Archive of Our Own

It started with a late-night call.

Toshinori cracked a sunken blue eye open in alarm at the incessant ringing of his cell phone that echoed through his sparsely decorated teacher dorm room.

Shoot, what if it’s about one of the students?

Freeing a gangly arm from the twisted bedsheets, the retired-hero-turned-teacher grabbed the device and fumbled bringing it to his ear in his haste.

“H-hello?” He coughed, his voice raspy with sleep.

The familiar youthful voice of Recovery Girl crackled to life on the other end of the phone.

“Toshinori? Some of the students in Class 1-A came down with food poisoning, including Midoriya.”

The fear gripping what remained of his innards loosened--thank goodness it wasn’t a villain attack, the children are still safe for a while longer--but the blonde was still worried.

“How long until they recover?”

“It can be almost up to a week depending on what they ate and how much of it. During one of their sanctioned excursions, they went to the mall and potentially ate some undercooked poultry. It's fine for you to come down in the morning to check on them before classes.”

“Can I come now?” He didn’t wait for her answer, already shifting the phone from one ear to the other as he changed out of his pajamas into a UA branded sweatshirt and pant set.

Recovery Girl gave her consent and Toshinori hung up to finish changing. Setting a brisk pace, he strode into the Recovery Ward after a ten-minute walk. He felt pity and sympathy well as he took in the students lying in their beds, hands wrapped around their midsections as if to ward off the pain.

Toshinori made sure to take a few minutes to comfort Sero, Aoyama, and Tooru each before finally moving on to Izuku.

His heart panged when he saw the green-haired boy was sleeping fitfully, his skin pale and clammy to the touch.

“Did you call Ms. Midoriya?” He asked, turning to the elderly woman writing notes at her desk.

Recovery Girl nodded. “Yes, she didn’t pick up so I left a message. Policy dictates if we can’t reach the primary emergency contact, we call the next one to inform them about their child’s condition.”

There was a note of something in her tone that caused Toshinori’s brow to furrow. Recovery Girl bit the inside of her cheek in amusement as awareness dawned on his face.

“I-Is that w-why…you called me?” The man involuntarily squeaked. Sure he was the boy’s mentor and actual teacher but since when had he actually been listed as one of Izuku’s emergency contact?

“You didn’t know?” She asked with a false look of concern. “Ms. Midoriya submitted paperwork right when the kids moved into the dorms updating Izuku’s emergency contacts. You’re listed  as his alternative guardian.”

From Toshinori’s current stupor, it appeared that he did not in fact know that.

(Nezu positively cackled when Recovery Girl told him about this later in their bi-weekly gossip and tea breaks.)

“So Mr. Yagi, tell me…how is our son doing?”

Inko’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as Toshinori nearly hacked out his remaining lung on her dining room table. It was their first parent-teacher meeting, a weekly session when Toshinori would visit and bring her updates about Izuku’s well-being and grades.

So far, everything was off to a great start.

She grabbed a dishcloth hanging from the oven handle and pressed it to his mouth, dabbing at the dribbles of blood running down his chin.

“Was it something I said?” She asked. If Toshinori hadn’t been so busy waving his hand and wiping his mouth with the dishcloth, he might have seen the tiny glint of mischief in the woman’s eyes.

“Ah! I wasn’t-I’d never want to presume! It’s just that I’m not-”

“-Izuku’s actual parent?” Inko finished. His coughing fit under control, Toshinori weakly nodded. Inko retook her seat and took a fortifying sip of her warm tea. She locked eyes with the red-faced man across from her.

“Didn’t you effectively become Izuku’s father when you asked me for permission to help raise him?”

Toshinori didn’t have a response. I…did, didn’t I? He had gotten on his hands and knees and practically begged for the role. Admittedly, he thought he’d be Izuku’s close mentor, despite his poor teaching methods, as Nana had been to him.

He hadn’t expected to become… to become Izuku’s father.

A small voice spoke up from the back of his mind. But wasn’t Nana like a mother to you?

Toshinori took a sip of the slightly sweetened tea to soothe his throat and swallowed. She had been and look at what had happened.

She was the reason why he’d written off having a family at a young age. It was much too dangerous to have a steady romantic partner, let alone a child.

But you’re effectively retired now, aren’t you? And you’re not exactly subtle with how you favor the boy.

