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Katsuki was in the finishing stages of cooking dinner when the doorbell rang. He glanced at the clock over the stove realizing that it was about time for Shouto to be getting back from his patrol. He wondered why the IcyHot bastard was politely knocking instead of travelling by the rooftops to their balcony to get home to Katsuki as soon as possible like he usually did. He made his way to the door, a fond half-smile on his face, he’d missed that dumbass.
Izuku stood at the door. Well, that was one way to ruin his romantic mood.
“Deku? What the fuck are you doing here?” Katsuki barked as he stepped back for the nerd to enter. “Where’s Shouto? Is he okay?” A spike of worry ran through him at the thought of his boyfriend being hurt.
“Kacchan, Todoroki-kun is fine. Mostly.” He made no move to enter the apartment.
“What do you mean, mostly? Where the fuck is he?” Now Katsuki was starting to panic a little, he peered over Izuku’s shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of his dumbass.
“Don’t freak out, okay?” Izuku raised both hands in a placating gesture before stepping slightly to the side.
Heterochromatic eyes peaked out cautiously from behind Izuku’s knees.
What the fuck.
“What the fuck.” Katsuki said out loud.
Little Shouto didn’t flinch at his language or look particularly surprised by it as he stepped out from behind Izuku and launched himself towards Katsuki's legs.
“Hi Katsuki.” A familiar half smile graced his face as he raised his arms imperiously towards Katsuki who picked him up obediently. Unsurprisingly, he was unable to refuse his lover in any form, adult or not. Shouto wrapped his little arms around his neck, the tension leaving his body as he nuzzled his face under Katsuki’s chin with easy familiarity. Well, at least he’s as clingy as ever, Katsuki thought as Izuku finally deigned himself to begin explaining at Katsuki’s questioning glare.
“He got hit by a quirk during our patrol.” Izuku said, following Katsuki into the apartment this time. “The effects should last for 12-24 hours but he’s fine other than that.”
“Yeah totally fucking fine, I can see that!” Katsuki said, shifting his face slightly to avoid speaking through a mouthful of red hair. Shouto’s hold tightened infinitesimally around his neck as if he was afraid Katsuki was going to let go.
“He still has all his memories, Kacchan, the only thing that’s different is that the quirk might heighten certain childish traits,” Izuku continued, ignoring Katsuki’s interruption.
Huh, well that was unexpected. At least it explained why the IcyHot bastard was being so comfortable with him.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do anything Kacchan.” Katsuki looked up to see the familiar expression Izuku wore when he was beating himself up for things that were no fault of his own. But he knew how this worked, there was no way Izuku could have done anything about it if their patrol routes were anything to go by.
He waved away the apology with a gruff “Not your fucking fault,” before turning back to focus on the kid in his arms. He might have been four or five years old, Katsuki guessed, he didn’t really know about how kids aged, sue him.
“Hi Shouto.” he murmured into the red hair. Shouto pulled back to look at him, those familiar Bambi eyes looking huge on his little face. He had no scar, Katsuki noted. So around five years old most likely then.
“Kat.” Little Shouto pressed a kiss to his jaw. “Missed you.”
Katsuki felt himself melting a little on the inside at that. “It’s been five fucking hours, IcyHot.” he said gruffly as he made his way to the kitchen.. “Are you staying for dinner?” he barked at Izuku over his shoulder as he set Shouto down on the kitchen counter.
“Ah no that’s okay Kacchan, I’m meeting Hawks.” He breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of the curry Katsuki had been making, looking slightly regretful about having to leave. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Katsuki gave him a nod, and then followed him back to the door so he could lock it, Izuku assuring him that Shouto would be excused from work till the quirk wore off as he waved his goodbyes.
Shouto stayed seated on the counter, playing with the egg timer Katsuki had left on the shelf as he waited for him to say his goodbyes to Izuku. He didn’t know if it was the effects of the quirk, but any time spent away from Katsuki made him anxious. He heaved a sigh of relief as he finally heard the front door shut and the telltale footsteps of Katsuki making his way to the kitchen. Katsuki hesitated slightly at the entrance to the kitchen looking vaguely unsure as he looked at Shouto. He needn’t have worried though, the quirk had left all his memories from adulthood intact, he knew who Katsuki was, the love of his life, the one he wanted to come back home to every single day.
“Give me a hug.” Shouto raised his arms again, willing Katsuki to come nearer and watched with some gratification as he made his way over, pulling him close into his strong arms.
