What Is Written [Part 5]

[Chapter 4]

Izuku’s head filled with a familiar static, but this time he jumped up eagerly, looking around for the lights. He’d been waiting anxiously for another visit, in the few days since the last one – he had so many questions.

“Izuku?”

Izuku whipped around, finding the glowing lights waiting at his back, and grinned when he saw the much older, more attractive version of himself smiling back. This time, though, a second face waited at his side, and Izuku felt his eyes widen, staring at the older version of his boyfriend to match.

“Hey,” the older Katsuki said softly, eyes darting away for a second as he examined the room. “Why are you alone in my dorm, you stalker.”

“Kacchan took the kids to have a bath,” Izuku laughed brightly, completely unoffended. “I stayed behind to do some homework and stuff, but they should be back soon! I’ll text Iida, he won’t mind going and fetching them!”

True to his word, he dug out his phone, fingers trembling against the screen in his excitement.

“Can I ask you some questions?” he asked, as soon as the text was sent. “There’s so much I want to know!”

“I can’t tell you your future,” Izuku said firmly. “You know that, surely.”

“Oh, not like that!” Izuku assured him. “Well, maybe a little bit, but nothing that would hurt, I don’t think? Like, what are the kids’ favourite foods? They don’t want to tell us stuff but I feel like knowing what to cook them couldn’t harm the future, right? And Kisaku falls asleep pretty quickly at night, but Kiyomi takes forever, is that normal? Is there anything I can do to help? When is their bedtime? What should I be teaching them while they’re missing school? Do they have any allergies? Or illnesses? That one might be pushing it, but if they need medication or anything we should probably know about that?”

“Deku,” Katsuki cut him off, sniggering in a way that was weirdly attractive. “They’re healthy, no allergies, and not picky eaters. Relax.”

“I can’t relax! I’m a dad now!”

The pair both laughed brightly at the words, and Izuku couldn’t help but soften a little, a tiny smile tugging at his lips. He was anxious about it all, but seeing them laugh together, seeing them have enough trust in him to keep their kids safe that they could laugh, was a pretty damn good feeling.

“More importantly,” the older Izuku said, shaking his head faintly as he reached for a stack of papers. “Grab your phone again, I need you to take photos of these and take them to Mei. Our one says if she can build this machine, it’ll let us contact you easier, and hold the connection for more than a couple of minutes.”

“Oh! And that won’t-”

“It’ll be fine,” Katsuki assured him, knowingly. “It only works in conjunction with this specific quirk effect, and it’s not likely that it’ll be needed again, since we’re gonna lock the bastard up for life.”

“But it needs to be Mei,” the other Izuku added quickly. “She won’t try to use it for profit, or anything like that, so we trust her with the information.”

Izuku nodded, picking up his phone again obediently, and one page at a time he leaned in and took the best photos he could, grateful that Hatsume had drawn them in thick, dark lines to translate decently through the weird light-portal.

“Okay, I think I’ve got it,” Izuku nodded, scrolling through the pictures to check their legibility. “I’ll go see her first thing in the morning.”

“Do it tonight,” Katsuki instructed, getting a little glare from his Izuku for the tone. “I’m not just being impatient, dickwad, don’t start with me. They should talk in private and shit, not in a school full of people.”

“He’s not entirely wrong,” the other Izuku sighed. “Maybe send her a message and see if she’s still up, she might be in the lab still anyway.”

“A message?” Izuku grimaced, glancing at his phone again. “I don’t think I have her phone number or anything, but I guess maybe the school emails can autocomplete her email address? I’m not sure if they include the support department in the same directory.”

“Oh,” the older Izuku said dumbly, reaching for a piece of paper and a thick black marker. “Right, sorry.”

He scribbled a phone number down on the page, then after a meaningful glance with Katsuki, wrote something else down beneath it.

“Here,” he said. “And um, give this name to Aizawa for me. We’re bordering on paradoxes here, but I think we can trust him with it.”

Izuku copied the number into his contacts, then cropped the photo down to the name, sending it to Aizawa’s personal number – he was pretty sure he wasn’t even meant to have that number, but it seemed like as good a time as any to reveal his occasional stalkerish tendencies.