“I s-suppose I did Ms. Midoriya,” Toshinori responded, his voice soft and bashful. Izuku’s parent… he didn’t think the title would make him feel so warm inside.

He shifted the conversation to give the woman a progress report on her--their son. Nothing too intrusive on Izuku’s privacy, but enough to ease a worried mother’s concern.

Just as he gathered his papers and documents off the dining room table to leave, Mrs. Midoriya handed him a reusable bag full of plastic containers.

Curiously, Toshinori held one up to peer inside and gaped.

“I talked to Izuku and Recovery Girl about your health,” Inko said. She ignored his sputters. “This is a week’s worth of lunches and dinners adapted for your diet.”

“Ms. Midoriya, this is too much--”

“You promised me that you would live for Izuku. Are you going back on your word?”

Gone was the sweet woman, in her place was a raging Mama Bear who was coming to the defense of her cub. It was a fascinating transformation, one that would’ve made his heart flutter had he not been half-terrified of the fire in Inko’s eyes.

“Not at all, Ms. Midoriya!”

The small woman put her hands on her hips. “If you’re going to be another man who lies and disappoints my son like my ex-husband, I’d rather you stay out of his life!”

Ouch. I can’t say I blame her. Toshinori rubbed the back of his neck.

 Ms. Midoriya, this is just, this is a lot of trouble for you to go to on my behalf.” He folded himself in half as he bowed. “I have no intention of disappointing you or Young Izuku.”

Inko glared at him for a few more seconds before transforming back into her sweet self.

“Good!” She chirped. “Please make sure to bring the containers back next week when we meet.”

Toshinori humbly accepted the reusable bag and kept his smile on his face for fear of bringing Inko’s wrath down upon him again. She held out one of her hands and he gingerly grasped it with one of his.

There was a flash in her eyes that he would never ever in a million years admit scared him more than All for One ever did. 

“I’m looking forward to being co-parents with you, Mr. Yagi.”

(The bentos were the best things he’d ever tasted and he didn’t even mind it when Ms. Midoriya insisted that he call her Inko during their next visit. He’d supervise even Young Bakugou for detention if it meant he’d get more of her cooking.)

“Ah, You--Izuku! Welcome back to campus.”

After a lot of stammering and rambling over a family dinner, with absolutely no help from a jovial Inko, Toshinori and the green-haired boy had come to an agreement that when in private, they could call each other by their first names.

Izuku had nearly passed out the first time he had called him, “Toshinori.”

Toshinori set aside his Teaching for Dummies book on the bench and peered at the red-faced boy. “Did something happen during your weekend visit to your mother’s?”

“Ah, n-no! Everything is f-fine!” Izuku shook his head side to side so wildly that the retired hero feared he’d give himself whiplash.

The boy held up a neatly wrapped package and nearly shoved it into Toshinori’s face.

“M-mom baked you, uh, a cake. S-she said--” Izuku took a fortifying breath before he blurted out, “She said for me to give it to my dad!”

Red splashed across Toshinori’s cheekbones as he coughed up a waterfall of blood that Izuku narrowly avoided.

I suspect Inko is doing this on purpose. Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, the gangly man accepted the package and set it beside him on the bench. Thinking better of it, he patted Izuku’s shoulder and quickly looked away.

“I uh, don’t mind if you--called me that.” Toshinori cleared his throat. “Dad, I mean. You can call me that if you want when we’re alone. Or Toshinori if you prefer. Either is fine.”

Cracking one shadowed eye open, he peered back to see that Izuku’s dark green eyes were impossibly wide.

His voice cracked. “Uh, okay, s-sure… Dad.”

Clamping a hand over his mouth in shock, Izuku took off in an explosion of dust, mortified.

Despite his embarrassment, Toshinori couldn’t help the bright smile on his face and resisted the urge to press his hands to his hot cheeks like a giddy schoolgirl.

“Dad,” He mouthed to himself.

(The cake was delicious and no he didn’t share it with the other teachers who caught him eating it in the break room, no matter how much Midnight and Present Mic begged.)

“Izuku, you have a holiday break from school coming up, right?”

The growing teenager looked up from practically inhaling his bowl of rice and nodded. “Yes, we get a three-day weekend next week.”

Toshinori looked up from his much smaller bowl of rice and handed the boy the napkin. “Wipe your face, my boy.” He chided fondly.