“Still a spoiled, clingy princess, I see.” Katsuki muttered, no bite to the words as he hugged his smaller form. Shouto inhaled that familiar burnt sugar scent, feeling instantly better, the weird feelings of anxiety and mild unease lingering since that quirk had hit melting away. He knew logically that he’d be taken care of with Izuku or any of the other heroes at their Agency but none of it could compare to the feeling of absolute safety that Katsuki’s embrace gave him.
“Ready to eat?” Katsuki asked as he pulled back from the hug, laughing as Shouto’s stomach let out a loud growl at the question.
Shouto nodded. Katsuki carried him to the chair, before plating their food and making his way back to the table.
“You can eat by yourself right?” Katsuki asked, looking a little amused.
Shouto threw him an unimpressed look that probably looked odd on his five-year old face, if the expression on Katsuki’s face was anything to go by, before grabbing the spoon and beginning to eat. Katsuki watched him eat the first couple bites in silence before diverting his attention to his own plate.
“So how was your day?” Katsuki asked as he drizzled hot sauce over his curry before starting to eat. Shouto relaxed as they fell back to their familiar routine, recounting how the patrol had been mostly uneventful, most of his time spent playing with the stray cats along his patrol route with nothing else going on before getting accidentally hit by a kid’s quirk while trying to help her and her sister cross the street. Their dinner together did not seem particularly different from any other day except that they couldn’t play footsie on the table as they ate, with Shouto’s legs being too small to reach the floor in this state.
“You couldn’t dodge? Some fucking hero you are.” Katsuki said teasingly after he finished detailing the events of his patrol as he reached over to wipe Shouto’s mouth for him.
Shouto knew, he knew for a fact that Katsuki was just joking but to his horror he felt tears pricking his eyelids at the comment. “It was an accident, she thought I was attacking her sister!” he defended, unsure why he was reacting this way. Katsuki froze at the sudden unexpected tears and Shouto couldn’t even blame him for it. Usually Shouto would quip back to his taunts with a teasing remark of his own until they ended up bickering playfully. It was their thing. Apparently not right now though.
“I know, I know, baby, I was just teasing.” Katsuki quickly amended, looking a little panicked that he had managed to make Shouto cry already. He made his way over to Shouto, kneeling on the floor so they were at eye level and raising a hand to comb through his hair. “Just teasing,” he repeated when Shouto didn’t say anything, trying to hold back the treacherous tears. “You know I think you’re a great hero.” The second best I know, he would have added under different circumstances. Shouto knew him well enough to predict that but he refrained, seeming to sense it wouldn’t go over very well at the moment.
“I know,” Shouto said, finally, once he managed to get a hold of himself. “It’s just the quirk, don’t worry about it.” He leaned towards Katsuki to plant a kiss to his forehead and watched the worried frown melt away. Katsuki sighed, sounding relieved as he fed Shouto the last bite of his curry and rose to clear the table.
“I’ll do the dishes.” Shouto said determinedly as Katsuki tried to get past him to get to the sink. Katsuki had cooked so he would clean, they had an arrangement, it was only fair.
“You can’t even reach the sink, IcyHot, “ Katsuki huffed as he stood there with their plates in his hands. “Go sit at the dining table.”
He had a valid point but Shouto didn’t feel like leaving Katsuki out of his sight for even a second so he sat at the kitchen counter while Katsuki washed the dishes, diligently drying each of them as his boyfriend handed them to him. He missed his usual after dinner routine of washing the dishes, Katsuki wrapped around his back with his chin on Shouto’s shoulder, the clink of dishes and sounds of running water the only sounds other than Katsuki’s occasional, sarcastic comment on his dishwashing skills. Their dinner time ritual on the rare occasions when they lucked out on patrol shifts that ended around the same time was one of Shouto’s favorite parts of living together, the comforting domesticity of it being something Shouto had never dreamt he’d have.
He was starting to get a little mad at himself for ruining that with the stupid quirk.
“This was before I got the scar.” Shouto said as he leaned forward to get closer to the mirror as if the scar would magically reappear if he did so. He put a finger to where the scar usually was, tracing the shape of it. “She didn’t do it yet.” Katsuki felt his heart break looking at this innocent version of his lover, the one unmarred by the actions of the adults in his life. After what happened at dinner, he had realized that the quirk probably affected Shouto’s emotions in some way, which was likely what Izuku had meant by the heightened childish traits. He didn’t say anything, more accurately, he wasn’t sure what he could say to make the situation better, as he waited for Shouto’s reaction to the discovery.
They had moved to the bathroom, Katsuki grabbing the wooden stool from the shower for Shouto to stand on so he could reach the sink. He hovered anxiously while Shouto brushed his teeth and washed his face before getting distracted by his unblemished face.
