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Kudo was walking through the mall with his nephew, Katsuki. They were doing the shopping for Saturday's family dinner, to which both Midoriyas were attending.
They were talking about the championship of their favorite basketball team and how they were doing this season, making bets on the results of the matches, when Kudo stopped walking to look at one of the stained glass windows. Katsuki kept walking and talking by himself for over three seconds before noticing that Kudo wasn’t there anymore.
“What is it?” Katsuki asked, taking steps back to where Kudo was standing, and when he saw it, a slow smirk appeared on his face. “About fucking time.”
It had been four years since Kudo and Youchi had introduced Katsuki and Izuku, and since then, the two boys had been inseparable, and, as Masaru had suggested, both boys had learned things from each other. Katsuki, by all means, was calmer and more centered than his 14-year-old self. He wasn’t as proud as he used to be and could communicate a lot better.
The only thing that pissed Kudo off was the fact that the brat was now the same height as him.
Kudo gave him a little shove.
“Since the moment I saw him, I knew I wanted to marry him,” Kudo said, still looking at the exhibited rings.
One could ask why, then, Kudo took so long. But not Katsuki. He knew about Yoichi and his family history.
When Kudo and Yoichi met, Yoichi was in the process of detaching himself from his older, manipulative, and toxic brother. For Kudo, the priority was that Yoichi could find his own independence and stability. It took time, patience, and support for that, but eventually Yoichi grew into a person who could take care of himself.
“Wanna help me pick?” Kudo asked.
“Sure.”
They went in and saw different options. The size wasn’t an issue; Kudo already knew it since he had made a ring of plasticine when Yoichi was sleeping and then drew the circumference on a piece of paper.
They spent maybe 20 minutes going around different kinds of rings until Kudo saw it. It was small and simple: a silver ring with a little sun made of red zircon gemstone.
The salesman tried to sell Kudo rings with bigger stones and more expensive ones, not because of malice, but arguing that that was what people usually bought for things like this. But Kudo assured him that his partner hated big and luxurious things like those. Plus, Yoichi’s favorite color was red, so this simple red ring was perfect for him.
On their way out of the shop, Kudo noticed Katsuki looking at a pair of promise rings. It wasn’t the first time Katsuki had been attracted to one of those during their time in the shop.
“You should ask him out first,” Kudo said next to him, also looking at the rings.
The comment made Katsuki jump back while his ears turned red.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he said defensively.
Kudo only rolled his eyes.
“Sure, kid.”
They kept walking through the mall, searching for the last few things they still needed. This time, no conversation filled the space between them. For some reason, Katsuki seemed lost in thought, and Kudo didn’t want to disturb him.
It wasn’t until they were loading their bags into the car that Katsuki finally spoke.
“What if I ruin it?” he asked quietly, almost like an ashamed whisper, avoiding eye contact.
“Ruin what, buddy?” Kudo asked, confused.
Katsuki’s jaw tightened.
“The friendship,” he said, as if it were obvious.
Then it clicked for Kudo, he was talking about Izuku.
“Why would you think that?”
He should’ve phrased that more carefully. Katsuki had grown a lot and learned to communicate better, but his emotions were still a sensitive subject.
“Never mind,” Katsuki muttered angrily.
“Wait.”
Kudo tried to stop him, but Katsuki was already storming toward the passenger seat. He yanked the door open, threw himself inside, buckled his seat belt, and slammed it shut.
Kudo let out a long, silent sigh and finished loading the trunk.
When he got in, Katsuki was staring out the window, turning his shoulder just enough to keep his back to him.
“Oi,” Kudo said.
Katsuki’s shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he didn’t turn.
“Just forget it, would you?”
Kudo sighed and let his head fall back against the seat, fingers tapping once against the steering wheel before going still.
“You know… I’m kind of nervous about asking Yoichi to marry me,” he confessed.
That made Katsuki glance at him. Not fully, just enough for the corner of his eye to study his face.
“I get this weird vertigo every time I think about it.”
Katsuki clicked his tongue, shifting in his seat.
“Why? You two are disgustingly in love. There’s no damn way he’s saying no.”