He’d been apprehensive of these biweekly family dinners but after two months, they were right next to his weekly meetings with the wonderful Inko as the highlights of his month.

It was funny how much easier it was to take care of yourself when you had something to look forward to.

“How would you like to spend a long weekend with your father?”

Scratch that, Inko Midoriya was the devil incarnate.

Izuku choked on his next bite, Toshinori looked at her accusingly and Inko pasted on an innocent smile that he didn’t fall for one bit.

“You don’t get much time to spend with Izuku out of school so I thought it might be a good time for some father-son bonding.”

I wouldn’t mind at all, in fact I’d be excited, but isn’t that something we should talk about first between ourselves?

“I, uh, would like that,” Izuku mumbled, looking down at his plate. Toshinori felt his heart do a loop-de-loop.

“I’d like that too.” He replied, staring at his plate as well. Inko’s eyes glittered with victory and she clapped her hands.

“I’m glad that’s settled! More rice, anyone?”

(Toshinori was convinced that Inko was secretly a troll. It was that or he must’ve done something in a past life that she was punishing him for.)

On the day of Izuku’s stay, Toshinori wouldn’t admit it, but he was nervous. What is it that kids like to do these days?

Even when he was a kid, he didn’t have much interaction with others his age because of his quirkless status. The last thing he wanted was for Izuku to think he was lame.

Izuku seemed as nervous as he, but luckily the boy didn’t seem to have high expectations -- Toshinori didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing -- and was excited when Toshinori proposed they go to the nearby park and throw around a baseball.

“Yeah, that’d be awesome! My, uh, biological dad never did this sort of thing with me when he was still around.”

This is going to be the best game of baseball ever or my name isn’t Toshinori.

Inko had already put her foot down about training but if Izuku happened to pull on One for All to hit the ball with the bat and then immediately chase after it, well, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

A wide grin split Izuku’s face as they took a break from passing the ball back and forth. He didn’t even pull a face when Toshinori pulled out one of the juice boxes he packed for their excursion.

The salesperson had told him it was what all the kids were drinking today. Toshinori probably should’ve asked him how old those kids were.

“Are you having fun?” The blonde inquired eagerly.

Izuku nudged his bone-thin shoulder playfully. “Yes, you’re not half-bad at this whole parent thing,” He teased.  “So what’s next on the father-son bonding agenda?”

“Well,” Toshinori pretended to ponder with his hand on his chin. “You can tell your old man all about your crush on Young Iida and Young Uraraka. I can give you a tip or two on courting them if you’d like.”

Not that he had much experience dating but his Parenting for Dummies book had noted it was important to let your kids know that they could talk to you about those sorts of things.

Izuku blanched and scrambled to his feet. “Oh, look at the time, we should head back for dinner. I’m going to go grab the bat and stuff. Be back in a minute, bye!”

He took off in a flash of green lightning and Toshinori let out a wet cackle.

The blonde skeletal man made a few more teasing remarks through dinner, much to Izuku’s consternation, and pleads that he didn’t need any help, thank you very much. When the boy desperately suggested they watch a movie, Toshinori acquiesced to his unsaid plea and left things well alone.

He did make a note to text Inko later tonight about how Izuku never denied he had a crush on his two friends, however.

Not long into the movie, Izuku’s head began to bob and light snores shook his frame. Shaking his head, Toshinori turned the tv off. Groaning, he moved the heavy heap of teenager into a more comfortable position on the couch and draped an afghan atop him.

“Goodnight Izuku,” He whispered, lightly rubbing the boy’s wild curls.

“G’night Dad. Wove you.” Izuku mumbled. Holding back a bloody cough as tears pricked his eyes, Toshinori bent down to kiss Izuku’s forehead.

“I love you too, my boy.”

(He let his tears fall once he was in his bedroom and the door was shut.)

For Christmas, Toshinori made it a point to discuss the holiday with Inko before presenting their plan to Izuku for input.

Toshinori would come and stay with the Midoriyas for the whole break so Izuku didn’t have to split his time between the two of them.

They were co-parents that got along well, after all, not bitter divorcees.

It worked out because, despite Inko’s wishes, Toshinori had taken over paying for Izuku’s school fees -- perks of being listed as Izuku’s guardian and having first-hand access to school paperwork.