“Does it ever bother you?” Shouto turned around to look up at Katsuki, eyes dry but apprehension on his face. As if he expected Katsuki to decide that the scar was too much and immediately bail on him or something, the little idiot. His idiot though, so Katsuki would give him all the reassurance he needed.
They had never had this conversation before, their relationship flowing with the implicit understanding of their connection being more about who they were to each other, the fact that Shouto was unfairly pretty just an added advantage in Katsuki’s book. The quirk was likely encouraging him to ask questions he would be more anxious about asking as an adult because Katsuki knew his boyfriend, knew he lacked the self-consciousness of most normal people, asking the most embarrassing questions with no issue yet this matter was something he had never once brought up in their time together.
“It doesn’t,” Katsuki said firmly, picking Shouto up so they were face to face. “You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.” He leaned forward to plant a kiss under Shouto’s eye where the scar was on his adult face. “I’ve always thought so.”
“Still?” Shouto asked, looking less anxious.
“Always, Sho.” He pressed another kiss onto the smooth cheek before setting him down. “I’ll make sure to tell you more often.”
Katsuki brushed his own teeth with Shouto hovering, unwilling to go to bed alone. He took in Shouto’s clothes once he was done. He was dressed in a shirt that came down to his knees and borrowed shorts that were tightened at the waist. They were lucky to still have some kid’s clothes from when they babysat Shouto’s nephew though, so at least that was taken care of.
“I’m gonna dress you in Kotaro’s clothes and hope Natsou-ni doesn’t kill me later.” Katsuki said before rifling through their closet to pick out a pair of pajamas for them both.
“Read to me.” Shouto demanded, inching closer to Katsuki once they had gotten changed and settled into bed, burrowing his face into Katsuki’s chest much like his older self as he threw his arms around him. Katsuki poked one chubby cheek, more than a little charmed by how cute Shouto was acting. He was rewarded with the most adorable look of annoyance for his teasing and couldn’t resist pinching his cheek this time. “Read.” Shouto whined as he turned his face further into Katsuki’s chest to hide it.
“Spoilt.” Katsuki said affectionately as he picked up the book they were reading from the nightstand, picking up where they’d left off. He’d barely read a couple pages, before Shouto drifted off. Katsuki reached over carefully to replace the book on the night stand and turn off the light before turning back to the sleeping boy in his arms. The absence of the scar was impossible to miss, even in the pale moonlight streaming through the window. It still surprised Katsuki how Shouto could be so kind, so caring, so trusting with everything he had gone through in life. The possibility of things taking a very different turn depending on how he chose to react to his upbringing made Katsuki all the more glad for the boy in his arms. He tightened his hold on the kid, pressing a kiss into the two toned hair before he drifted off.
The rays of the early morning sun drifting in from the window roused Shouto from his sleep. He woke up surrounded by the warmth of Katsuki and dwarfed against him, still in the form of his younger self. Usually, Katsuki was the first to wake up among the two of them but Shouto had gone to bed a lot earlier than his usual time last night so he took advantage of his waking up early to survey his lover’s face. He looked relaxed in his sleep in a way he rarely was while awake, his features smooth of his customary scowl, the sun’s rays coloring his pale hair a warm golden. Shouto feasted his eyes on what was a rare sight for most other people for a minute before burying his face into the broad chest and snuggling closer. He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts drift to the conversation in the bathroom last night.
Shouto didn’t know what possessed him to blurt out the question about his scar. At this point in his life, the scar was an integral part of him, one he couldn’t imagine ever existing without. But seeing his younger, innocent face had him rethinking what he would have grown into without the scar and piqued his curiosity on what Katsuki thought of it. He knew, rationally, that Katsuki was not superficial enough to care about such things but with his drive for perfection and being the best it didn’t seem entirely out of pocket to be something that bothered him. He also knew Katsuki thought he was beautiful if the repeated words when they made love or even when Shouto woke up, in his pajamas with messy bed hair, had been anything to go by but he couldn’t help wondering about it.
Anyone else, Shouto wouldn’t have cared, he’d lived with the scar long enough that people’s opinions, whether they thought it was badass or ugly didn’t bother him. But Katsuki’s did, he wanted to know what he thought, whether it was something that turned him off. He felt Katsuki shift, arms tightening instinctively around Shouto before he seemed to wake up fully.
“Good morning,” he murmured quietly, his voice still raspy from sleep when he noticed Shouto was awake. He was always so soft in the mornings, his usual demeanour missing until he’d had his coffee. God, Shouto loved him so much.
“Morning.” Shouto said, closing his eyes as Katsuki leaned closer and kissed his forehead.
