## Preface

Home
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/29163090.

Rating:
  Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
  No Archive Warnings Apply
Category:
  M/M
Fandom:
  僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia
Relationships:
  Takami Keigo | Hawks & Usagiyama Rumi | Miruko, Takami Keigo | Hawks & Original Character(s), Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks
Characters:
  Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Touya, Usagiyama Rumi | Miruko, Original Characters, Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Todoroki Natsuo, Todoroki Fuyumi, Todoroki Rei, Todoroki Shouto, Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki
Additional Tags:
  Pigeon Verse, Friendship, Feelings, Introspection, Going back home, I don't know how to tag this, Just Keigo realizing stuff, no beta we die like men, Domestic Fluff, Domestic, Fluff, Family, Family Issues
Language:
  English
Series:
  Part 19 of Pigeon Verse
Stats:
  Published: 2021-02-02 Completed: 2021-12-19 Words: 16,013 Chapters: 5/5

# Home

by EloFromMars

Summary

> Keigo decides to go back home to Touya earlier than planned.

Notes

> Here we go for a new part! A bit of Keigo's POV and him receiving some tough love :3

> I hope you'll enjoy <3

See the end of the work for more notes

## Follow your sun

The sunlight filters through the curtains but Keigo is already awake, staring at the painted ceiling of his Combi. With a distracted gesture, he traces the curve of a faded red wing, thoughts wandering. It’s still early in the season, but he feels the familiar pull in his gut, the hook under his ribs, like a deeply-buried instinct telling him it’s time to move again. Time to migrate back home. Usually, it doesn’t manifest itself before another month, at the very least, and Keigo never really struggles to push it down. But this time, something is different. Keigo doesn’t need to think deeply to know the reason why he feels that antsy. He’s been like this since Touya left a few weeks ago, leaving behind him an empty space. One could think that Keigo was used to that particular brand of empty. After all, he’s dealt with it for years, tried to fill it with people and memories, material possessions and ephemeral pleasures, with debatable results. It had been like a black hole for more than a decade, more or less hungry, more or less painful, but always here, a constant reminder of all his fucked-ups, another scar, just less visible than the twin ones on his back.

Keigo had finally felt sated and complete again the day Touya stepped on that beach, with his backpack, his bright eyes, and lopsided grin. The black hole has stopped sucking every warmth and light when Touya walked back into Keigo’s life and filled the empty space.

Then he left again. For reasons Keigo understands perfectly but it didn’t make it any easier. The old nightmares came back with Touya’s absence, accompanied by phantom pain in his back he hasn’t experienced in years. Irrational anxiety nags him in every dull moment. Doubts about him, about Touya, about them, occupies his mind whenever he stops moving.

Those two weeks have seemed like a blessed parenthesis where Keigo’s world finally got back on its axis. But what if it was just that? A pause out of time where they were the center of each other’s universe again. What if as soon as Keigo was back in Japan, Touya stepped out of his life again because he realized that it was better like this? That he wanted to move on with his new life and Keigo was just a reminder of his past mistakes?

The soft chime of his phone snaps him out of his dark thoughts. The picture of Touya in his bed, buried under the comforter with Pigeon sprawled on top of him, eases the anxiety. “ Another day of snow. I’m out of Pocky and coffee. The situation starts to get critical.”

Touya is here and doesn’t seem inclined to leave. This and the dozens of daily texts and calls they exchanged for the past weeks is a reminder of the soft thing blossoming between them once more.

They’re not the same people anymore. They won’t reproduce the same mistakes. Keigo won’t let it happen. Not this time. He won’t be compliant. He won’t let his loneliness take over his common sense. He won’t cling to Touya the same way. He’s learned to live with himself for the past ten years, and he knows he can handle being on his own.

So maybe he can allow himself to listen to his gut feeling.

He closes the messaging app and looks for the flights from Brisbane to Tokyo. There’s one tomorrow night, landing in Narita mid-morning the next day. He books the flight in three clicks and rolls out of bed to call his welcoming party.

“ If it’s not my favorite wingless nugget! Sup bitch?”

Keigo rolls his eyes but can’t help his amused smile. “What are you doing in two days, arooooound 11 pm?”

“I don’t know. Probably kicking some - Fucking hell you’re not going anywhere, you fucker. Come back here.” There’s a loud thump, followed by an ominous crack and a pained cry.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Nah, you good. That dumbass thought he could take advantage of me being on the phone to get away. Newsflash, fucker: I can multitask.” There’s another muffled whimper in the background. “Oy, stop squirming. People would pay for me to sit on them. Anygays, whaddya want?”

“Wondering if you could come and pick me up at the airport.”

There’s a heartbeat of silence on the other side of the line and Keigo braces himself for what’s coming. “ We ain’t in March. ”

“Nope.”

“It’s still snowing here. ”

“I’m aware.”

“Weren’t you supposed to take things slow?”

“Well—”

Rumi huffs. “Lovestruck moron. Two weeks of good dicking and you lost all your brain cells?”

“Rude.”

“Your point?”

Keigo snorts and looks at the waves crashing on the beach, not even feeling the need to grab his surfboard and runs toward the ocean. “Thirteen years is long enough, don’t you think? It will be different. We are different.”

Rumi hums and Keigo sighs. He knew Rumi was not especially delighted with Touya coming back in the picture, not after she had to pick up the pieces of the human wreck Keigo was after everything went down. She had to deal with her own healing and Keigo’s mess at the same time. She did it. Of course she did. She was a hero, and a good one, and to be fair, without her tough love, Keigo would have wallowed in self-pity for god knows how long. That or do something stupid.

So he couldn’t really blame her but he wanted her to at least understand, if not approve, why he wanted to try again.

“Aight, I’ll be there. But if he sneezes in the wrong direction, I’ll drop-kick his scrawny ass again, you hear me?”

“Aye aye. Thanks, babe.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever. See you in two days, Kei.”

Rumi’s voice is replaced by the quiet of the morning and the birds singing and Keigo simply enjoys the calm surrounding him for another moment. The smell of the ocean mingles with the characteristic fragrance of the nearby banksia’s flowers. That specific mix he came to associate with inner peace, fills his nose and lungs and a small smile stretches his lips.

Just two more days.

Cleaning his Combi, checking the engine, packing his bag, and driving to Colleen’s doesn’t take long. After all those years, Keigo is used to the routine of putting his girl into hibernation, albeit a bit earlier than usual this year.

The beach house where Colleen lives comes into sight, at the end of a bumpy dirt road. She looks at him approaching, a paintbrush in her hand and blue and white paint smeared on her tanned face and in the few brown strands that escaped her messy bun.

A pack of dogs barks and run behind his van and Colleen whistles loudly. The dogs bark a bit more before dispersing again, save for a few Keigo doesn’t know yet. Colleen has the habit to pick up strays, wingless birds included. That’s how they met when Keigo arrived in Broken Head, with a crushed soul and no purpose in life, except to live one day after the other without crumbling down. Colleen has welcomed him in her home in exchange of help with fixing the roof of her house. And Keigo didn’t leave for the twelve following months.

She taught him how to surf, how to barbecue properly, how to repair an engine and arrange a van. But more importantly, she taught him how to live again.

Between her arms, he relearned his own body and made peace with his new reality once and for all. Maybe in another life, he could have settled down with her for good. They would have probably led a long and peaceful life together, on the Australian coast, and have the most boring and perfect happy ending.

But it didn’t work. Touya was still too present on Keigo’s mind and Colleen had refused to fight a ghost. However, Keigo and her managed to remain good friends.

“You’re going home early, mate. Everything’s alright?” she asks as soon as he climbs down his Combi, assaulted by curious dogs.

After scratching ears and stumbling through enthusiastic bodies jumping around his legs, Keigo hugs Colleen tightly. Her paint-stained brown hair tickles his nose. “Yes, everything’s fine.”

She looks at him, her dark eyes reading into his very soul. “Something happened. You’re literally glowing like a girl who got her first boyfriend.”

Keigo snorts. “Am I now?”

“Yes. It’s gross. Come on in, we need beers for that conversation. And meat.”

Keigo follows her into the small house with his backpack. He glances at the abandoned canvas covered with bright colors without any shape or form. Yet. “Working on a new series?”

“Nah, just fucking around, trying new stuff.” She presses a cold one in his hand and pushes him on the couch. She slumps next to him, huffing when Poochie the labrador who thinks he’s still a puppy hoists himself in her lap. “Spill the beans now,” she orders, half-hidden behind the chocolate fur of the dog.

Keigo saves his beer at the last second when Poochie decides to also invade his legs, stretching his paws on Keigo’s thighs. “Well, let’s say that someone was released from jail a few weeks ago.”

Colleen’s eyes widen. “You mean—?”

Keigo can’t help but smile. “Yeah. Touya is out. And uh — he came here. And uh —”

“Oh my god, stop beating around the bush. You’re back together?”

“Kinda sorta.”

She squints at him. “Care to elaborate?”

Keigo shrugs, petting Poochy’s butt absentmindedly. “Nothing much to say, really.”

Fast as lightning, Colleen reaches for his arm and pinches him viciously. Keigo yelps and glares at Colleen who glares back. “What was that for?”

“For trying to bullshit me, for one. And two, for not bringing him here. I would have loved to meet my arch-nemesis.”

Keigo rubs the sore spot on his arm. “We were already trying to figure it out ourselves. We didn’t need your nosey self in the middle.”

“Rude.”

Keigo raises an eyebrow at Colleen who huffs. “Alright, alright, it was probably for the best. But next time, I want to meet the Final Boss who deprived me of that fine piece of ass.”

“Aye, aye.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“Are you going to give me deets or what?”

Keigo groans when Poochie’s paw digs in his thigh. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you. Touya is okay. Different. But not really. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s still him but better. Calmer. He still has his shitty temper but he’s more aware of it. And we talked. A lot.”

“Aaaawe, that’s cute. Did you bang though?”

Keigo rolls his eyes. “Yes, we did. Like animals. Happy?”

“Very much so. It was about time you got laid properly.”

“You’re awful.”

“No, I’m a delight and you love me very much. So you talked, you banged and what?”

“It was just two weeks. I tried to teach him how to surf and failed.”

“Failed? I’ve never seen you failed with anyone?”

Keigo chuckles. “Touya has always been the exception for everything.”

Colleen’s smirk turns into something softer and she takes Keigo’s hand to squeeze it. “He really seems to be. So, what are the next steps?”

Keigo runs a hand in his hair, thoughtful. “I don’t really know? I mean, we want to be together, obviously, but I feel like Touya still needs to sort things out on his end. He’s just freshly out of jail, I suppose he needs to get used to it.”