Check out this name please, Sensei. It might be connected to the villain. -Midoriya.

“Done,” Izuku confirmed. “I’ll text Mei to meet up once we’re finished here. Iida says the kids are on their way.”

Sure enough, he heard tiny footsteps racing down the hall before they could finish answering him, and smiled back over his shoulder as the door clammed open.

“Daddy!” Kisaku called, getting as close to the lights as possible to see him better. “I missed you Daddy!”

“Hey little man,” Katsuki said, with a fondness in his voice that Izuku had never heard before. “You taking good care of your sister?”

Kisaku giggled, and Izuku had to resist the urge to hug him so tight he popped.

“Grandpa’s looking after me,” he answered brightly. “And at night, Little Daddy and Little Papa. And ‘Yomi helps too.”

Kiyomi joined him in front of the portal, waving, and Katsuki grinned when he saw her little face appear.

“I missed you, Firecracker. Brought someone else to visit, too,” he said softly, glancing off to the side as he reached for something. “You wanna see?”

“Yeah!” Kisaku craned his neck to look.

Katsuki held up two little toy animals, the older Izuku giving him a look so full of love that it made Izuku’s chest ache.

“Umi!” Kisaku beamed, holding up the little bunny in his own arms. It was actually surprisingly accurate, Izuku couldn’t help but notice – a little smaller, and lacking the bow on the neck that Umi had, but the same shade of bright blue, with the same floppy limbs. “I miss you, Umi! This is Aoi, he’s my friend too!”

The normal-aged Katsuki sat down at Izuku’s side, leaning into him, and Izuku slid his arm around his waist, holding him close. He turned his phone screen, showing Katsuki the photos of the diagrams, and after a moment Katsuki took it from him, aiming it at the lights again to snap a couple more pictures.

“I’m taking good care of him for you,” the older Katsuki was saying, from the other side. “And of Shoushi, too. They’re right here waiting for you, when you get back.”

He propped them on the desk in front of them, where the kids could still see their little faces watching, and Kiyomi softened a little as she stared, eyes wide.

“You’re quiet tonight, Firecracker,” the older Katsuki pointed out gently. “Everything okay?”

“Uh-huh,” Kiyomi nodded firmly. “I’m being good and brave and looking after ‘Saku.”

“I’m sure you are,” he agreed. “But are you okay? I know it must be hard, and confusing.”

“A little,” she admitted. “No one knows who I am.”

“That must be weird,” Older-Katsuki acknowledged. “But it’s okay to rely on them a little, yeah? My old man hasn’t changed in the slightest since I was born, so he’s no different from the Grandpa you’re used to, even if he doesn’t know all the things you know. And I know I was kind of a dickhead at that age, but I’ll still never let you down, I promise.”

Kiyomi glanced back at them, so brief Izuku could have missed it if he’d blinked, but the Katsuki at his side spotted it immediately, sliding out of Izuku’s grip to move closer to the twins.

“I’m sure I’m still a fuckin’ asshole, even if he’s denying it,” Normal-Katsuki said quietly, smirking. “He’s right though, you can talk to me; ask me for anything you need, and I’ll make sure it happens.”

“Anything?”

“Anything,” he said firmly. “None of that ‘within reason’ bullshit that parents like to pull, I’ll take you to the damn moon if that’s what you want.”

Kiyomi gave him a wobbly smile, eyes watering a little, and Katsuki pulled her into a hug without a moment of hesitation, holding her tight. She sat herself in his lap, hiding her face in his shirt, and Katsuki just kept her wrapped up in his warm, safe embrace. For someone who hated to be touched ninety percent of the time, he honestly did a great job of it.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, a whisper only Kiyomi could hear. “You don’t have to be brave.”

“Daddy,” she whispered back, her voice a little choked up though Katsuki was sure she’d deny it later. “I miss being home.”