“Still little, I see.” Katsuki said as got off the bed and stretched, muscles popping satisfyingly. “Wanna have pancakes for breakfast?” Shouto nodded his assent before following him towards the kitchen.
Shouto laughed at the little smear of pancake batter on Katsuki’s cheek where he’d accidentally smacked him with the spatula as his blonde carefully poured a ladleful of batter onto the pan. The cooking together was different, Big Shouto usually kicked out of the kitchen to get out of Katsuki’s way and avoid making a mess. But maybe Katsuki could sense the weird separation anxiety thing he had going on because he let Shouto sit on the counter and stir in the chocolate chips, though the last part probably wasn’t as good of an idea considering he got smacked with a batter smeared spatula for his kindness.
“What the fuck are you laughing at?” Katsuki grumbled with no bite to the words as he raised his eyes from the pan to look up at Shouto, fondness in his gaze. Shouto would have never imagined he’d be the one receiving such a look from their resident class gremlin, it never failed to fill him with warmth every time. Still, Katsuki seemed to be holding back a little, more considerate of his quirked little self. He was softer with Shouto than anyone else on a daily basis anyway but Shouto kind of missed his usual insults. Whatever, he thought, as Katsuki plated the first pancake for him, soft or not, Shouto was so so glad that Bakugou Katsuki was all his.
They went grocery shopping that evening as Katsuki as had been planning to since it was his day off and he let Shouto tag along since he had seemed to loathe the idea of being apart for even a second, not that Katsuki was planning to leave a fun sized Shouto at home alone anyway. They walked through the aisles together, Shouto standing on the foot of the cart holding on to the handle while Katsuki pushed it from around him.
“Katsuki, can we try that one?” asked Shouto pointing to a bright red pack of cookies. Katsuki sighed as he obligingly picked up the snack and put it in their cart, already overflowing with a load of crappy food he’d never allow himself to eat. He could never tamp down Shouto’s inclinations towards junk food, even as an adult, so it was hardly surprising that he was unable to refuse this extra adorable, mini Shouto. Not that Katsuki would ever mind, he knew about the diets and training Shouto went through as a kid, he was happy to let Shouto have anything he needed to feel free of that.
It was on the walk back, carrying grocery bags in his hands and a chattering Shouto on his back that Katsuki spotted the park. It was in a shady little clearing, easily overlooked at the moment due to the silence that hung around it with all the kids at school.
“Hey Shouto, baby, you wanna go play?” he asked playfully, totally expecting a light kick to his haunches for the tease. What he didn’t expect was for Shouto to freeze for a second before nodding excitedly, the motion barely visible to Katsuki from the corner of his eye yet obvious in his approval of the idea. Katsuki didn’t let his surprise show as he made his way to the park, setting down the groceries on the park bench, grateful that they hadn’t got anything that needed immediate refrigeration.
“Ok, what first.” he barked at Shouto, turning around to take in the slide, the swings and the monkey bars. He remembered playing in a similar park as a kid, usually with Izuku and the other kids that he hung out with.
“The slide.” Shouto said, running over and beginning to climb. Katsuki stood behind him, watching him as he climbed. He remembered the ice slide Shouto had built for the other kids as a part of their remedial course, feeling a pang at the thought that he probably hadn’t experienced something similar during his own childhood. He watched fondly as kiddie Shouto climbed up and slid down a few more times before making his way over to the swings.
“Need a push, Icyhot?” Katsuki asked, giving Shouto’s small back a gentle push once he nodded his assent. “Ok, hold tight.” He pushed faster this time, picking up a little pace.
“Faster, Katsuki.” Shouto yelled back as he swung forward. As Katsuki pushed faster, Shouto’s childish giggles punctured through the silence of the park. He couldn’t resist the smile on his own face as he pushed Shouto.
Shouto moved to the monkey bars next with Katsuki hovering, more than a little anxious about how he would explain himself if the little idiot broke a limb or two. Not that Adult Shouto wouldn't easily demolish the bars if he weren't too tall for them. Shouto finally tired himself out half an hour later and let Katsuki drag him back home, helping him carry the grocery bags this time, the pure, unadulterated joy in Shouto’s laughter at the park starting to make Katsuki just a little grateful for the stupid quirk.
Katsuki got Shouto settled on the couch when they got home, turning on the TV for him before moving to the kitchen to put away their groceries. Shouto didn’t stay away for long however, coming to stand at the entrance to the kitchen, where he leaned against the wall in a stance similar to his adult self other than the difference in height.
“Let me help,” he insisted. “Then you can come watch TV with me faster.”