“Probably, yes. Must be confusing to be free all of a sudden. Is he living with his family?”

“Actually,” Keigo starts, a bit reluctant to share the next part but Colleen has been here for him through thick and thin, helped him out of his head on the bad days and has been the most earnest person in his life, aside from Rumi. He refuses to lie to her. “He’s living in my apartment at the moment.”

Colleen blinks slowly. “Like permanently?”

“Maybe. It’s up to him.”

“Kei, no.”

Keigo recoils slightly, taken aback by the sudden harsh tone. “No what?”

“You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Putting him first and forgetting about yourself and what you want.”

“I don’t —”

“Oh really? It has been all about him, and how he felt and what he wants, yadda yadda. What about you? How are you ? How do you feel about all this? Are you sure you’re ready to have him back in your life, like for good?”

Keigo opens his mouth and closes it. Colleen is right, as usual, but he doesn’t want to pressure Touya in anything. He’s the one who needs the most space. At least, that’s what Keigo thinks. Or thought. Poochie feels the sudden change of mood and shifts until his head instead of his butt is in Keigo’s lap. Keigo scratches behind the dog’s ears, earning a wagging tail and a content groan. “I —”

“You?”

Keigo stops looking at Poochie’s face to look at Colleen who’s waiting patiently for his answer. The sun is setting on the bay, sinking slowly in the Pacific ocean and coloring everything in gold. Keigo takes an honest look at his feelings and sighs.

“I’m good, mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“I guess Touya is not the only one who needs to still figure out things.”

“But?”

“But I think I want him in my life for good. Not that he never really left it but y’know.”

“No, I don’t know. Words, Kei. Use them.”

“You’re ruthless, damn.”

“Be happy that Rumi is not here at the moment.”

Keigo grimaces. “Yeah, no, I’d rather deal with you both separately, thank you very much.”

“You can’t face the combined power of the two most badass women in your life,” Colleen answers with a smug smile.

“That I can’t, for sure. Pretty sure she’s going to give me an earful when she’ll pick me up.”

“That’s because she cares about you. And Touya hurt you more than anyone else. I can’t blame her for being concerned.”

“I don’t blame her,” Keigo retorts. “I don’t. I’m just —”

“You just can’t keep away from him. We know.”

Keigo presses the cool can against his forehead. “I sometimes wish I could. It would probably make things easier.”

“Probably. But easy doesn’t necessarily mean happy.” She brushes her thumb on his knuckles. “You’re going to be fine. And if not, I’ll feed him to my dogs for dinner.”

Keigo chuckles. “You don’t want them to get food poisoning.”

“Don’t underestimate the Australian dogs, mate. They could eat a possum with rabies and still be fine.”

“ You could eat a possum with rabies and still be fine.”

Colleen’s laughter rings loud and clear in the living-room. “Probably yes. Anyway, back on track. I want to hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“What you want. With proper words in a proper sentence. Come on.”

“Ugh, I hate you.”

“No, you don’t. So?”

“So yes, I want him to live with me. I don’t want to be apart from him ever again.”

“Sap.”

“You asked for it!” Keigo protests, outraged.

Colleen gives him a toothy grin and rises up on her bare feet. “Yup and I got my answers. Now it’s time to eat, I forgot to do that today.”

“You’re such a mess.”

“You have no lesson to give me, Mister Energy Drinks and KFC.”

“Hey, I’ve got better with the years.”

“Yeah, you did. After you realized you were growing a pouch.”

“We don’t talk about those dark years, Co. We made a pact.”

“I didn’t sign anything, mate. I’ll have to show your Touya those pictures of your fat ass stranded on the beach.”

“You do that and our friendship is canceled.”

“You can’t cancel that. It’s set in stone.”

“I thought you hadn’t signed anything.”

“Mate, you met my parents and saw me naked. That’s enough.”

“I feel like it’s very one-sided.”

She shrugs, unbothered. “Sounds like a you problem.”

“I feel like you and Touya will get along a bit too well.”

Colleen’s smile softens. “Given how much you love him and how much you love my perfect person, I have no doubt about our compatibility. Might elope with him, be careful.”

Keigo snorts, anchored to the couch by the heavy weight of Poochy. He doesn’t try to leave the couch, knowing perfectly that Colleen doesn’t want him anywhere close to her when she cooks. He just watches her clanging pots and pans, getting meat and veggies out of the fridge and cracking another beer open. Saying out loud to Colleen that he wanted Touya in his life permanently made it more real than all his fleeting thoughts, than all the maybe and if and the daydreams he had for the past few weeks without really allowing himself to desire something that might be out of reach still.

He wants Touya.

He wants to wake in the morning and feels Touya’s warmth next to him. He wants to go to sleep while listening to him snore. He wants to go out with him freely, go to the movies, argue about the brand of chips they should buy and end up buying both, and all those things they couldn’t have the first time. He also wants back their late-night cigarettes on the balcony, their mindless cooking shows binging. He wants to find Touya’s mess everywhere, his clothes in the closet, his books on the shelves and his shoes in the entry.

He wants his apartment to become theirs again.

Yes.

He wants all of that. And he will have it.

## Home

As usual, Colleen is up with the sun. No matter how much she has drunk the night before, as soon as the first rays of sunshine pierce through the curtains of her bedroom, she's up and about. Keigo refuses to leave the comfy bed, at least not until his head stops pounding. Colleen doesn’t even try to make him move, used to his grumpy hungover ass. She simply opens the window to let the ocean breeze in but keeps the curtains close for Keigo's sake.

Keigo drifts in and out of sleep, lulled by the familiar sounds of Colleen shuffling downstairs and talking to her birds and cats while she feeds them. Soon, the smell of fresh coffee brewing reaches the bedroom, and it's almost enough to push Keigo out of bed. However, his already flitting resolve is reduced to zero when two of Colleen’s cats jump on the bed and climb on him with loud purrs. He's never met those ones but the black cat reminds him of a bigger version of Pigeon. Keigo absentmindedly pets it and the realization that tomorrow, he will be able to pet his own cat dawns on him. Tomorrow night, he will sleep in his own bed, and, hopefully, he will have more than his cat to warm him up. He doesn't know how Touya will react to his sudden return. He might have told him to come home but maybe Keigo should warn him. Give him a chance to leave if he wants to.

The thing is that Keigo doesn't want to come back to an empty apartment. Not this time. The decision of going home and admitting out loud that he actually wants Touya in his life had broken the lock Keigo managed to keep on his feelings for so long. The yearning is almost suffocating if he dwells on it for too long. How can he want someone so badly? Colleen told him last night that he looked like a junkie who just fell back to his old addiction. And honestly? She's not wrong.

Touya's always told Keigo that he was his worst habit. But the contrary is also painfully true. The black cat slumps on his chest and its heavy weight is enough to stop Keigo's train of thought. He's still weighing his options about giving a heads-up to Touya when his phone lights up with a new message.

"Still out of Poki and coffee...Wish me luck, I'm about to brave the elements to get my fix. Why are you not here to run errands for me?"

With just a few words laced with their brand of snark, Touya lifts Keigo's remaining doubts. He can allow himself to surprise Touya, he can allow himself to be a bit selfish. He wants to trust them, to have faith that they can make it work. Not everything is settled, nothing is granted but, for the first time since they met, Keigo feels like he's finally standing on firm ground. With that thought, he puts his phone back under his pillow and drifts back to sleep until Colleen is fed up with his lazy ass and calls him for lunch.

At the end of the afternoon, Colleen drives him to Brisbane in her old orange pick-up truck. Keigo hasn’t seen a city in months and as usual, going back to Brisbane is like a shock to his system. Everything is faster, noisier, crowded. Still nothing compared to Tokyo but after the peace and quiet of Broken Head, it’s always an electroshock. Colleen squeezes him tightly for a long moment in front of the airport.

“Don’t cry,” Keigo chuckles softly.

“I’m not,” she retorts but her voice wavers.

“I’ll be back in a few months.”

“Will you, really?” She pulls away from him enough to look at him. Her brown eyes are shiny with tears. “You have no reason to, now.”

Keigo smiles and tucks a wild strand behind her ear. “You’re enough of a reason, Co.”

“But Touya —”

“Won’t stop me from doing what I want. Plus, you know how much I hate winter.”

“Okay.” She sniffles and hugs him a bit longer. “Okay. Alright. Get off my face now, I’m sick of your stupid ass.”

Keigo lets go of her waist with an amused huff. “You were the one clinging to me.

“Nonsense. You’re the clingy one, mate, everybody knows that.”

“Aye aye,” Keigo answers with a roll of his eyes, as he reaches for his backpack.

Colleen helps him shouldering it. “One day, you’ll learn how to travel light.”

“One day but not today.” He leans to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for the drive.”

“Safe travels, mate. Text me when you land.”

“Will do. Bye Co. Love you.”

“Love you too. Now shoo.”

Keigo waves at her one last time and turns his back to her and to Australia.

Time to go back home.

Time to go back to Touya.

Keigo sleeps the rest of his hangover during the flight, and wakes up as the coasts of Japan are in sight, with a crick in his neck and numb legs.

Almost there.

He daydreams while looking at the sea under him, at the fluffy clouds. The pang of nostalgia and longing is always present, but it’s bearable now. The times where he had to take medicine to knock him out during flights to avoid a panic attack or just fight his tears for hours were behind him. Now, he was able to simply enjoy being up there without feeling an itch on his back. All of this was in the past. Hawks was in the past and it was better like this.

After a quick stop in an airport bathroom to freshen up and put on his winter clothes, Keigo heads for the arrivals lobby. He spots Rumi before she spots him, giving him just enough time to brace himself. Rumi roars and pounds on him, her thighs immediately wrapped around his waist in a crushing noose. His face finds itself squished against her boobs.

“Rumi, I can’t breathe.”

“Shut up.” She squeezes his head for one more moment before letting him go. She glares at the people staring at them. “Nothing to see here, mind your own business.”

Keigo snorts and hooks his arm around hers to drag her toward the exit before she starts becoming unpleasant. “Give your PR department a break, babe.”

“I’m a delight, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The automatic door opens for them and Keigo curses. “Fucking hell, it’s freezing.”

“Dude, it was still snowing this morning. What did you expect?”

“Tell me you took your car.”

“Ain’t nobody got time for being stuck in traffic.”