This had allowed Inko to retaliate by purchasing a new pullout couch big enough for his 7-foot frame.

Taking a shower in their tiny bathroom would be a challenge but it would be worth it to spend quality time with his son and the beautiful impish woman.

Said woman greeted him with a bright smile and a red headband that flashed the words, “Merry Christmas!” in bright green letters. Clad in a red cashmere sweater and a green skirt, Inko looked remarkably festive.

And cute, his mind supplied. He promptly kicked the thought into the darkest reaches of his mind. “Hello, Inko.”

“Welcome, Toshinori! Please come in.”

Taking his shoes off and putting them in their customary spot, Toshinori did a half-step and twirl when Inko reached for his suitcase. Her pout was adorable but he was long immune to its charms.

Setting it in Izuku’s bedroom, Toshinori strode into the living room and stopped in shock at seeing the medium-sized spruce tree standing in the corner.

“Surprise!” Izuku shouted, springing up from where he was rustling through a box of decorations.

“What’s all of this?” Toshinori asked. Did they…for me?

Inko patted his arm. “Izuku told me you spent some time in America and really loved how they celebrated the holiday. So for our first family Christmas, we’re doing it Western-style!”

Dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, Toshinori cleared his throat several times. “Thank you both. This is…I don’t know what to say.”

“Still as dramatic as ever, boy.”

Despite himself, Toshinori flinched and peeked his eyes open in dismay to see Gran Torino sitting in the dining room with a cup of tea. The old man snorted.

“Don’t look so happy to see me, Toshinori.”

Izuku dashed over, his hands up in an effort to call for peace. “I invited him over, Dad. You both have done so much for me, it didn’t feel right to leave anyone alone over the holidays.”

He would’ve much preferred to spend time alone with his family without cringing at Gran Torino’s coarseness and avoiding his mentor’s cane but if it made Izuku happy…

Toshinori raised a hand and ruffled Izuku’s curls. “The more the merrier, my boy.”

Izuku’s beaming smile was worth it.

Though Toshinori did keep himself busy and out of hitting range by helping Izuku decorate the tree while Inko snuck photos on her phone and kept an eye on dinner.

He hadn’t been there for more than an hour and it was already the best Christmas he’d ever had, except for the one he partially spent with Nana when she was alive.

Caught up in the memories of his mentor, Toshinori wasn’t paying attention when he slipped on a piece of garland and crashed to the ground in a pile of limbs.

“Dad!”

“Toshinori!”

“Torino!” The old man cackled at the table. Sheepishly, and more than a little embarrassed, he sent a glare at his mentor as Izuku helped him up.

“Don’t give me that look, boy. It’s not my fault you were born with two left feet and--”

“Now, now Torino. That’s no way to talk to Toshinori.” Before the old man could say anything, Inko set a plate on the table in front of him with a warning look in her eyes.

It was piled high with warm homemade taiyaki and Toshinori could see from the side profile of his mentor’s head that the man was drooling.

Heck, I am and I don’t even like taiyaki.

Gran Torino glanced over at his laughing former protégés -- Izuku and Toshinori were not subtle with their sniggers -- and narrowed his eyes. Clasping his hands together, he arranged his face into a dazzling look.

“Inko, I already thought you were amazing for accepting my lousy son’s attention and raising my green bean grandson but this,” He gestured at the fish-shaped cake.

“I couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law!”

The sniggers abruptly stopped, followed by coughing and the solid thump of a body crashing to the ground.

(Luckily Inko was able to get blood out of the carpet and the knot on Izuku’s forehead wasn’t too bad. Torino suggested they paint it red to look like that Western flying deer.)

“Toshinori, this is sweet but you didn’t have to do this.”

Stopping the car at a red light, he frowned over at the petite green-haired woman in the passenger seat. Dressed in a dark blue dress with thin spaghetti straps, along with strappy black heels and a sheer white wrap around her shoulders, Inko Midoriya was a vision.

Forcing his mouth to work, he declared, “Nonsense! It’s Valentine’s Day and the mother of my child -- or baby mama as the kids like to say -- deserves a special night out.”

Her cheeks darkened and she playfully swatted him on his arm. Toshinori laughed and inwardly counted it as a win. Inko might be better at teasing him, but he was a quick study.

Google was a big help too.