Katsuki watched him standing there with that familiar pout on his face and felt a rush of warmth in his chest. He acquiesced silently by handing Shouto the bag of his snacks before picking him up and plopping him onto the counter so he could reach the cabinet where they kept snacks. They worked in companionable silence before heading back to the couch.
Shouto sat on Katsuki’s lap while they watched TV, occasionally turning back to feed Katsuki bites of the new snack he’d picked out. They usually did it the other way around, if ever, with Katsuki seated on Shouto’s lap when he was having a particularly bad day when being enveloped by his boyfriend’s warmth made it all better. Shouto asked a million questions about the movie he’d picked out, just as usual, as if this wasn’t also the first time Katsuki was watching it and Katsuki dutifully answered them or made his best guesses until Shouto fell asleep halfway through.
A short nap before dinner didn’t seem like such a bad idea as Katsuki looked at the sight of the sleeping boy, his head resting comfortably against Katsuki’s chest. A not so terrible thing about the quirk was that for once in his life, Katsuki was taller than Shouto, he mused as he picked Shouto up easily, making his way to the bedroom and getting them under the covers.
When he woke up again, it was to gentle hands carding through his hair. He shifted back from where his face was buried in a sturdy chest to look up at the adult version of his lover.
“You’re back.” Katsuki smiled, tightening his hold on the other’s waist and pulling him closer.
“Mm.” Shouto pressed a kiss into his blonde spikes before continuing to play with his hair.
They lay together in comfortable silence for a while, bathed in orange from the rays from the setting sun and warm from the shared heat of their bodies.
“Does it really not bother you?” Shouto’s carefully blank voice finally broke the silence. “Or were you just saying that to avoid a meltdown?”
Katsuki froze before trying to pull away to look at the other’s face but his face was gently pushed back into Shouto’s embrace. Katsuki sighed before closing his eyes, “Is our #1 pretty boy seriously doubting himself? You know I don’t say things I mean, Sho.”
“I know.” Shouto sounded like he had expected that answer but also like he didn’t completely believe it. “I’m glad you don’t mind it.” Katsuki pulled back, meeting no resistance this time, raising himself on an elbow so they were facing each other, Shouto’s eyes still displaying a hint of doubt. That absolutely was not allowed. He raised a hand to the scar, tracing the ridges of it gently with a finger.
“I don’t just not mind it, baby," he murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to it, "it’s one of my favorite parts of you.” Shouto’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the admission but he wasn’t done. He pressed Shouto onto his back on the mattress, climbing onto him to press another kiss on his scar. “It reminds me how incredibly strong the man I fell in love with is.” Another kiss, “how much you’ve gone through and come out whole.” Another one, Shouto closed his eyes, his arms coming up to tighten around Katsuki’s waist. Katsuki stared at his perfect, perfect face, how much he loved that face, the man behind it, “It’s such an important part of you, how could I not?”
Katsuki leaned closer, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “I love all of you, Sho, the good and the bad, everything that makes you you.” He kissed his forehead, another kiss to his jaw. “Don’t you ever fucking doubt that.” An edge of anger made its way into the last sentence. Shouto opened his eyes at that, silent laughter shaking his body and Katsuki along with it, the amusement visible in his eyes.
“I won’t,” he said, leaning up to kiss the corner of Katsuki’s mouth. “I love you too. So much.”
Katsuki smiled at the words, pressing another kiss to Shouto’s forehead.
“Missed.” Shouto said cheekily. Katsuki kissed his left cheek this time.
“Missed again.” The corners of his mouth were curving up into the beginning of that smile Katsuki loved so much.
A kiss to the right cheek. Shouto laughed properly this time.
“Your aim is really, really terrible today, Kat.” There it was, that perfect, lady-killing smile of his. Katsuki leaned down to capture it with his lips. Their lips moved in their familiar dance against each other, one they’d done multiple times before. It never stopped Katsuki from feeling like he needed more, like he could kiss Shouto for a lifetime and still want more. They kissed slowly, soft and languid until Katsuki’s stomach let out a loud growl. Shouto laughed again before rolling them over and getting off the bed, bare ass visible as he rifled through the closet. Katsuki lay back on the bed, enjoying the show as Shouto got dressed before turning back to him with a mischievous smile.
In one smooth motion, he picked Katsuki up, carrying him towards their kitchen over his shoulder. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing IcyHot?” Katsuki yelled even as he made no move to resist the manhandling.
“Since you love every part of me,” Shouto set him on the kitchen counter, “I’m gonna cook you dinner.”
Katsuki groaned dramatically before leaning his head back against the cabinet to watch, easily resigning to his fate. If this was all it took to convince Shouto, he’d happily do it.