Keigo whines as she leads him toward her black bike chained next to the curb. She unlocks the helmets secured at the front wheel and tosses him his, a red thing with golden wings painted on the side. It’s tacky as hell but it’s nothing compared to Rumi’s purple one with the fake bunny ears standing proud on top of it. Keigo mounts the bike after her, trying to keep his balance with his backpack. He shoves his hands in Rumi's pockets to keep them warm and braces himself for the ride. Rumi rides fast, despite the slippery road, and skillfully weaves between the cars stuck on the highway. Even with all the snow and the biting cold, there are people everywhere, rushing to who knows where. Tokyo's feverish energy wraps around Keigo, familiar, and he falls back to his old reflexes quickly, eyeing everything and everyone, in search of an eventual threat. Not that he could do anything if a villain suddenly showed up but some habits die hard, despite all the years spent off duty.

Rumi drives them to his neighborhood but instead of going to his tower, she stops in front of a coffee shop, a few streets away from Keigo’s apartment.

“Why do we stop?”

“We need to talk before I drop you off,” she announces after removing her helmet. Her real ears twitch and stand up straight. “Come on, I’m freezing.”

“But Rumi —”

“Keigo.” Her red eyes bore holes into him. “That was not a question. Come on, move your flat ass. Ain’t got all day.”

She shoves her gloved hands in the pockets of her fluffy white jacket and stomps toward the coffee shop without looking if Keigo follows or not. With a sigh, Keigo falls into step behind her. So close to home. That’s frustrating. But he can’t say no to Rumi. Keigo drops his backpack next to the table Rumi chose at the back of the coffee shop, next to the massive heater on which he immediately sticks his freezing hands.

Once their steaming coffees are set in front of them, Rumi leans on the backrest of her chair. “So?”

Keigo sighs. “For the record, Colleen already put me through it.”

“I love Colleen but she’s still too soft on you. What’s the deal, Kei? The man just needs to show up and everything is forgotten? Everything is forgiven? He almost killed you, for fuck’s sake.”

“I know, thank you,” Keigo grumbles.

“So what?”

“You don’t believe in second chances, don’t you?”

“I don’t believe in people changing, Kei. Dabi —”

“Touya.”

“Same thing.”

“No.” Keigo frowns at his friend. “No, it’s not the same thing.”

“It’s the same goddamn person, Keigo,” Rumi hisses, trying to keep her voice low in the almost empty coffee shop. “It’s the same asshole who burned your wings and fucking laughed about it. The same jerk who wasn’t able to overcome his daddy issues like a goddamn normal human being and had to burn everything for the sake of —”

“Enough.” Keigo’s voice is dry and cracks like a whip in the quiet atmosphere. “I don’t need you to remind me that.”

“Oh really?” She smirks but there’s no joy in her expression. She crosses her arms on her chest and the dim light of the shop catches on the steel of her prosthesis.

“I know who he was and who he is now. He’s changed, Rumi. You have no idea of the amount of guilt he’s trying to still deal with.”

“Well, I do hope he’s feeling guilty. After all he’s done —”

“I’m not exactly all white in this whole affair either, Rumi. We both tried to kill each other. We both have blood on our hands and enough skeletons in our closets for a whole Halloween party.”

She huffs. “Whatever.”

Keigo counts to five and exhales, reining in the frustrated anger bubbling in his chest. “Rumi.”

“What?”

“He makes me happy. Is that not enough?”

She stares at him, her face undecipherable and he holds her burning gaze.

“Ugh, stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“You know perfectly what! The unblinking thing, it freaks me out.”

He smiles. “Sorry.”

“No you’re not.”

“No, I’m not. Give him a chance, Rumi. That’s all I ask. And trust me.”

She squints her eyes. “Fine. But I will kick his ass back to jail if he hurts you again. Or just straight-up erase his existence from the surface of the Earth.”

“Rumi—”

“Don’t Rumi me. He better behaves. Does Fumikage know?”

“Yes, he does.”

“What did he say?”

Keigo shrugs. “You know him, he’s a man of a few words.”

“What did Dark Shadow say then?”

Keigo scrunches his nose. “Pretty much what you just said.”

“Someone with a bit of common sense. I taught them well.”

Keigo rolls his eyes. “Are we good now?”

“For now. Finish your coffee and I’ll take you to your place.”

“Nah, it’s fine, I can walk. I need to stop by the Konbini anyway.”

“You sure?”

Keigo nods with a smile. “You have better things to do, Miss Number Five.”

“Catching up with my friend I haven’t seen in almost six months is the best thing I have to do this morning.”

Keigo relaxes slightly and he gives her a tentative smile. “How are things with Moe?”

Rumi grins and her whole face lights up, chasing away her grumpy pout. “The usual. She’s beauty, she’s grace and she sits on my face every morning.”

“Such a poet.”

“I know right? We went to her folks’ for New Year. Her mother still hates my gut but her sister and father were fine this time. Her sister just expulsed that huge baby boy from her uterus a month ago and it’s cute and all, but man, I don’t want kids. Like ever. Except if they’re not in diapers and are able to talk properly.”

“So you’re an auntie, now? Auntie BunBun.”

“Shut up, I ain’t no Auntie. Moe is. I’m just tagging along.”

“Have you guys finally decided to move in together?”

“Nah. We’re good like this. To each her burrow, stuff like that. I don’t want her tacky flaming decoration on my walls, thank you very much.” Rumi blows on her coffee and sips on it. “Speaking of flame, I’ve heard that Papi Fuego is back in town. Left his retreat in Musutafu or something.”

Keigo raises his eyebrows at the mention of Endeavor. “Did he now?”

“Yup. Don’t know what he wants, he hasn’t left his hole in months. The kid was ranting about it last time I ran into them. Something about Shouto being pissy.”

“When will you stop calling Bakugo ‘the kid’?”

“The day I’ll die,” she answers with a smug smile. “I have way too much fun riling him up. Too easy.”

Keigo shakes his head, amused. Rumi and Bakugo were and still are the most chaotic team-up ever. Efficient, yes, but for the stealth and discreet part? Not so much.

They finish their coffee and Rumi pays for it, despite Keigo’s protest. She punches him in the shoulder before leaving on her bike again, and Keigo watches her disappear. Rumi isn’t really happy about the whole situation, that much is obvious, but Keigo is used to deal with Rumi's temper. She will come around eventually, especially if Touya sticks to Keigo's side.

He tightens the scarf around his neck and strolls carefully toward his place, stopping by the Konbini to get some stuff he knows Touya won’t have bought, like Keigo’s favorite chips and beers.

The concierge raises his head from his book and smiles at Keigo. “You’re back earlier than usual, Takami-san! Welcome back!”

“Given how it’s cold here, I’m starting to have regrets! Oh, look at you, all cozy with your blanket.”

“It’s your friend who brought it to me, actually. Along with this book.”

“Touya?”

Kase-san nods with a wide grin. “A very nice young man. You have a good friend here, Takami-san.”

Keigo’s heart flutters. “Yes. Yes I do. I should probably go, I need a long shower.”

“Ha yeah, don’t let me hold you back! Say hi to Touya-san for me.”

“Will do.”

Keigo hurries to the elevator, more impatient than ever to finally push the door of his apartment. His heart beats hard against his ribcage, pumping anticipation and excitement through his veins. He stops in front of his apartment, just to listen to the muffled noises coming from behind the wooden panel. Pigeon doesn't even come meowing at the door, one more sign that she and Touya have picked up their privileged relationship where they left it. Keigo isn't even mad about it. Pigeon has always been Touya's cat after all.

He listens for one more moment, standing like an idiot in front of his own apartment, allowing himself just a minute to simply enjoy the fact that someone is here, waiting for him. He finally unlocks the door as quietly as possible and for the first time in years, he's not welcomed by the smell of stale air and dust. The scent of fresh coffee and homemade food floats around him, it’s comfortably warm and TV is on, on the weathercast channel. The woman announces more snow for the afternoon and the next day.

Keigo silently drops his backpack next to a pair of boots and hangs his coat and scarf next to Touya's. The yearning quiets down.

Finally, Keigo is exactly where he's supposed to be.

He tip-toes to the living-room and leans against the wall, just for one second, to take in the familiar sight he'd never thought he would witness again. Touya is in the kitchen, busy cutting veggies. Pigeon is perched on the counter next to him, her tail swishing lazily. Touya doesn't notice him until Pigeon meows when she sees him and he raises his head to follow her gaze. His jaw drops, the knife leaves his hand and he looks at Keigo with wide eyes.

Keigo can't help his laugh, like a bubble of pure glee bursting in the air. “Surprise.”

“You motherfucker!” Touya finally spits out before rushing toward Keigo and engulfing him in a hug.

Keigo closes his arms around Touya’s waist, his face buried in the crook of his neck. He breathes in the scent of his soap on Touya's skin. “Tadaima.”

Touya presses a kiss against his temple and tightens his embrace. “Okairi, Kei.”

## Half-priced eggs

Chapter Notes

> Again, I've been spoiled by the wonderful Nitrocelxius who gifted me with art of the boys ;-;

> Don't hesitate to go yell at them because they're awesome ;-;

> Big thanks to Rosie for the betaing <3

Keigo’s deep slumber is disturbed by inquisitive fingers on his stomach and a pair of greedy lips on his shoulder. It takes him a while to reconnect the dots and realizes where he is. It’s strange to not hear the sound of the ocean nearby and the birds chirping. Instead, only the muted sound of traffic down below and the quiet hum of the central heating surround him. He sighs and laces his fingers with the warm ones petting his belly without opening his eyes.

“Touya…”

“Mmmh.”

“‘s too early.”

“It’s 10 am.”

“I’m jet-lagged,” Keigo mumbles, feeling like he’s being swallowed by the soft mattress and the heated body slotted against his back.

“No, you’re not.” Touya wraps his arm around Keigo’s midsection and holds him tight against his chest. “You’re just a lazy ass.”

“I am indeed.” Keigo brings Touya’s hand to his mouth and peppers each knuckle with kisses. “What’s the rush anyway?”

“It’s Sunday.”

“And?”

“And, as happy as I am that you’re back, I had prior engagements.”

Keigo wriggles in Touya’s embrace to turn around. The grey light coming from the living room paints shadows on Touya’s pale face but it’s not hard to guess the lopsided smile. Keigo presses closer and tangles their legs together. “No way to cancel it?”

Touya sighs and gropes Keigo’s ass. “You’re awful.”

“Is that a yes?” Keigo asks against Touya’s neck.

“It’s a no.” Touya groans when Keigo sucks on the sensitive skin under his jaw. “Fuck, Kei, stop that.”

“Nah.”

“I don’t want to be late, c’mon,” Touya protests but his hips betray him, bucking against Keigo’s.

“What could possibly force you out of this bed?”