Toshinori nimbly pulled up at the valet and coughed when Inko tried to open the door. A smile playing at the edges of her lips, she patiently waited for him to get out and rush to open the passenger door.

“My lady,” He joked. Inko’s eyes were bright as she accepted his hand and nimbly hopped out of the truck. Tucking her arm in the crook of his elbow, Toshinori tossed the keys to the attendant and lead Inko inside.

Izuku had told him -- more like he had to bribe his son with a limited Red, White and Blue edition All Might figurine -- that Inko loved seafood. She didn’t purchase it often because of their finances, so the retired hero was determined that she got to indulge tonight.  

Escorted to a candlelit private booth with a stunning view of downtown Musutafu, Inko graciously allowed Toshinori to pull out her seat for her.

“Pulling out all the stops, are we?”

Taking a seat across from her, his bright blue eyes were soft. “Only the best for you.”

Inko’s lips formed an O, but she was saved from responding by the attentive waiter. Ordering a bottle of their best champagne, Toshinori’s sharp gaze caught how Inko was biting her lip as she peered at the menu.

I know her well enough to know she’s worried about something.

“Inko, is something the matter?”

Having been caught, Inko winced. She looked at him sheepishly and whispered, “Toshinori, there aren’t any prices listed.”

He blinked.

“Well I certainly don’t mean to brag Inko but, um--I am All Might.”

Inko blinked incomprehensibly.

“…I’m rich, Inko.”

She made the O-face again before she held up the menu to hide her embarrassment. Toshinori let out a deep bellied laugh and reached across the table to pat her hand.

“Don’t worry about prices. Please get whatever you want.”

The lady was still hesitant as she rattled her order off to the waiter upon their return but when he didn’t so much as blink, she relaxed. Though the two glasses of wine also helped with that.

Toshinori nursed his single glass. Inko’s regular home-cooked meals had certainly helped him put on enough weight so he merely looked thin instead of skeletal. So long as he didn’t overindulge, his doctors allowed him to expand his previously very limited diet.

Even if he couldn’t eat at all, he would’ve been pleased watching the green-haired woman’s eyes light up in delight with every bite of food she ate all night.

“Toshi, I’m so stuffed! You shouldn’t have encouraged me to get that chocolate cake for dessert.” Inko complained softly as they waited for the valet.

She swayed lightly in her heels and though it made his face hot, Toshinori wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her steady.

“I told you, tonight was a night of indulgence. Besides, you forced me to eat half.”

“Someone has to keep putting meat on your bones,” She sniffed. Shaking his head, Toshinori watched as the valet pulled his truck up and accepted his keys.

“Come along now,” He said. Toshinori nudged Inko to the passenger door and helped her in. He tried super hard not to stare at the flash of thigh Inko inadvertently displayed as she wiggled into her seat.

The drive back to her apartment was made in companionable silence and sooner than he wished, he parked at the curb just outside her complex.

“Inko, how are you feeling?”

The woman pouted. “I’m tipsy, not drunk Toshi. Though… I wouldn’t mind your help getting down. This truck was built for giants.”

Stifling a laugh at the cuteness, the blonde man got out and walked around to the passenger side.

“Never fear, for I am here.” He teased, holding out a hand.

Much to his surprise, two slightly perfumed arms wrapped around his neck and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Inko’s back and under her legs for support.

“My hero,” She giggled. She stuffed her face into the side of his neck and Toshinori shuddered from the vibrations on his skin.

“Here you are, my lady.” He said softly, setting her down on her feet.

“This was a wonderful Valentine’s Day, Toshi.”

Dark green eyes peered up at him and Toshinori flushed.

“I-I’m glad to hear that Inko. I hope you know that I truly wanted to take you out tonight. That this wasn’t a joke or anything of the sort. You’re an amazing woman and a strong mother and I’m so appreciative of you allowing me to become part of your family.”

I can’t even comprehend what it would feel like to not have them in my life. It feels like the three of us just… fit.

Inko squeezed his hand and tugged him to bend down. Curious, he obliged her and sucked in a breath when plush lips pressed against his sharp cheekbone.

 He repressed a shiver as her breath grazed his ear, he could almost taste the wine on her lips. If he simply tilted his head just so…

“Our family.” She corrected.