“I know you do.” He nodded faintly, swallowing hard as he took a moment to consider his words. “And I wish I could tell you we’ll get you home immediately, or tomorrow, or something, but we both know I can’t just promise you a day and a time. I will get you home though, I promise you that. I dunno about that old bastard, but I never break a promise, got it?”

“I know,” she sniffled. “You still don’t.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“I want Shoushi.”

“I already sent a photo to Ponytail from the nerd’s phone. It won’t be the real thing, but we’ll get you a new friend to help you out until you get home.”

Izuku froze when he heard the whispered words, glancing down at his phone, at the conversation still pulled up on the screen. He hadn’t even noticed, had thought Katsuki just took a photo and was done with it, but apparently he’d been busier than Izuku gave him credit for.

“We’ve only got a couple more minutes,” Older-Izuku told them reluctantly, his own eyes struggling to contain their tears. “But little-me is gonna talk to your Auntie Mei, and she’s gonna make something that’ll help us talk for longer next time, okay?

“Okay,” Kisaku nodded, apparently completely unsurprised by Kiyomi’s hidden tears. “It’s almost my bedtime.”

“Yeah, it is,” Older-Izuku agreed with a smile. “I’m glad you’re being good for them, they don’t know much about being parents yet. Don’t go telling them you’re allowed ice cream for breakfast.”

“Too late, Grandpa already let us.”

“What?! ‘Saku!”

Kisaku just grinned cheekily, and the pair in the lights couldn’t help but laugh along with him, expressions softer than Izuku thought he’d ever worn – let alone the Katsuki he was used to.

“We’d better say goodnight,” Older-Katsuki said reluctantly. “You guys should get all tucked up and cozy in your bed. Are you sleeping in mine?”

“Uh-huh,” Kisaku nodded, glancing over at the little bed frame. “Little Papa and Little Daddy got a mattress from Uncle Aizawa instead.”

“Okay, I’m sure you’ll be nice and comfy in there, it was a good bed. Do you have enough pillows? Make me get you more of them, if not.” He turned his head, glancing at his occupied younger self, then shifting his gaze to Izuku instead. “I- Deku. They have about a thousand pillows on their beds; get them more pillows.”

“I will,” Izuku smiled softly.

“And how old are you again?”

“S-Seventeen?”

“Oh,” Older-Katsuki said flatly, glancing over at his own Izuku. “No wonder you look like such a baby. So you two are already...?”

“Dating?” Izuku clarified, cheeks flushed. “Yeah, just for... a few months, since summer vacation.”

“Okay. Good. I uh, I guess we didn’t ruin too many surprises for you, then.”

“The kids have been very careful,” Izuku laughed brightly. “We’re good.”

“Cool. Take care of my- our kids, then. God, you’re such a fucking baby still, look at you.”

“Yeah,” Izuku grinned sheepishly, looking up at the older version of himself. “I’m glad I’ll... you know. One day.”

“Get hot?” Katsuki smirked, ruffling his own Izuku’s curls playfully. “Yeah, ‘bout time you got the face to match that body. Good job, nerd.”

“Shut up,” Older-Izuku laughed, shoving him off. “But really, we’re about to lose our connection here, so we’ll talk to you again in a few days, if we haven’t sorted this shit out by then. ‘Yomi, can you look here for a sec?”

Kiyomi tore her face from Katsuki’s shirt, but remained sitting in his lap, turning herself around a little to get a view of them with her red-rimmed eyes.

“Thank you, sweetie. I love you, okay? I love you and ‘Saku more than I could ever love anything else. I want you to get some rest and let the others take care of you, this time.”

“I’ll try,” she agreed quietly. “I love you too, Papa.”

The four of them echoed the words back and forth a few times, the lights starting to waver a little in the air, and finally, with a lot of tear-stained faces, the portal vanished.

“I’ve got you,” Katsuki said immediately, when Kiyomi sniffled a little. “My brave girl, I’m so proud of you. It’s our turn, okay? Our turn to be brave and strong for you, while you just have some fun on your little time-vacation. Can you try that for me? To let us take care of you?”

Kiyomi nodded, and Katsuki hugged her again, this time standing up with her still held in his arms.

“Good. It’s bedtime for you, then!”