“Mom. Family lunch,” Touya answers before catching Keigo’s mouth for a heated kiss. “Can’t miss it.”

Keigo hums. “Just a quick one. As a good morning treat.” He rolls Touya on his back and settles between his legs, their hard lengths brushing against each other.

“Can you really do that?” Touya whispers with a crooked smile.

“Only one way to find out.”

“That wasn’t quick,” Touya sighs, sprawled on his back next to Keigo, with a fucked-out smile on his face.

“Sorry.”

“Mmh. You’re absolutely not.” Touya rolls on his side and looks at Keigo.

Keigo snorts, stretching with contentment. “Absolutely not sorry indeed. You feel too good.”

“You’re not too bad either, but I’m late for real now.”

“You didn’t mind being hours late, back in the day,” Keigo retorts with a grin.

“Powertrip of making the fastest man alive wait.”

“I knew it!” Keigo gasps, launching himself at Touya who bursts out laughing. Keigo sits on Touya’s hips, and pins his hands on each side of his head.

The sparkle of mirth in his blue eyes is mesmerizing and Keigo leans forward for a kiss, just a soft press of lips to feel Touya against him. God, he really doesn’t want to leave that bed for the next 72 hours.

Touya hums, lacing their fingers together once more. “I missed you, y’know? I’m glad you came back earlier.”

Keigo lets his forehead rest against Touya. “I had a good reason to come back.”

“Sap.”

“So?”

Touya grins and nips at his nose. “So, nothing. But you still need to move.”

Keigo sighs and rolls out of the bed while Touya presses the button to open the curtains of the bedroom. Snow is falling again, piling up on the balcony and the empty flower pots. Pigeon weaves between his legs and he picks her up, her fur soft against his naked skin. Touya joins him, resting his chin on his shoulder, arms locked around Keigo’s waist.

Keigo leans against Touya, feeling so absolutely, completely, blissfully good . Nothing hurts. Nothing gnaws at the back of his mind.

There’s no yearning. No longing. No craving.

Everything is how it’s supposed to be. He’s in his nest, with the two beings who created the idea of home for him.

And it’s just good.

“Come with me,” Touya whispers eventually.

“Where?”

“Mom’s.”

Keigo buries his nose in Pigeon’s fur. “I don’t want to impose.”

“You don’t. I know they all want to meet you. Plus you promised Ichiro a new Mister Hopper.”

Keigo hums, scratching Pigeon distractedly behind her ears. Doubts rise again in his mind and shatter the feeling of contentment he's been basking in.

The first part of their relationship had been strangled and suffocated under the weight of secrecy. That's all they knew, that's the only way they were ever able to function, if you could call that functioning. Just them two and no-one else, fighting every hour of every day to keep the rest of both of their worlds out of their bubble of fake peace. That has been both their saving grace and their downfall.

Keigo is aware that they need to not reproduce the same patterns anymore. Whatever they have needs to be more open, both between them and to other people too. This included Touya’s family, since one was non-existent on Keigo’s side. His mom had vanished and never reappeared, and Keigo didn’t try to find her either.

He's aware, but it doesn't mean it's easy.

“You’re thinking too much. It’s just lunch, Kei.”

Keigo lets go of Pigeon who's apparently sick of being held. She jumps on the smaller cat tree against the window next to the heater and curls on herself, a small ball of darkness on black velvet that keeps staring at them with her blue eyes.

“You know it’s not," Keigo sighs.

Touya doesn't move and his thumb traces soothing circles on Keigo's hipbone. “It has the importance we want to give it. It doesn’t have to mean more than just that: a lunch. But if you don’t want to go, it’s fine.”

Keigo catches the subtle shift in Touya’s tone and turns his head. Touya doesn’t look at him but the way his jaw is set betrays his tension. Keigo nudges Touya’s cheek with his nose. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to go. It’s just -”

“I know. And I don’t want to pressure you. But I don’t want us to overthink everything either.”

“You’re asking us, of all people, to not overthink things? I admire your optimism.”

Touya snorts. “You got a point. But in any case, I need to go. I should already be on my way.”

Keigo hesitates for another heartbeat and the idea of not being with Touya today doesn’t appeal to him that much. He's done being alone with himself. He's done being a coward. “Let’s go shower then. I’ll drive us, it will be faster than the train.”

The smile Touya gives him finishes to dissolve the remaining doubts Keigo had.

Touya presses their lips together in a loud smooch. “Thank you.”

They shower as quickly as possible and Keigo doesn’t even protest when Touya helps himself with his clothes. Some things never change, no matter the number of years that have passed.

Touya pauses in front of the small pile of items Keigo never found the strength to throw away. He runs his fingers on the fabric of a dark hoodie. “Why didn’t you get rid of them?”

Keigo leans against Touya’s shoulder. “I don’t know. A fool’s hope, maybe? Or despair,” he adds with a half-smile.

Touya remains silent. “And you kept the letters too.”

“I did.”

“But you never answered.”

Keigo lets out a quiet breath. “I didn’t know what to say.”

And really, he didn’t. He tried many times to answer Touya but everything seemed too shallow or too angry or too pathetic. Every attempt had been a mess of crossed-out words and half-finished sentences. No matter how many times he'd tried, Keigo never managed to write down his thoughts. He wasn't as skilled with words as Touya was. Not like that at least. Talking with someone, having a back and forth, being able to analyze the tone of a voice, the subtle twitch of a mouth or eyebrow, or just the general body language of the person was his area of expertise. Pouring his emotions on a piece of paper without any direct answer? Not so much.

Touya shakes his head. "I honestly never expected you to answer.” Touya looks away from the clothes neatly folded with a small smile. “It was probably better like that to be fair. We needed time apart. Like really apart.”

“Probably.” Keigo squeezes Touya's waist before letting go. "Let's hurry or we'll be late for real. I’m going to check the car. Meet me at the garage, yeah?"

Touya snaps out of his thoughts and nods. “Yeah, sure.”

Keigo leaves the walk-in closet after grabbing a dark leather jacket with a high collar doubled with brown fur. Given the snow still falling, it won’t be too much, especially when his body is still used to the Australian summer.

The elevator takes him to the underground garage and he walks to the far end of it where two cars are parked and hidden under black covers he quickly removes. He’s busy checking the oil level of the Mercedes when he hears Touya’s steps echoing in the parking lot.

“Hey, you forgot to take Mister Hop— You’re fucking kidding me.”

Keigo looks away from the engine and glances at Touya, puzzled. “What?”

“This is your car?”

Keigo blinks. “Yeah? Why?”

Touya stares at him. “Unbelievable.”

“What?”

“You had to pick the most obnoxious car, hadn’t you?”

“Obnoxious?” Keigo glances at the bright red Audi parked next to the black Mercedes. “I mean…”

“This one is yours too?”

“Maybe…” Keigo grumpily answers and lowers the hood of the car. “I don’t see the problem.”

Touya checks his head. “I would never have taken you for a car nerd.”

“I’m not! I —”

“Do you refer to them as your girls? Or your babies?”

Keigo huffs and heads to the driver seat, ignoring the echo of Touya’s laughter between the walls of the garage.

Touya slides into the passenger seat, the leather cracking under his weight. He puts Mister Hopper on the narrow backseat and looks around. Keigo turns on the engine and bites down his grin when the engine purrs pleasantly. He missed his girl. He loves his combi but his cars are something else.

“You look like an idiot,” Touya chuckles.

“Oh my god, shut up or I’ll leave you behind.”

“You wouldn’t know where to go.”

“Back to the airport, that’s where I’d go.”

Touya chuckles and leans to brush a kiss on Keigo’s cheek. “Nah.”

Keigo huffs. “Whatever. Can you enter the address in the GPS?”

“We need to stop at a grocery shop first. Mom forgot to buy chocolate for her cake. Ichiro’s going to throw a hissy fit if he doesn’t have it for his snack. And I need coffee before dealing with Natsu’s bullshit.”

Keigo leaves the parking slowly and snow starts covering the windshield immediately, setting off the wipers. The street had luckily been cleared earlier in the morning but the constant snowfall has already covered the asphalt. Keigo goes slowly, testing how the car reacts. Touya doesn’t really pay attention to anything else save the screen where he types the address of his mom’s place before switching to finding a radio station with the weathercast.

Keigo smiles. “I might be a car nerd but you’re still a weirdo obsessed with the forecast.”

“Hey! I like to know what’s going on up there.”

“More snow. Can you find me some music now, please?”

Touya bats Keigo’s fingers away when he tries to reach for the screen to switch the station. “Give me five minutes.It’s not going to kill you.”

“Maybe it will. Death by boredom.”

“Just focus on the road and not tanking us into a lamppost.”

“Jerk.”

“Ass.”

They exchange a glance and a smile. Touya settles his hand on Keigo’s thigh and leaves it there.

Despite the salt, the road remains slippery and Keigo has to focus on his driving, especially when he’s not used to driving on snow. Touya switches to music when they hit the highway. Rei lives in the suburbs, far from the bustling core of Tokyo, in an area Keigo is not familiar with.

The grocery shop next to Rei’s place is full of elderly people and parents with their kids filling their carts and baskets with food.

It’s strange to be there with Touya. Except for that one time in Australia, they never did something as boringly mundane as shopping together. Hawks never had the time to hit the supermarket, living from the stuff he could find at the Konbini, and Dabi couldn’t exactly waltz in with a trolley. But they weren’t Hawks and Dabi anymore. Just Keigo and Touya, stopping by a suburb supermarket to get something for Touya’s mom.

Touya bumps into Keigo’s shoulder with a small smile. “What’s on your mind?”

Keigo grabs Touya’s hand. “We’re becoming boring.”

“As if. We’re young, and handsome, and stylish —”

“Thanks to my closet.”

Touya grins and grabs a basket. “Thanks to your stupidly big closet.”

“Are you going to get clothes for yourself at some point?”

Touya’s smile grows an inch. “Absolutely not.”

“Of course.” He gazes at Touya and yeah, okay, he doesn’t mind seeing him in his clothes. Not at all. The wooly white turtleneck and the tan coat Keigo didn’t even remember he had suit him perfectly. Touya does look handsome and stylish.

“You’re drooling.”

“You’re hot.”

“I know. Oh hey look, there are sales on chicken breasts. Damn, it’s cheap.”

“Touya, we’re not buying stuff for us,” Keigo tries, dragged towards the shelves by an enthusiastic Touya.