“I’m not afraid of him saying no,” Kudo said quietly. “I’m afraid of him saying yes for the wrong reasons.”
Katsuki frowned.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Kudo hesitated. His thumb rubbed absently against the side of the steering wheel, tracing the same spot over and over as he searched for the right words.
“What if he’s not ready yet?” he said at last. “For marriage. And I’m pushing it on him?”
Katsuki stared at him now.
“Then he’ll tell you,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yoichi’s not the same person you met years ago.”
Kudo huffed softly through his nose.
“I know. I’m proud of that.”
“Then you know he can draw his own lines,” Katsuki went on. “You told me so. If he’s not ready, he’ll say it.”
Silence settled again, heavier this time. Some of the tension slowly drained from Kudo’s shoulders.
“Besides,” Katsuki added, voice a little more casual, “knowing Yoichi, he’d be so gentle telling you to fuck off you wouldn’t even notice he said no.”
That pulled a snort out of Kudo before he could stop it.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “You’re probably right.”
Katsuki shrugged, gaze drifting back to the rain-streaked glass.
“I think he is ready, though,” he muttered.
Kudo smiled faintly and reached over to ruffle his hair.
“Thanks, brat.”
Small drops began to tap against the windshield, faint at first, then steadier, each one leaving a thin trail as it slid down the glass. The sound filled the silence between them, giving Kudo the cue to go home. He shifted slightly in his seat and reached toward the key, ready to start the car, when Katsuki murmured,
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Kudo’s hand paused mid-air.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, low and heavy, and a second later a pale flash split the sky, illuminating half of Katsuki’s face. The light caught in his eyes, outlining the tightness there, the worry he was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide.
“What if I confess and he doesn’t feel the same?” Katsuki continued, his voice quieter now, like he didn’t want the words to exist outside the car. His gaze dropped to his hands. “And then we stop being friends.”
“Why would you stop being friends?” Kudo asked gently.
Katsuki huffed, but it came out thin, lacking bite. He rolled his eyes, though he didn’t look up.
“Oh, I don't know. Maybe because things will get awkward and uncomfortable?” he said, sarcasm duller than usual, like it had been worn down by something heavier underneath.
Kudo stayed silent for a moment. His thumb tapped once against the steering wheel, then stilled as he thought carefully about his next words.
“Can I give you my honest opinion?”
Katsuki snorted softly, shifting back against the seat.
“Well, duh. Why would I bring this up if I didn’t want your opinion in the first place?”
Kudo inhaled deeply at his nephew’s answer, the breath slow, measured. Sometimes he really wondered how Izuku managed him.
“First of all, I don’t think Izuku would turn you down,” he said. His voice was calm, steady, like he was stating something obvious rather than offering comfort. “But if he does, isn’t he the kindest person you have ever met?”
Katsuki blinked, caught off guard by the question. His brows knit together slightly, like his mind had tripped over an unexpected step.
“Well, yeah, but what does that have to do with…?”
“And aren’t you one of his favorite people?” Kudo added, tilting his head just a little, watching him closely.
Color crept up Katsuki’s neck before he could stop it. He looked away at once, jaw tightening as if the question itself had been a physical shove.
“I—I don’t know. How could I know that?”
Kudo lifted one eyebrow, unimpressed, the expression slow and deliberate.
Katsuki clicked his tongue, irritation flaring, or maybe embarrassment.
“Fine. Maybe I’m one of his favorite people. And so what?”
“So,” Kudo said gently, letting the word settle between them, “if he doesn’t feel the same, I doubt that’s going to stop him from being your friend. Sure, things could be a little awkward at first, but he cares a lot about you, one way or the other.”
Outside, the rain softened until it was barely more than a mist against the glass, the steady drumming fading into a quiet hiss.
Katsuki stared at the dashboard, shoulders no longer as rigid as before, though they hadn’t fully relaxed either. His voice, when he spoke, was smaller.
“So I won’t lose him?”
