Chapter Text
Katsuki smiled to himself, closing the notebook for the last time and simply looking at the cover for a moment. He traced the edges of soot marks with his thumb.
Number fourteen, the last of the analysis books, and the only one of it's kind. His smile fell slightly as he traced rips and soot marks with shaking fingers.
It'd gone through a lot with him. He'd left specific instructions with his kids that it was to be cremated with him, to let the contents go out in a blaze of glory, the only way it deserved.
But, well, he guessed it didn't really matter if they did it or not. It wasn't his concern anymore.
"You ready yet?"
His smile came back in full force at the familiar voice, shaking his head as he scooted the book to his bedside table. His eyes looked over the other letters and trinkets there as well, to make sure it was all in place. Everyone would get something. He hoped it'd be enough to get them through the next phase of all of this.
"Yeah. I think I am," he answered, though he didn't turn around yet. "The kids are...?"
"All out of the house," he promised. "The only one here is the nurse. No one will have to see it."
"Good." He could feel himself physically sag in relief, finally turning to see the man standing besides him.
He looked... damn good, for a dead guy. No longer old and wrinkled, sharp teeth bared and eyes crinkled into a familiar smile. Radiant as ever, and...
"Your hair's red again," He smiled at the light blush that covered Eijirou's face. "And it's all gelled up again. Shitty-hair, you really outdid yourself this time." His smiled grew wider. "I like it, though."
"I thought you might," his husband murmured, before letting out a chuckle and extending his hand. "Come on, babe. You've made us all wait long enough."
Katsuki could only laugh at that. "Us? I saw you three days ago!"
"That was eons ago," He whined, though the light in his eyes never left. "I had to go three whole days without a single taunt! It was stressful."
"Yeah, well, I'm hear now, you hard headed bastard. I've got all the taunts you need." He still didn't take Eijirou's hand though, simply staring at his own.
For a moment, no one said anything.
"Is it going to hurt?" Katsuki asked at last, hands twirling and burying themselves into the sheets.
Eijirou's smile softened in response. "Not a bit," he promised, moving his hands then to cover the other's. Katsuki couldn't help but smile at the clink of metal from their rings, allowing himself to be pulled up then, stepping out of the bed and into the warm embrace of his love's arms.
"See? I bet it didn't feel any different at all."
He blinked then, trying to turn his head, but Eijirou caught his chin gently.
"But don't look back. It doesn't make it any easier. Just focus on me."
His smile was sad again. Katsuki cupped his's face in his hands, standing on tiptoe to bonk their foreheads together.
"Hey. There's no reason to smile that sadly," he murmured.
Eijirou inhaled sharply before shaking his head. "No, I know, it's just... bittersweet, I guess."
"Yeah, but what can we do? Death is a part of life. And besides, if you don't remember, you're the one that left me first. Assmunch."
There was a choked laugh from his effort, although it was soon swallowed by a kiss.
It really did feel like coming home.
Eijirou broke it off first, chuckling even with wet eyes. "I really did miss you, babe," he murmured.
"Yeah. I missed you too, you hard-headed bastard, but don't cry over it." He reached up to wipe the tears away, startling when he realized his hands were smooth again, calloused. "Oh."
"Yeah, Oh." Eijirou reached up to frame the hand with his own, turning to press his lips into his palm. "It's done. We're here."
Katsuki turned to look, eyeing the rough patchwork of buildings and land that seemed to spread out before him. "This is it?"
"This is it," Eijirou confirmed with a sigh. "And I know who you're looking for. He's in that house over there. "
Kastuki nodded, even if he faultered slightly. "And everyone else?"
"Scattered about. You'll meet everyone soon, don't worry we have an eternity here."
"And you?" He asked, turning back. "You're still sad."
"Only because now I'll have someone to compete with for your attention. Katsuki, baby." He chuckled. "It's okay. Just go see him. he's been waiting for you longer than anyone else."
Right, Right. He shouldn't keep him waiting anymore. That would be a real dick move from him.
But he couldn't get his feet to move.
"Ejirou, he's a child," he whispered at last, hands fluttering at his sides with half formed signs, betraying his anxiety. "I won't know how to talk to him anymore."
"Just talk to him the way you talk to anyone else. You'll be okay."
"Okay..." He glanced over his shoulder at the house, gnawing at his lip before looking back. 'And he doesn't hate me?' he signed.
"No. He doesn't hate you at all. I promise. Talk to him."
He hesitated, took a deep breath before nodding slowly. "Okay," he murmured. "Okay. You'll find me when I'm done?"
"Yeah, of course I will." Eijirou smiled at him again before making a shooing motion. "Now go. Get it over with."
Nodding again, mostly to himself, he headed out towards the house. For a moment he could only stare at the door, take in the shifting wood grain pattern before he brought up a hand to knock.
Only the door swung open before he could even do so.
"Kacchan! You're here!" God, he was so small, Katsuki had to look down to see him, but there he was. Izuku Midoriya, full smiles and bright wide eyes, just like he remembered. He bit back tears, giving a hesitant smile before yelping as Izuku grabbed his arm and pulled him inside more fully.
"I'm so glad you made it here okay! Kirishima got you, right? We thought he might be the best one! And wow, you've gotten so tall! And you look so much cooler. And you got married?? Your wedding ring is so cool, I love it! We have so much to talk about, Inko and Aizawa and Hizashi started telling me a little bit, but it's really your story to tell, and- Kacchan?"
Izuku stopped when he finally got a good look at the man in front of him, who trembled slightly, tears pooling in his eyes.
"Kacchan, are you okay?"
Without warning, he was swept into a tight, bone crushing hug. He could barely manage to huff out a laugh as he wrapped his arms back around him- for just a moment, until Katsuki pulled back.
"Deku." Kastuki cleared his throat, trying to keep it from sounding as raw as he felt. "It's good to see you again."
"Yeah. It's good to see you too." Izuku's smile turned soft. "It's been... a really long time. Hey, did you bring me any good stories?"
The older man just grinned, wiping at his eyes. "Of course. I'm not an asshole, you asked me to."
Izuku gave him a warm laugh, moving forward again to wrap him in another hug. "Then I can't wait to hear them!".
Kastuki looked down at the boy in his arms, the curly green hair that tucked itself right under his chin, and it finally started to kick in.
This was it.
"Alright then," he said quietly. "Where do you want me to start?"