They do end up buying stuff for themselves, because ‘it would have been a shame to miss out. Just because you’re loaded doesn’t mean we can’t be smart about money.’ Too amused to really complain, Keigo let Touya go wild. In hindsight, Keigo realizes that Touya probably never had the chance to do that, to browse through crowded aisles without being stared at in fear or suspicion. Well, he was still stared at but probably not for the same reason, if the whispers and quiet giggles that followed them were any proof. They almost forgot about the chocolate in their shopping frenzy.

“You happy now?” Keigo asks as he glances at his phone to check how far Rei’s house is from their location.

Touya hums around his cup of coffee, the tote bag with Shouto’s face on it (I’m supporting my brother, Kei, nothing to do with filling his empty head with cabbages) filled with fresh veggies, eggs, and chicken. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“I wasn’t going to wait in the car,” Keigo retorts distractedly, still looking at the map on his screen.

Touya chuckles and Keigo looks up. “I didn’t mean that, you moron.”

Keigo blinks. “Oh.” He pockets his phone and presses closer to Touya. “I guess we need to start somewhere, right?”

Touya’s grin is blinding, as if Keigo just offered him the moon and stars on a silver platter. “We.”

“We.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Keigo wraps his arm around Touya’s waist. “Good. Because I have no intention of letting you go anywhere this time.”

“Woo me on a supermarket parking lot, why don’t you?”

“I know. I’m a romantic at heart, seducing you with half-priced eggs.”

Touya bursts out laughing and Keigo decides that he doesn’t mind being boringly mundane if it means having Touya by his side.

## Of Sunday lunch and promises

Chapter Notes

> Phew it's been a hot minute! This chapter gave me quite the struggle but here we are! Hope you'll enjoy!!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

After years of back and forth, Natsuo knows the drive to his mother’s place like the back of his hand. It’s half-way between Fuyumi’s apartment and his own place, in a quiet neighborhood he and Fuyumi specifically picked for their mother when she decided she was ready to have her own space. They had finally reached some kind of balance, after years of struggles and suffering. The challenge now was to include Touya in the fragile equation but Natsuo will fight tooth and nail to give his brother the stability they never had when they were kids. They’re on the right track, he feels, and Touya seems to be willing to work with them this time.

Saya and Ichiro bicker on the back seats about who’s going to have Uncle Kats in their team for the snowball fight, until Mayu clicks her tongue in a threatening way and they quiet down. Natsuo smirks to himself, always amused how such a small sound is enough to silence the two monsters at the back.

“You’re going to give Uncle Katsuki some room to breathe,” Mayu says with a frown, trying to turn away on her seat but her growing belly makes things hard.

“But Mom, we haven’t seen him in forever,” Saya pouts.

“It’s not a reason to harass him as soon as he arrives. I don’t want to hear him yell before lunch.”

“It’s funny though,” Ichiro retorts with a giggle. “Do you think he remembered taking coins for the swear jar this time?”

Saya joins her brother’s giggles. “Bet he’s going to steal them from Uncle Sho again.”

Natsuo has to bite his lower lip to repress his laughter. Seeing Kastuki and Shouto interact, even after years, is always some kind of a comedy show. Izuku and Natsuo have an on-going betting game on how long it will take for Katsuki to snap at Shouto’s snide remarks and break the no-cursing rule.

They don’t get to see Katsuki very often, since he’s usually the one holding the fort when Shouto and Izuku take a bit of time off from their agency, but this time, Shindo and Camie took over to allow the three of them to come to Rei’s.

Natsuo wonders how Katsuki will react to Touya’s presence. They haven’t met yet since Touya got out of jail and Natsuo knows they have a heavy past, even though neither his brothers nor Katsuki delved into the details of Dabi’s involvement. Hopefully, it won’t turn into another drama. Natsuo has had enough of those for a lifetime.

He slows down before turning the corner and driving slowly to the end of the dead-end where his mother’s small house is nestled. Shouto’s car is already there and Ichiro unbuckles his seatbelt as soon as he spots it. Natsuo blesses once more the lock on the back doors otherwise Ichiro would have jumped from the car before it stopped.

“Hurry Dad!!” Ichiro squeals.

Natsuo parks behind Shouto and takes his time to stop the engine, ignoring his son’s pleas. “They’re not going anywhere, Ichiro, chill.”

Mayu extracts herself from her seat and slides the door open, releasing Hurricane Ichiro. Saya follows but slower, warier since she slipped on hidden ice earlier this morning. The entrance door opens and Katsuki appears, eliciting another excited scream from Ichiro who launches himself at the hero.

“Yo Shortstack! You haven’t grown an inch!”

“Liar! I’m 3’2 now. It’s 2 inches taller than the last time!” Ichiro protests, hanging off of Katsuki’s bicep like a tree branch.

Katsuki’s boisterous laughter echoes in the quiet street and he ruffles Saya’s curls as she reaches him.

Mayu clings to Natsuo’s arm, as careful as her daughter.

“How’re the aliens doing?” Katuski asks once they’re all in the hallway, removing their wet shoes.

Mayu punches his bulky arm. “They’re doing fine. And stop calling them aliens, you ass.”

“Mom!” Ichiro gasps with a delighted smile.

“Ha ha! You broke first,” Katsuki cackles.

“Shut up, blondie,” Mayu grumbles and hands a coin to Ichiro.

Shouto exits the kitchen and huffs as all the oxygen leaves his lungs when Ichiro headbutts him into the stomach. “Hello Ichiro.”

Natsuo greets his brother with a squeeze on the shoulder and goes to the kitchen where delicious smells are already floating.

“Hey Mom.” He leans forward to kiss her cheek. “Deku’s not with you?”

Rei smiles at him. “He’s outside, cutting wood for me.”

“Of course he is. I suppose he still refuses to use the ax.”

Rei chuckles. “You know him: anything is a good excuse to train.”

“Touya’s not here yet?”

Rei grins with a mischievous glint in her grey eyes. “He’s going to be a bit late.”

“Did he have troubles with the train?”

She shakes her head. “No. He’s catching a ride.”

“Uh? With who?”

“Guess.”

Natsuo frowns. Shouto and Deku are here, he doubts that Touya would ask Fuyumi for a ride, and he’s pretty sure he would have known if his brother had made friends. So it left only —

“Keigo?”

Rei hums while stirring the simmering stew.

“Wait a minute. Like —”

“What? Touya is bringing a +1?” Mayu interrupts. A scream of pure delight followed by giggles covers Mayu’s next words. She sighs and waits for their children to stop squealing like munchkins with rabies. “I didn’t know Keigo was back!”

Rei raises her wooden spoon. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I don’t want them to feel pressured. Touya asked me if it was okay if Keigo joined us today, but that’s all. I don’t know where they stand so you two keep your feet out of your mouths.”

“Awe, Mom, rude,” Natsuo chuckles.

“They’re boyfriends, I know they are,” Mayu adds with a wide grin.

“Mayu,” Rei threatens.

“I’m pregnant, you can’t do anything to me!” she says, placing protective hands on her belly.

Rei huffs and goes back to her stew.

“I’m going to shovel the alley,” Natsuo announces.

“Admit you want to be the first to see them!” Mayu teases.

Natsuo leans in for a kiss on her temple. “Maybe I do.”

“Dork.”

“But you love me.”

“That remains to be proven.”

As if on cue, Ichiro and Saya’s happy laughs fill the space once more.

“I think I have enough proof.”

The smile Mayu gives him pulls at his heartstrings and he steals another kiss before going out again, leaving behind him and his loud spawn. The shovel is where he left it last time, leaning against the wall of the garage. The sound of Deku ripping logs apart in the backyard reaches Natsuo as he starts shoveling the snow with steady, slow gestures, enjoying the moment of quiet. It doesn’t happen often. There are always the kids, Mayu, his patients, his colleagues, always an errand to run, something or someone to take care of. Natsuo doesn’t complain but a bit of alone time is more than welcome. A bit of space to breathe and think.

It doesn’t last for very long though. Another car pulls down the curb, behind Natsuo’s one and he recognizes Fuyumi’s compact car. His sister gets out and smiles at him.

“Am I late?”

“Nope. You’re not the last one.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Oh, do we need to go pick up Touya at the station?”

"Nope. Our brother managed to get himself a driver."

Fuyumi frowns, visibly confused, and Natsuo watches with amusement as the cogs click in his sister's head. "Oh. Are they—?"

Natsuo shrugs in answer. "Pretty sure they are, yeah, but Mom doesn't want us to harass Touya with it."

"I would never—"

"But Mayu would," he cuts off with a grin.

Fuyumi huffs. "So would you."

"How dare you," Natsuo gasps. "I'd never embarrass my brother like that."

"Right." Fuyumi glances toward the house. "Two pizza deliveries that Shouto is going to call them out before dessert?"

Natsuo snorts. "I give him ten minutes after they arrive."

Fuyumi chuckles and uses her quirk to help Natsuo to move the snow from the pathway.

"I heard the old man came back last week."

Fuyumi nods.

"What did he want?"

Fuyumi sighs. "He wanted to see me. You know he doesn't like serious conversations on the phone."

"Serious conversation, huh?"

"He asked about Touya."

Natsuo purses his lips. He knows their father is still hoping to try and mend things with Touya, to make amends and atone, but Natsuo also knows that Touya doesn't want to hear about it. He might have made some kind of peace on his end, after years of therapy, but he's not ready to face Enji serenely. Natsuo is not sure he'll ever be.

"Maybe I could talk about it with Touya," Fuyumi says to fill Natsuo's silence. "If we set up a neutral ground, maybe it—"

"Fuyu, stop."

She looks at her feet, hiding her hands in her pockets. "I just—"

"I know what you want, but you can't force Touya to do something like this just because you hope to have your family together again. That's not how it works and you know it. You have to come to terms with this."

She sighs, pushing the snow with the tip of her boot. "I thought— after what we all went through— Dad—"

"Enji can't force Touya to forgive him and that's not what he wants. And Touya won't ask for forgiveness either. They're both made of the same stubborn stuff and even if Dad managed to let go of his pride, I'm not sure Touya is quite there yet," Natsuo says quietly.

He squeezes Fuyumi's shoulder, so frail under his large palm, and he feels sorry for his sister. She dreamed about having their family together again, to leave the past behind them once and for all, but it’s not going to happen so easily. Even if Touya has shown that he wants to be with them, their father is still a tricky subject. And as long as Fuyumi will keep trying to push things, her relationship with Touya will never pass the civil level.

Natsuo will remain neutral in this, as much as he can, but seeing Fuyumi struggling pains him.

"I should go in, see if Mom needs help."

