re a smart man. So I know you’ve thought this through. But are you… you’re really willing to do this?” Mitsuki practically whispers. “…You love our boy a great deal, d-don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.” Toshinori responded with no hesitation. “I have thought very, very much about this. It means so much to me that you two will let me take care of your son- I want nothing but the best for him- and Izuku.” He adds with a soft chuckle, looking at Inko, who’s smiling as she rubs the back of Mitsuki, who’s trying very hard to hold back tears.
Before he can continue to speak, Masaru steps forward. The timid man shyly opens his arms, pulling Toshinori into a gentle bear hug. Toshinori immediately flushes and returns it, blinking away the embarrassment as much as he can. “…I-I might be a little too sappy for this but… you’re really becoming part of our family. No wonder Inko and Izuku rave about you…” He says tearfully against Toshinori’s shoulder. “Thank you. Really.”
-
“Your room is there, directly from the front door just in case of an emergency in the night. Mine is right down that hallway along with the bathroom and- well, you can see the makeshift kitchen and parlor.”
“You’re so old. ‘Parlor’…” Katsuki snorts. “Just know that if I want to actually cook I’m going into the dorm kitchen. There’s not even enough counter space for 2 mixing bowls…”
Katsuki had been making jokes like that and being admittedly annoying to Toshinori since the plan of the man being his caretaker was brought to him. He was grateful, of course… but just his luck that his health had to act up now- when the man who’s taking care of him is the same man he’s having a crisis about.
“I have no issue with that, young man.” Toshinori chuckles. “Do you need help unpacking?”
“Probably. The doctor said not to change my elevation too rapidly or I might faint again. Fuckin’ stupid.” Katsuki grumbled, grabbing the first box from the small pile with his not injured arm and trudging towards his room. Toshinori followed him with 2 more in hand.
For someone who most of the time was very strict with himself and organized, Katsuki had a lot of small trinkets and things to fidget within his belongings. Hero figures, CD cases… a lot of small prints and posters of the same bands Jirou and Izuku listened to. Katsuki tried to hide how embarrassing it was to have All Might setting out his small but dedicated collection of limited edition hero merch- most of it of the man himself and Edgeshot.
“…Doesn’t Izuku have this same print? How the hell did you both get your hands on this?” Toshinori chuckled from behind Katsuki, taking a very old (and rare) bronze age All Might poster from a box.
Katsuki whipped his head around, praying his face wasn’t red. “Oh he… he found an auction for two of them and spent 3 years worth of gift money to get them. We were like… 13. No clue why he bothered, since I was still an ass at that point.” He murmurs in response. “He’s always refused to skip giving me a birthday present.”
“That’s where me and Izuku are alike. Did you know I sent Endeavor a birthday card every year before the war? Never got anything back- and he yelled at me once for being a creep. But I couldn’t help but feel bad if I didn’t.”
“No fucking way. Really?” Katsuki laughs, looking at the man in disbelief. Toshinori’s smile grew slightly as he saw the tension slowly draining out of Katsuki’s body. The boy was now leaning against the bed frame and lazily sorting his clothes into the dresser. “I’m surprised your friends don’t call you shitty Toshinori.” He snickers.
“You have such a mouth on you.” Toshinori sighs, eyeing Katsuki for his language before turning back to the boxes laid out in front of him.
Toshinori. Katsuki had called him Toshinori.