“Our family,” He repeated. Inko’s gaze was soft as she seemed to be waiting for something -- but what, he didn’t know.

Liar.

Toshinori straightened and ran a hand through his hair. “We, uh-- it’s getting late. I should walk you to the door.”

There was a flicker of something on her face but Inko breezily agreed and followed him towards her apartment complex elevator.

She didn’t let go of his hand, however, and neither did he.

(Later, Inko would tell him that she had been hoping that he might kiss her that night. Toshinori would admit that he had been scared and she had been tipsy. He would give her a lot of kisses to make up for it in the future.)

“Hello?”

“Why.”

“Inko? Is that you?”

“Yes, Toshinori. I know you’re probably busy on your work trip but do you have time for a quick question?”

“Of course, my dear! How may I be of assistance?”

“… Why have there been ten deliveries of flowers to my apartment today?”

“Isn’t today Mother’s Day? I thought you would like them!”

“It’s not that I don’t like them Toshi, it’s too much!”

“Nothing’s too much for the mother of my only child! One delivery for each year you spent raising our son.”

“…You mean there are more coming today?!”

“Only the best for you, Inko. Izuku will be by later today to take you out to dinner on my behalf as well so please be ready by six. Of course, it’s my treat so please don’t worry about paying.”

“You sweet insufferable man! Thank you, you truly didn’t have to do this but I appreciate it. Just know that when you get back, I’m going to--”

“Would you look at that, the conference doors are opening. I have to go but I will text you later to see how your night went. Happy Mother’s Day, my dear.”

“Toshinori Yagi, you--”

He ended the call and placed his phone on silent before entering the hall. If his coworkers Cementoss and Vlad King noticed how he practically oozed smugness, they didn’t mention it.

(He absolutely did not listen to Inko’s voicemail, where she continued to simultaneously berate and thank him in the same breath, once he got back to his hotel room. There was no way he restarted the message over a dozen times. Nope. Not at all.)

It had been easy for Toshinori to think co-parenting was a breeze. It had helped that he and Inko got along very well and that Izuku was a fairly self-sufficient and responsible teenager.

Except of course when it came to protecting his friends.

Inko’s shoulders shook from the force of her cries as she buried her face into Toshinori’s chest and clutched the lapels of his jacket. The retired hero kept his arm around the woman’s waist for comfort but his thin face was grim and weary.

The only other sounds in the room were the beeps and gentles whirls of the machines monitoring their comatose son laying in the hospital bed they sat next to.

“How did this even..?”

Toshinori shifted in the uncomfortable plastic visitor chair and sighed. “Young Bakugou. He--”

“--leaped headfirst into danger without listening. And of course, Izuku followed after him.”

Inko was quite familiar with the personalities and behaviors of both boys so it was easy for her to draw the most likely conclusion.

“Yes, Izuku tried to pull him back to safety but Young Bakugou wouldn’t hear of it. While they were arguing, Izuku was hit by the villain’s quirk.”

Now their boy was in a coma and while the police were interrogating the villain who wasn’t talking, the doctors were struggling to figure out how to nullify the effects.

Glancing at the small window that gave visitors a view inside the hospital room and vice versa, Toshinori could make out the wide-eyed red stare of Bakugou. The boy was wrapped up in Aizawa’s capture scarf as the underground hero angrily hissed in his ear. No doubt he was getting a lecture on his continued recklessness.

Toshinori might have felt pity if he weren’t so terrified and angry.

Not my boy. Please. Not now, not today. It was his running mantra, his continuous plea that Izuku would once again miraculously pull through.

Kami, what does it say about me as a mentor and parent that this is the umpteenth time he’s been in this kind of situation and he’s only just begun his second year?

A loud sniffle broke Toshinori out of his increasingly depressing thoughts. Inko was using the collar of her pink cardigan to dry her tear tracks, the rough material further irritating her already splotchy face.

Taking out a soft and clean handkerchief, Toshinori took over, speaking softly as he ever so gently wiped away her tears.

“Look at me Inko. We aren’t going to lose him, okay?” Tears began to well up in the corner of her eyes again and unthinkingly, Toshinori pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Izuku is strong and infuriatingly stubborn. He’s going to make it.”

Pursing her lips, Inko nodded slowly though there was a flicker of exhaustion in her gaze. Of course, she’s had to deal with him getting injured his whole life.  