Natsuo looks at her walking the snowy path in silence, shovel forgotten. He hopes his kids will never have to live that kind of drama, that they will just enjoy each other to the fullest, without heartbreak or bad blood. It’s maybe a pipe dream, but Natsuo will do his best to make it happen. He will give his children what was robbed from him. Even if his own relationships with his siblings and parents remain fucked up for the rest of his life, even if Touya and Enji never share the same space ever again, he will make sure that it doesn’t impact his kids in any way.

Keigo parks the car behind a small red one, spotting a tall man in the small garden, leaning against a shovel.

Without waiting, Touya exits the car, looking pale. Keigo did his best to drive as smoothly as possible but Touya’s stomach still doesn’t take well to car trips.

He unloads the trunk while Touya goes to greet his brother. Natsuo looks at them both with scrutiny.

“That’s probably the first time I've seen you dressed in actual clothes,” Natsuo says as a greeting, giving a once-over to Touya.

Keigo chuckles. “That’s because he raided my closet. I don’t trust his fashion sense anyway.”

“Excuse you, my fashion sense is exquisite,” Touya grumbles, taking the Shouto tote bag from Keigo’s hand.

Natsuo exchanges a glance with Keigo. “Right, Mister Stapled-pants. Hello Keigo. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Keigo smiles. “Likewise. Thanks for having me today.”

Natsuo waves him off. “Don’t thank me, I have nothing to do with it.”

The entrance door is yanked open, followed by a shriek and Mayu screaming at Ichiro to at least put his coat on but the little boy is already bolting toward his uncle. Touya huffs and stumbles back when Ichiro’s head collides with his stomach and without Keigo’s hand on the small of his back, Touya would have probably fallen on his ass.

“Uncle T, Uncle T! Uncle Kats just gave me this, look look!” Ichiro squeals, a Dynamight figure in his hand.

“Uncle Kats?” Touya says and Keigo can feel him tense. “I didn’t know he would be here,” he adds with a frown.

Ichiro nods frantically and finally realizes Keigo’s presence next to Touya. Keigo is caught by a pair of blue eyes, the copy-paste of Touya’s ones, both in shape and color. He smiles and crouches in front of the boy who looks at him with wide eyes, half-hidden behind Touya’s leg.

“Hey Ichiro.”

“Hello.”

“Playing shy, now, munchkin?” Touya chuckles. “I promise you, he’s not going to eat you.”

“I prefer chicken, indeed.”

It earns him a giggle muffled in Touya’s leg.

“Natsu, make them come in for fuck’s sake! Ichiro is going to catch a cold.”

A loud HA HA echoes from inside the house and the woman standing on the threshold rolls her eyes. “Shut up, Kats.”

“Let’s go before Mayu tears me a new one,” Natsuo says with a sheepish smile. “Come on, Ichiro, go.”

Keigo follows the two brothers and the little boy clinging to Touya’s hand in the snowy garden, thoughtful. He hasn’t seen any of the kids in years. Almost a decade. Well, they’re not kids anymore. They are older than Keigo when he became number 2, older than him when he agreed on infiltrating the League.

Way to feel old all of a sudden.

The entrance hall is warm and overcrowded, with Natsuo, Touya, and him, plus Ichiro still clinging to Touya’s leg and Mayuko trying to wrestle her son out of his boots. Keigo removes his own shoes, observing in silence Touya interacting with his family. There’s a softness in his eyes Keigo has rarely witnessed, even when they were just the two of them.

“Hey Keigo! Nice to meet you! I’m Mayuko, Natsuo’s wife.”

Keigo stops staring at Touya’s profile to look at Mayuko. Her round face with mousy features is framed with curly brown hair and all in her radiates quiet strength. Keigo already liked her from what Touya told him but the way she smiles at him, open and warm, seals the deal. Something in her hazel eyes reminds him of Colleen. “Hi. Heard a lot about you.”

Mayu glares at Touya but her smile never leaves. “Only good things, I’m sure.”

Keigo chuckles. Yes, she’s undoubtedly friend material. "Definitely."

Rei exits the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. It’s the first time Keigo actually sees her. She looks tiny next to Natsuo, and Keigo can see the resemblance with Touya. Same delicate features, same roundness in the face, same way to carry herself and fill a room with her presence. “Ha boys! Did you get my chocolate?”

“Hello, mom. Yes we did,” Touya answers, showing the Shouto tote bag.

“Oh my god, this is the best shopping bag ever,” Natsuo cackles. “Hey Sho! Did you know that your face was on a tote bag?”

“Yes I did,” Shouto’s voice answers from the room at the end of the hallway. “Katsuki and Izuku have the same one.”

“Shut up, Ice Queen.”

Touya tenses again at the sound of Bakugo’s voice and Keigo feels concern coiling into his gut. At least, he will be there to support Touya, if needed. Or drive him home if a quick exit is necessary. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.

“Alright, Touya, Keigo, come with me,” Rei orders. “The rest of you, shoo. There are too many people here!”

“Rude. You’re the one who invited us,” Natsuo teases, dragging wife and son to what’s probably the living room.

Rei rolls her eyes at her son’s retreating back and gestures Keigo and Touya to follow her. Touya catches Keigo’s hand with a half-smile, slightly strained at the corners, and Keigo feels the urge to kiss it away. It keeps surprising him how easy it is to reinvest each other’s space. He’s been back for less than 24 hours but he feels like he and Touya never left each other. Despite being a bit nervous being among the extended Todoroki tribe, it feels almost natural. The smell of lunch cooking, the hum of the conversations echoing between the rooms, Touya’s hands in his, all of this makes Keigo feel at ease. Like he belongs. More than he ever felt with Colleen’s family. They never made him feel unwelcomed, far from it, but he wasn’t probably fully there to properly enjoy it, a chunk of his heart and soul still stuck in a jail cell back in Japan.

But now, trailing after Rei, he feels like he’s right where he’s supposed to be.

“Uncle T!”

Keigor recognizes Saya perched on a stool next to Fuyumi. She jumps from her perch and Touya lets go of Keigo’s hand to hug his niece. “How are you, munchkin?”

“I’m okay.”

“She needed a bit of quiet,” Fuyumi explains with a soft smile. “Katsuki and Ichiro together can be loud.”

The ears half-hidden in the white curls twitch and Saya scrunches her nose. “They really are. Hello Keigo.”

“Hey, Saya. Nice to meet you in the flesh.”

“What’s all that?” Rei asks as she looks through Touya’s shopping bag.

“There were sales,” Touya answers with an embarrassed pout, taking a large cabbage from his mother’s hands

“Half-priced eggs and discount on the pork,” Keigo adds with a laugh, setting his own bag on the counter and handing the dark chocolate chips to Rei. “Touya couldn’t resist.”

“Yeah well, it would have been stupid to pay full price in your fancy supermarket,” Touya grumbles, shoving the food in his mother’s fridge.

Rei laughs quietly and pats Touya’s cheek. “Of course, sweetheart. Why don’t you guys go to the living room while we finish cooking lunch?”

Touya looks between his mom and Keigo. “Why didn’t you tell me Bakugo was there?”

Rei blinks. “Is it a problem?”

“Mom I —”

Fuyumi takes Saya’s hand. “Let’s go see Uncle Kats, shall we?”

Saya looks between the adults present before following her aunt, visibly concerned. Keigo steps closer to Touya. “Touya and Katsuki have some history,” he starts in a low voice.

“Just say it clearly: I kidnapped him when he was a kid,” Touya snaps.

“Oh.” Rei’s face crumbles. “Oh shit. Oh my god, I’m sorry, I completely forgot about it.”

Touya blinks, confused. “You forgot?”

Rei runs her fingers in her hair. “I did. It’s from a period of my life where I was —” She purses her lips and meets her son’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Touya. I really am. I would never—“

Touya raises his hand to stop his mother. “Stop.” He sighs. “Stop. We’re going to make do.”

“Did Katsuki know that Touya would be there?” Keigo interrupts.

“Well, it’s a family lunch so yes, I suppose he did,” Rei replies, visibly upset.

“Then it should be fine,” Keigo reassures. “If he’s here despite knowing that Touya would be there, it means that he’s okay with seeing him.” He summons his most comforting smile, both for Touya and his mother. “You can't force that man to do anything he doesn't want to do."

Despite his show of confidence, he genuinely doesn't know how Bakugo is going to react. Unpredictable could have been his middle name. But again, Keigo hasn’t talked to Bakugo in ages so he can’t be sure.

Touya links their fingers together again, without even looking at Keigo. “I guess there’s no avoiding it. Let’s go.” He fishes the brand new Mister Hopper from one of their bags and pulls Keigo toward the main room where Ichiro’s chirpy voice rings loud and clear.

Touya stops on the threshold, and Keigo pauses next to him, embracing the scene. One of the most powerful heroes of his generation is sprawled on his stomach, clicking a Deku action figure against Ichiro’s Dynamight one, making explosions noises with his mouth. Saya has retreated in her uncle Shouto’s lap with a book.

Fuyumi pauses her conversation with Mayu and Natsuo and it seems to give some kind of signal. All the eyes converged toward them and Touya tenses when Bakugo’s red gaze zeroes in on him. Keigo is about to say something to break the suddenly thick silence, when Shouto beats him to it, his mismatched eyes meeting Keigo’s.

“I didn’t know you were coming, Hawks.”

Keigo chuckles. “I haven’t been called Hawks in a hot minute. Your brother invited me.”

Shouto frowns as he looks at Touya and then back at Keigo. “Why?”

Keigo catches the look Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Mayu exchange.

“Because Keigo is Uncle T’s boyfriend, Uncle Sho,” Saya explains patiently.

“Uh. Is he?”

There’s a bit of silence while Keigo and Touya glance at each other and then Natsuo sends a smug smile to his sister. “I won.”

Fuyumi purses her lips. “Technically, it’s not Shouto, but Saya.”

“Don’t be a sore loser, Fuyu. Two pizza nights for 4.”

“What are you talking about?” Touya grumbles.

“Nothing,” Fuyumi and Natsuo answer in sync.

“I’m curious, too,” Shouto says with a frown.

“They obviously bet on your lack of tact, Candy Cane,” Bakugo explains with a lopsided grin, his eyes finally leaving Touya’s face.

“What’s tact, Uncle Kats?” Ichiro asks, curious.

“Something your uncle doesn’t have.”

“Takes one to know one, right Kacchan? Hello Touya! Keigo, it’s been a while!”

“What the fuck did you just say, shitty nerd?”

“Katsuki, coin jar!” Rei’s voice intervenes from the kitchen.

Keigo looks above his shoulder and is met by a blinding smile and freckles. The kid definitely hit a growth spurt at some point in his life, a head taller than Touya and him now. Deku ushers them to step inside the living room, babbling about how good it is to see Keigo after all those years, conscientiously ignoring Bakugo’s death glare, and drags them all into an easy conversation.