He tossed her at the bed lightly, watching an unexpected giggle burst from her when she bounced, then grinned as he picked up Kisaku to do the same. He squealed and giggled as Katsuki threw him lightly, grabbing at the mattress when he landed, and Kiyomi wiped her eyes on her pyjama sleeve as she took one of his hands in hers.

Katsuki followed them, tucking them in extra-tightly, grinning when they whined and wiggled, still laughing the whole way through. Izuku couldn’t stifle his laughter when Katsuki pulled one of the sheets up over their heads playfully, grateful that Katsuki didn’t seem to notice how he stared. Katsuki had spent their whole lives claiming he hated kids, trying his best to avoid being around them, but every time a kid showed up in his life, he’d always done such a good job of taking care of them, in his own way. It was different though, seeing him with his own kids, even if technically speaking that designation was a little messy. He was so full of love for them, so ready to make a fool out of himself just to get a laugh out of them, and so prepared to do anything to make sure they were safe and happy. Izuku shouldn’t have been surprised by any of that, given how driven and pedantic and single-minded he was about the things he loved, but still it caught him unaware, left him staring a little creepily as he watched it all unfold.

“Love ya,” Katsuki said, planting a tiny kiss on Kisaku’s nose and making him giggle, then moving to Kiyomi’s forehead despite the way she screwed up her face and pretended to hate it. “You as well, love you.”

“Love you too,” they chorused, snuggling down into their blankets happily.

A knock on the door halted their little routine, and Izuku cracked it open to see Yaoyorozu standing outside, smiling her usual little smile as she held up a bright pink bear.

“Thank you,” Izuku said, so sincerely it hurt. “Come in, they’re just getting in bed.”

Kiyomi’s eyes widened when she saw the bear in Yaoyorozu’s hands, accepting without hesitation when she offered it out. She pulled it into her arms, squeezing tightly, and Kisaku bumped Aoi’s face against it lightly, in what Izuku could only assume was a stuffed toy kiss.

“I know it’s not perfect,” Yaoyorozu said apologetically. “But I hope it helps.”

“Thank you,” Kiyomi said, leaning her cheek on the soft pink fluff. “I love her.”

“But Shoushi is a boy,” Kisaku objected.

“Uh-huh. But Souzou is a girl,” Kiyomi said firmly, snuggling down with her new bear. “She’s gonna eat all the bad dreams.”

“Is there anything else you’d like?” Yaoyorozu offered. “Are your pyjamas okay?”

“Pyjamas are comfy!” Kisaku confirmed, snuggling up with Aoi. “Thank you!”

“You’re very welcome.”

“Oh,” Izuku mumbled, watching her eyes shift to him knowingly. “Would it be difficult to make a couple of extra pillows?”

“Not at all!”

She lifted the hem of her shirt immediately, pulling four big pillows out with no hesitation, and the twins grinned when Izuku handed them over as they appeared. Together they built a little nest around themselves, nestling in comfortably, and Izuku gave Yaoyorozu one more grateful smile as she dropped the hem back down.

“Thank you, again. You always come through for us.”

“I’m happy to help!” she assured them, smiling warmly. “Oh, one more thing!”

She reached to her back this time, producing something new, and this time, handed it to Katsuki.

“Read them a bedtime story,” she instructed, when he looked down at the brightly-coloured cover in his hands. “This was my favourite, at their age.”

“I will,” he agreed, strangely soft in tone. “Um, thanks.”

“My pleasure!”

She showed herself out with a last little wave, and Izuku watched fondly as Katsuki sat down beside the bed, holding the book up where the kids would be able to see the pictures as he read.

“I’m gonna go text Hatsume,” he said finally. “I’ll come back and give you all a last goodnight hug after!”

“Goodnight Papa,” Kisaku said from behind his bunny. “I love you lots.”

“Goodnight, Kisaku. I love you too. And you, Kiyomi. I love you, goodnight.”

“Love you too, Papa.”

With that Izuku left them to start their story, taking a deep breath as he tapped on the new contact, and started typing his message.

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[TBC]