“No, kid, you won’t,” Kudo said, smiling kindly at his nephew. He nudged Katsuki’s shoulder lightly with his knuckles. “Now grow some balls and tell him.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, but the motion lacked heat, and the corner of his mouth twitched like a smile was trying to escape despite him.
“Fuck you,” he muttered.
“Love you too, brat,” Kudo answered, already turning the key. The engine hummed to life, warm and steady, filling the car with a low vibration.
Kudou was cleaning the living room while Yoichi was washing the dishes. The dinner with both of their families had been held at their home, and, as always, the gathering had lasted longer than originally planned. One of the reasons was that they were celebrating: the kids, Katsuki and Izuku, had announced that they were dating.
The announcement went well. Everybody congratulated them… except his sister, because lord forbid she say something like a normal person would.
“Well, it was about time,” she had said. “Took you long enough to tell us.”
Katsuki and Izuku had blinked at that.
“The fuck are you talking about, old hag? We started dating yesterday.”
Mitsuki’s eyes had widened in genuine surprise.
“Yesterday?” she asked incredulously. “Then what the fuck were you doing before that?”
A matching scream match broke out between mother and son, only stopping when their respective partners interfered.
Kudou chuckled at the memory, the sound low and fond, lingering in his chest.
“What’s so funny?” Yoichi asked from the kitchen, his voice drifting over the soft sound of running water.
“Nothing,” Kudou answered, leaning back against the wall. “I just remembered that I won.”
They had a bet between them, a stupid, affectionate bet about when those two would finally start dating. Kudou had insisted it would happen sooner than Yoichi thought, and, as it turned out, he’d been right.
Yoichi chuckled at his comment, still facing the sink.
“You did, love,” he said warmly. “So, what do you want as a trophy?”
Kudou’s fingers tightened slightly around the small velvet box in his hand.
“A yes,” he said.
“A yes?” Yoichi repeated, confused. He turned off the water, droplets still clinging to his fingers, and slowly turned around while drying his hands with a cloth. “Why do you…?”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Kudou was kneeling in front of him, the box open, the ring catching the light.
“Yoichi Midoriya,” Kudou said, his voice softer than usual but steady despite the way his pulse pounded in his ears, “would you make me the happiest man for the rest of our lives?”
Yoichi’s eyes widened, the breath leaving his lungs in a small, soundless gasp. The cloth slipped from his hands and fell forgotten to the floor.
Without a word, he turned and ran to their bedroom.
A second, one that felt like an eternity stretching thin, was all the time Kudou had to process the spike of panic in his chest before he scrambled to his feet and hurried after him.
“Wait, Yoi,” he called, trying to keep his voice from trembling. “You don't have to say yes if you don't want to.”
He found Yoichi with his back turned to him, kneeling next to their bed, his small figure visibly trembling, the sight breaking Kudou's heart in an instant.
“Love,” Kudou called softly, kneeling behind him. He hovered there, hands half-raised, unsure whether touching him would comfort him or overwhelm him. “It's okay, really. You can say no if…”
Kudou stopped speaking when Yoichi turned around.
In his hands was a small box, one almost identical to Kudou’s.
Kudou’s heart stuttered at the realization.
“Of course I want to marry you, silly,” Yoichi sobbed, a radiant smile breaking through his tears, joy shining in his eyes. “But only if you want to marry me too.”
Relief hit Kudou so fast it almost hurt. He lurched forward and pulled Yoichi into a tight hug, arms wrapping around him like he needed to make sure he was real, one that Yoichi returned just as fiercely.
“Sorry for scaring you,” Yoichi whispered against his shoulder.
“I wasn't scared,” Kudou said, though the tremor in his voice and the warmth of tears on his cheeks said otherwise.
Yoichi chuckled lightly before pulling away from the embrace. Kudou wanted to protest, but didn’t, since Yoichi put his hands on his cheeks and slowly wiped his tears with his thumbs. Kudou relaxed at that. He grabbed one of Yoichi's wrists and moved his head slightly to place a kiss on Yoichi's palm. Yoichi answered by giving him small, light kisses on one cheek, then the other, and his eyes, his nose, his forehead, and finally his lips.