Touya remains silent for the most part, his shoulder pressed against Keigo’s. At some point, Saya transfers from Shouto’s to Touya’s and looks at them both.

“Was it a secret?” Saya asks, visibly bothered.

“What was?” Touya replies, gently.

“That you and Keigo are boyfriends.”

Keigo and Touya exchange a glance and Touya shrugs. “Don’t worry about it, munchkin.”

“Hey, and you earn two pizzas nights thanks to this,” Keigo adds.

“So you’re not mad?”

Touya squeezes her against his chest until she squeals. “We’re not mad at all. But we’ll be mad if we’re not invited to eat the pizza with you guys.”

She gives them a toothy grin. “It’s a deal then.”

“It’s a deal.”

She leaves Touya to go climb Deku’s back, asking him to tell her about his last team-up with Uravity.

“Boyfriends, huh?” Keigo whispers.

Touya clicks his tongue, his cheeks faintly dusted in pink. “Shut it. I’m not having this conversation right now.”

Keigo smiles. “But we will have it.”

“Do we need to?”

“If it makes you blush like this, then yes,” Keigo answers, his smile turning smug.

A fluffy kangaroo crashes into his face, muffling his laugh. The attack is quickly followed by a delighted squeal from Ichiro. “Mister Hopper!”

Even though the lunch went surprisingly smoothly, Touya has been unable to completely lower his guard, especially when the intense red eyes kept landing on him more often than not. Saya and Ichiro have been a blessing, leaving no room for awkward silences, filling it with their babbling, helped by Deku, Natsuo, and Keigo. Those three definitely knew how to break any tension, and honestly, Keigo’s steady presence next to him helped Touya not just resorting to his usual defense mechanisms when he felt cornered. Not sure sarcasm and snark would have helped his case.

But right now, Touya needs a bit of alone time to unwind. He volunteered to keep an eye on Saya and Ichiro while they were building their second snowman and that’s how he ended up alone on the back porch of his mom’s house, freezing his ass off and craving a cigarette for the first time in years.

The kids roll a snowball bigger than Ichiro, huffing, and puffing, their cheeks red with exertion.

“A good uncle would give them a hand,” a gruff voice behind him says and Touya almost jumps out of his skin. “Did I startle you?”

Bakugo’s smirk shows too many teeth and Touya scrunches his nose. “No.”

“Sure, old man.” Bakugo shoves his hands in the pockets of his Punisher hoodie, sniffling. “Fuck, it’s cold.”

“Then go back inside,” Touya replies, trying (and probably failing) to not sound too curt.

“Are you trying to avoid me?” He steps forward, his shoulder at Touya’s level. Funny how they are the same size. Touya always thought the kid would grow up more than that. Guess he’s been wrong.

“I’m not.”

“Could have fooled me. Didn’t take you for the coward type.”

Touya looks away from Bakugo’s sharp profile, focusing on Ichiro looking for twigs at the bottom of the willow tree. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Didn’t take you for the stupid type either.”

The craving for a smoke intensifies, just to have an outlet to the pressure building up inside him. Instead, he tries to count his breaths.

“What do you want?”

“Address the elephant in the room. Clear the fucking air. Something like that.”

“Are you expecting apologies?”

Bakugo huffs. “I don’t give a flying fuck about apologies. Ain’t going to change shit, right?”

Touya frowns. “Then what?”

Bakugo turns to face him completely, red eyes burning into Touya like live coals. “A promise.”

“A promise?”

“Did I fucking stutter?”

Touya rolls his eyes. “No, you didn’t. It was a rhetorical question, if you know what it means.”

“Fuck off, asshole. I know what it means, I’m not some uneducated swine.”

“Your words.”

Bakugo scowls at him and Touya makes an effort to rein in his own temper. “What kind of promise?”

“Your brother and Deku are getting married next summer. Endeavor will be there, like it or not. And you will attend as well, because I refuse to see fucking half’n’half upset on his wedding day. Comprende ?”

“I still don’t know what you want from me,” Touya snaps back, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

“I want you to promise me that you will leave your goddamn daddy issues at home and you will be civil with dear ol’ dad for at least twelve hours.”

It’s Touya’s turn to scowl. “You’re asking a lot.”

“You kidnapped me, asshole. You owe me that much.”

Touya opens his mouth to retort something but doesn’t find anything to say. Sharing the same space as Enji in the foreseeable future doesn’t appeal to him though. Like at all.

“Do we have a deal?” Bakugo asks, bulky arms crossed on his chest.

“It’s a very one-sided deal.”

“Sounds like a you problem.”

He could always skip the wedding. Shouto would understand, right? And if not, Deku certainly would. But at the same time, it’s an important step in his brother’s life, something he missed for Natsuo and Mayuko. He knows he doesn’t want to miss that event. Maybe if he can have Keigo and Natsu by his side, he will be fine. Maybe if the rest of the family can manage to make Enji understand that it would be better if he doesn’t try to talk to Touya, it will be okay.

Maybe.

Probably.

Hopefully.

He still has a few months to prepare himself to face his father. It should be enough.

It won’t be enough.

“So?”

Bakugo’s voice snaps him out of his train of thought.

Touya takes a deep breath and looks at Saya and Ichiro finishing their snowman. He needs to take the next step forward even though he doesn’t want to. It will hold him back. His father will always be a fleeting thought gnawing at the back of his head, no matter how hard he tries to ignore it. Half of his life revolved around him after all and maybe it’s time to confront this demon.

The final boss.

He’s not alone to face it. He doesn’t stand on the moving sands of his unhinged madness anymore. He can face Enji. At least this once. For his brother. He owes him as much, after all he put him through.

“Fine.”

“Good. Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Can’t say it’s mutual,” Touya grumbles.

Bakugo barks a laugh as he turns on his heel to go back inside. “You’ll get used to it.”

Chapter End Notes

> Natsuo: "no, you can't force Touya to see Enji. It's not how it works."
> Bakugo: "hold my fucking beer."

> This is the last chapter for this part so if you want to read what will happen next, don't forget to subscribe to the series ;)

> Twitter

## Bubbles

Chapter Notes

> I WASN'T DONE WITH THAT PART! HA!

> Anyway! I think this time it's the last installment but you never know with me XD I hope you'll enjoy that small package of feels :3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Touya is quiet on the way back. Keigo suspects that something happened between him and Bakugo, nothing completely bad since Bakugo didn’t seem pissed off or phased but Touya closed up as soon as he came back in with the little ones. After more food and tea and a game of shogi between Shouto and Keigo where Shouto properly destroyed him, the three heroes had to leave for their night patrols, to Ichiro’s greatest disappointment. Natsuo had to pry the boy off Bakugo’s leg, to which he clung like a koala, begging his uncles to take him with them. Keigo had been genuinely surprised by Bakugo’s actual patience and the soft smile he gave to Ichiro before leaving, far from his usual grimaces and sneers. The kid really mellowed.

Rei’s living-room quietened down a bit more as soon as Natsuo and his family left, with bags of leftovers and brand new toys. Only Fuyumi remained, nursing a cup of tea, her legs neatly tucked under the kotatsu. A single glance from Touya had been enough for Keigo to understand that it was time to go too. Rei didn’t try to protest, simply adding tupperwares of leftovers on top of their groceries and urging Keigo to come back whenever he’d like. Despite Touya’s morose silence, Rei’s gentle words gave birth to warm feelings in Keigo’s chest.

Now they are driving slowly through the empty streets and Touya still hasn’t opened his mouth. The snow has finally stopped falling but the heavy clouds hanging above their heads are a sign that they’re not quite done with the episode.

After fifteen minutes of complete silence, Keigo glances at Touya. He’s looking through the window, his white hair reflecting the orange light of the lamp posts.

“You alright?”

Touya turns his head toward Keigo. “Thinking.”

“Care to share?”

Touya remains quiet for a while longer, fiddling with the hem of his sweater before stopping and smoothing the fabric against his slacks. “Enji will be there at Shouto’s wedding.”

Keigo keeps his eyes on the road. “I mean, he’s still his father. That was to be expected.”

“I suppose.” Another silence Keigo doesn’t interrupt. “Bakugo wants me to be civil with the old man. At least for the wedding.”

Ah. “What did you say?”

Touya runs a hand in his hair and reaches for his ear, where piercings used to be. His hand drops when he remembers that he can’t play with the rings anymore and he goes back to the hem of the sweater. “He didn’t really give me a choice. And I don’t want to upset Shouto.”

“That’s—” Keigo closes his mouth. Nice feels hollow; kind inappropriate. “Brave?”

Touya huffs. “I’m not sure about brave. I really don’t want to see him.”

Again, Keigo chooses to keep his mouth shut. He merges on the highway, loaded with people rushing back to their place at the end of the weekend and Touya chucks his shoes off, bringing his knees to his chest.

“Kei?”

“Mmmh?”

“Would you come with me?”

“Where?”

“To Shouto’s wedding.”

Keigo casts a quick glance to his left. Touya looks small on the passenger seat, almost vulnerable, and the sight tugs at Keigo’s heartstrings. “If you want me to come with you, of course, I will.”

For a moment, the only sound is the rhythmic clicking of the blinker as Keigo crosses the four lanes of the highway to reach the far right one. He allows himself to speed up, taking advantage of the snow-free road, and the engine roars as it comes to life.

“Thanks.”

“That’s part of the boyfriend package, you know,” Keigo answers tentatively, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Boyfriend.”

“Do you want me to be?”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Keigo drums on the wheel for a heartbeat. “What is it that you’re asking then?”

“Don’t make me say it.”

A crooked smile stretches Keigo’s lips. “Okay.”

“You’re such a jerk.”

“I thought you figured it out after all this time.”

Touya scoffs and Keigo bites back his laugh.

“You are,” Touya says, tone final and determined.

Keigo smiles at the assertive tone. As he told Colleen, he wants Touya in his life, now and for the foreseeable future, and hearing Touya confirming that it’s a mutual wish settles his own feelings. They’re finally on the same wavelength.

“But I hate that word, I’m warning you,” Touya resumes, disgust clear in his tone. “It makes me feel like we’re 16.”

“What word? Boyfriend?”

Touya hums, the lower half of his face hidden between his crossed arms.

“How do you want to call it then? Lover?”

“Ugh no.”

“Beau? Suitor? Significant other? Betrothed? ”

“Oh my god, just shut up.”

Keigo doesn’t try to hold back his laugh this time. “Well, let me know when you find the appropriate word, Mister-I-have-a-Ph.D-in-literature.”

“Maybe there’s no word.”

“I’m fine with it, too,” Keigo answers with a half-shrug. “Whatever you want, Touya.”

“You have your say in it.”

“I want to be with you. The rest doesn’t matter.”

Touya huffs. “You’re such a sap.”

“Maybe I am. Is it going to be a problem?”

“As long as you don’t try to play the ukulele for me, we should be fine.”

“Rude,” Keigo gasps. “And don’t worry, it stayed in Australia.”

“Good.”

When they finally arrive, snowflakes start to fall again. The reprieve has been short but at least they’re home now, without the need to go anywhere for the next few days, especially with the amount of groceries and leftovers they brought back.

Pigeon welcomes them with a meow from her perch on the backrest of the couch. She stretches languidly before jumping down and trotting toward Touya, asking for attention. Touya drops the many bags of food to pick up his girl, cooing in her fur in a familiar way. Keigo still marvels at the way Pigeon behaves with Touya, as if he never left her. She is sticking to him the same way she always did, and Keigo doesn’t blame her.

“I’m going to take a bath. You coming?” Touya asks.

“Later. Someone has to put away the results of your shopping spree.”

Touya smirks and leans in to peck Keigo’s cheek. “ Our shopping spree. The five packs of spicy chips and the frozen nuggets are not for me.”

“It was a bargain!” Keigo protests, glad to see Touya in a better mood.

Touya pinches Keigo’s hip. “I’ll warm the water for you. Don’t dawdle.”

Keigo snorts and shoos Touya away. Once he and Pigeon disappear into the bathroom, Keigo turns on the sound system, and the living room is soon filled with the chatter of Present Mic’s radio show. Keigo listens to the hero’s babbles about the upcoming Annual Hero Charity Gala, vaguely wondering if they would try to invite him again this year. The organizing committee has already started their annual campaign to try try and coax him out of his retreat, and he’s dutifully ignored the emails clogging his inbox. He doesn’t see the point of showing up to that kind of event. He’s not a hero anymore, just a normal guy living a normal life, who finds some sort of solace in emptying bags of groceries and filling his mostly empty cabinets with snacks and dry food, and his freezer with colorful tupperwares given by his boyfriend’s mother. Finally, he stacks Touya’s favorite fizzy drinks, next to his iced coffee, and the sight of his full fridge gives him pause.

When was the last time he had so much food in his fridge? More than just a pack of beers and a few veggies and chicken breasts to last him a couple of days? His fingers clench around the fridge’s handle, his throat and chest tighten. What the hell is wrong with him? This is completely stupid.

Keigo closes the door, admonishing himself for getting emotional over a full fridge. He leaves the kitchen for the bathroom and is welcomed by humid heat and the voice of Present Mic still rambling about the Gala. The sight of Touya almost completely hidden behind a wall of bubbles, wet strands of white hair framing his relaxed face, settles the emotions that started to run haywire in the kitchen, leaving space for another type of feeling, more peaceful, more gentle. Softer. This is his life now. Coming back home to a full fridge and having a person to share meals and baths, to warm his cold bed, and to wake up with.

Touya opens a lazy eye and peers at Keigo. “What’s with the dopey smile?”

Keigo shakes his head and closes the door behind him. “Nothing.”

Touya’s expression is clearly unconvinced but he doesn’t comment any further. “Are you going to attend?”

“To the Gala? Nah,” Keigo answers as he struggles to remove his sweater, already stuck to his skin with the steam. “They don’t need a relic of the past.”

Touya hums, moving the bubbles toward Pigeon, perched on the edge of the tub and lazily swatting at them. “They’re asking you, though?”

Keigo stumbles out of his jeans before sitting next to his cat, immersing his legs into the hot water. “Fuck, it’s hot.”

“Too hot?”

Keigo groans and lowers himself in the water. “‘s fine. I guess I was just cold. And to answer your question, yes. Every year.”

“Bitches can’t take a hint.”

“Apparently.”

Keigo reclines with a sigh, eyes closed.

“Do you miss it?”

“What?”

“The hero stuff.”

“Sometimes,” Keigo answers honestly. “But my life is more pleasant now. More relaxed.”

“Not hard to be.”

Keigo bumps his knee against Touya’s bony one but doesn’t answer. Present Mic finally stops talking and infomercials take over for a few minutes. Touya comments on each of them, and Keigo’s laugh echoes between the walls of the bathroom. Music finally replaces the obnoxious jingles and Keigo closes his eyes, mind drifting, simply content to exist in the same space than Touya. The song ends, another starts and Keigo smiles as he recognizes it. The saccharine words come back to him easily, just like the memories attached to it. He remembers the way Dabi used to push him away every time Keigo bellowed the sappy words at the top of his lungs or just crooning it at the most random time, just because it was stuck in his head. He also remembers how he was unable to listen to it for years, not without feeling the urge to break something, just because it was so intimately linked to Dabi and the masquerade they entertained for months and ended up feeling too real.

“Brings back memories,” Keigo says quietly.

“I never liked this song.”

The cold tone forces Keigo to open his eyes. Touya is focused on Pigeon trying to catch more bubbles. “Why not?”

“Always felt like you were mocking me.”

“I wasn’t,” Keigo answers, slightly puzzled.

Keigo is about to ask what he meant when Touya beats him to it. He’s still focusing on his cat, voice neutral but Keigo isn’t fooled.

“I’ve always wondered what you saw in me. You didn’t need me once you got what you wanted and I wasn’t the definition of a nice person.”

“Neither of us were,” Keigo reminds him.

Touya finally looks at him, blue eyes piercing Keigo’s soul. “Why did you let me stay around, then?”

Keigo remains silent, trying to gather his thoughts. This question had haunted many sleepless nights and many sessions with his therapist. When did Dabi become more than a job? Why did he become more than a job?

“You don’t know, do you?” Touya says with a jaded smile, interrupting Keigo’s train of thought. “There was no reason, right? Still isn’t, I suppose.”

Keigo blinks as Touya stands up in the tub, ready to step out.

“Hey, don’t make the questions and the answers by yourself, would you?” Keigo says gently, grabbing Touya by the wrist. “Sit.”

Touya looks down at him, searching Keigo’s expression for a moment, and sits back down in the water. He flicks at the bubbles floating on the surface of the water, his neutral mask gone and replaced by a sour expression.

Keigo doesn’t like it but, once more, finding the words reveals itself to be tricky. “You know it’s been complicated.”

Touya huffs, popping a few bubbles. Keigo scoots closer and grabs one of Touya’s hands, both to ground him and prevent Touya from going anywhere. In those moments where he felt especially vulnerable, he needed the tangible reassurance that Touya was actually here, that he wasn’t going to disappear like the painful dreams Keigo used to entertain. Touya doesn’t push him away, closing his own fingers around Keigo’s.

“It took years to untangle all this mess and understand the why and the how. Never quite pinpointed the when though,” Keigo starts quietly.

“I know when,” Touya says quietly. “At least for me.”

Keigo looks at him, surprised. “You do?”

Touya nods. “When you gave me that feather.”

Instinctively, Keigo’s mind reaches for the last vane, locked up in a box in his nightstand. It’s still there, still vibrating, the last vestige of his former life. He never found the strength to get rid of it and he’s not sure he ever will.

“I mean, I guess it’s been a slow process, but it kinda sealed the deal. I think,” Touya concludes, still not looking at Keigo. “It was probably just an illusion, but you gave me the feeling that I belonged somewhere.”

“It started with lies, yes. I won’t deny it,” Keigo retorts. “But not everything was. You gave me a home.”

Touya finally turns his gaze toward him, wide, surprised blue eyes staring at him. “What?”

“You created a home for me and Pigeon. None of this would have happened without you.”

“I didn’t—”

“Before you, I had no reason to go back to my place. No wish either. It was empty and too quiet and cold—” Keigo briefly closes his eyes. “It was just a fantasy we both created, but it felt real at the time. You showed me that I was allowed to be something else besides the hero, that I could be Keigo, and that it was okay. That I was allowed to have a personal life. That I was allowed to have something just for myself. If I gave you the feeling you belonged somewhere, you showed me that Keigo could belong with someone.”

Touya doesn’t answer, contemplating Keigo, mouth slightly agape, and Keigo feels a bit stupid but he can’t stop. He needs to chase those doubts that keep clouding Touya’s mind and stand in the way of a better life for both of them. Keigo squeezes Touya’s slack fingers and lets the words he kept locked inside for so long fly to the only person who ever mattered. “I fell for the idea of you. Of us. Of what could be.”

Touya hides his face behind his free hand. “So you did love me.”

“I did. I still do. I never stopped, even when I hated you; even when it hurt.”

Touya’s hand slides against his wet face, and he peers at Keigo through his fingers. “You’re insane.”

“Probably,” Keigo admits with a crooked smile.

“You could have settled down with anyone. You could have had a good life.”

“I could have, yes. But that’s not what I wanted. I told you, Touya, and I’ll keep telling you until you believe it: there’s only you.”

“What if you change your mind? What if you realize that you don’t want me anymore? That it doesn’t work?”

Keigo’s heart clenches at the mere idea of seeing Touya walk out of his life again. He closes his eyes briefly before locking his gaze on the expecting blue eyes. “None of us can promise forever. I wish I could but we both know it’s not how it works. We can at least try.”

Touya tugs on Keigo’s hand and Keigo gets the implicit demand. He shifts and turns around to settle between Touya’s legs, his back to Touya’s chest. Touya wraps his arms around him and buried his face in his shoulder. “When did you become so wise?”

“I was always wise.”

“No, you were a cocky bastard.”

“This is not mutually exclusive,” Keigo snorts.

“Totally is.” Touya nips at Keigo’s shoulder.

Keigo laughs softly and leans completely against Touya’s chest. “This is another reason why I fell for you.”

“What? Not taking any of your bullshit?”

“Something like that.”

“You’re not that hard to read.”

Keigo chuckles. “A lot of people would disagree with you.”

“Not my fault if they were blinded by your pretty face and fake smile.”

“That’s not what wooed you?”

Touya presses a kiss against Keigo’s temple. “No.”

“What did then?”

“Your ass.”

The laugh that bubbles out of Keigo’s chest echoes between the walls of the bathroom, unbridled and clear.

“This is what wooed me,” Touya whispers in his ear when Keigo’s laugh subsides and Keigo’s heart swells in his chest, full of a feeling light and fragile like one of the bubbles Pigeon tries to catch, shiny and bright.

He’s happy.

Truly.

Completely.

Simply happy.

Chapter End Notes

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