Kudou exhaled slowly when they finally broke apart, but he didn’t let Yoichi go too far. He hugged him again by the waist and put his head in the crook of his neck, inhaling and exhaling as deeply as he could, intoxicating himself with Yoichi’s scent.
Yoichi chuckled at that before slowly starting to massage Kudou’s scalp, making him sleepy.
“I’m so happy right now,” Yoichi said. “We are engaged.”
Kudou squeezed him in response.
“And the kids are also dating,” Yoichi continued.
Kudou groaned.
“Don’t mention the brats. This is our moment.”
Yoichi laughed.
“Sorry, it's just I'm happy for them,” he said. “Though I really thought it would take them longer.”
Kudou slowly detached himself from Yoichi. He didn't go too far, Yoichi was still sitting on his lap, but enough to look at him.
“I may have something to do with that,” he confessed.
Yoichi gasped.
“We agreed we wouldn't interfere!”
“I know, I know, but the brat wanted advice and I may have suggested he should confess.”
“You cheated,” Yoichi accused, pretending to be mad, though the corners of his mouth twitched. “You should be ashamed.”
“I’m not. I got what I wanted,” Kudou said, delighted, squeezing Yoichi’s waist as if to prove his point.
“I should punish you,” Yoichi replied, tilting his chin up slightly, playing hard to get.
Kudou lifted an eyebrow, a slow smirk spreading across his face.
“Really? How so?”
Yoichi hummed as if seriously considering it. He tapped his finger against his lips, eyes drifting upward in exaggerated thought. Then, with his most mischievous expression, he said,
“I get to decide our wedding cake.”
That was not what Kudou was expecting, not even close, but honestly, he didn’t mind if Yoichi wanted to choose their wedding cake.
“Is that all?” Kudou asked, amused. “Sure, honey, you can decide anything you want.”
“It’s going to be coconut and pineapple flavored,” Yoichi declared solemnly.
Kudou’s smile dropped instantly.
He utterly hated those flavors.
Yoichi burst out laughing at Kudou’s expression, shoulders shaking.
“Fine, fine,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. “It won’t be those. But I’m still choosing.”
Kudou relaxed again, tension leaving his shoulders in a small exhale. He didn’t want to admit it, but the idea of his wedding cake, probably the most important cake of his life, tasting like his personal nightmare had genuinely horrified him for a moment. He was lucky his boyfriend… his fiancé was a kind and merciful soul.
“Shall we go to sleep then, future husband?” Yoichi asked softly.
Kudou couldn’t suppress the butterflies that fluttered wildly in his chest, even if he wanted to, upon hearing Yoichi call him his husband.
“We shall, future husband, but first you should put this on.”
Kudou grabbed his ring box that had been left forgotten on the floor. He took out the ring and grabbed Yoichi's hand to put it on his finger. Yoichi only watched him, following all his movements with those beautiful, shining eyes. Once he was done, Yoichi extended his hand to look at it.
“I love it,” he declared, smiling at him. “Now it’s my turn.”
Yoichi grabbed his box and took out the ring to put it on Kudou’s finger. Kudou looked at the silver piece for the first time: it had a little moon made with a jade stone… Kudou’s favorite color. It was a rather simple ring, but Kudou loved it, and the fact that it matched the one he had given Yoichi made him love it more.
“Do you like it?” Yoichi asked.
Kudou lifted his hand, still intertwined with Yoichi’s, and kissed the ring Yoichi had given him without breaking eye contact, something that painted a soft, beautiful pink across Yoichi’s cheeks.
“Very much,” he said with a smile, gently stroking Yoichi’s hand with his thumb. “Thanks, love.”
Before Yoichi could answer, Kudou suddenly scooped him up and carried him bridal-style (which made Yoichi laugh) and set him carefully on the bed. He lay down right after, pulling Yoichi with him. Yoichi leaned in to kiss him, sweet and slow, before settling comfortably on his chest.
“Good night, future husband,” Yoichi murmured, his eyes already drifting closed.
“Good night, fiancé,” Kudou whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his lover’s hair before letting sleep claim him too.