Scrapping the bottom of the barrel, Toshinori forced a smile onto his face. “We haven’t eaten in hours. Let’s go down to the cafeteria to bring it back to the room. The walk will do us both some good.”

Rising to their feet, the parents left the room hand in hand with Toshinori leading the way.

Luckily, there was no sign of Aizawa and Bakugou so they didn’t have to deal with any awkward conversations. So intent on temporarily distracting themselves with the prospect of filling their stomachs, neither of them witnessed the two people sneaking into Izuku’s hospital room.

Armed with several cold packaged sandwiches, Toshinori and Inko quickly returned to the room. Upon entering, they immediately stopped upon seeing the two new occupants.

“Young Uraraka and Young Iida?” Toshinori questioned.

The two students were standing on either side of Izuku’s bed, their faces bright red as they stammered in a manner reminiscent of the green-haired boy. Neither had changed out of their dusty and torn hero uniforms either, though this had their helmets tucked under their arms.

“Uh, well, you see-- Ochako had an idea and so we--” Tenya blurted, his dark eyes wide behind his glasses. Said girl’s blush was even more pronounced as she waved her hand frantically.

“Well, my mom and dad got me this book of fairytales from the pre-quirk era--one of them mentions a sleeping princess-- so…so I got the idea for me and Tenya to…to…”

Too flustered to continue, Ochako grabbed Tenya’s hand and the two students jettisoned past the flabbergasted adults.

“Mom? Dad?” A hoarse voice whispered. Dropping the sandwiches, Toshinori and Inko rushed to their blearily awake son. Each of them took up one of his hands and squeezed while ruffling his hair and pressing kisses to his pale cheeks.

“We’re here.” They both said in unison with bright smiles and tears running down their faces.

(Once Izuku is released, Toshinori and Inko deliver his punishment together: no All Might merchandise for a month and drills ran by Ectoplasm, a reputed taskmaster about hero safety. Izuku cries more about the former than the latter.)

“You know, Izuku,” Toshinori started conversationally. The boy took a precious second away from shoveling his katsudon into his bottomless teenager gut and focused his attention on his father. Inko, too, looked at the blonde man sitting across the dining table from her.

“It would be nice if you invited Young Iida and Young Uraraka to our one of our family dinners so your mother and I can get to know them better outside of school.”

Red-faced as a tomato, Izuku buried his face into his hands and missed Toshinori’s wink to Inko. Smirking, the green-haired woman clapped her hands together.

“Yes, Izuku! I would love to formally meet the people my son has a crush on!”

Izuku thunked his head on the table in dismay and embarrassment. “Stop please, I’m begging you both.”

A week later, Izuku knocked on Toshinori’s door in the teachers’ dorm to ask for help with his tie.

“I, er, arranged a…a special date in the cafeteria tonight.” The boy bashfully explained. It was a testament to how much Lunch Rush positively adored Izuku.

He looked smart in the dark blue suit Toshinori had taken him to get fitted in on one of their father-son outings.

He even brushed his hair! Toshinori inwardly squealed. It went without saying who his date--or dates-- were.

“Of course, my boy.” Toshinori grabbed the proffered tie with a proud grin.

(Neither he nor Inko pushed for details but when Toshinori saw the Deku Squad cuddled together on a couch in the student common room, the retired hero gleefully snuck a few photos to share with her.)

So perhaps it had been a mistake to tell his family that he had only truly celebrated his birthday once.

To be fair, none of his foster homes had even cared enough to do anything and there had only been the single glorious year with both Nana and Gran Torino.

His pseudo-parents had taken him to a karaoke bar, where they ended up getting kicked out of thanks to Torino’s troll-like antics, before having an impromptu picnic outside under the stars.

It was the only birthday he could remember that truly felt like an actual celebration with his loved ones. Between patrols, villain fights, and agency paperwork, Toshinori often forgot about the day.

When he had managed to remember, the most he’d ever done was taking five minutes to eat a cupcake alone on top of All Might Tower in his hero form.

This year, the Midoriyas were determined to change that.  

“Inko, I’m more than happy to pay for everything--”

At the woman’s fierce glare, Toshinori immediately shut up. People could say a lot about him but they could never say he was a dolt.

Inko smiled and turned back to the concierge who handed her three wristbands.

“These bands allow you to access everything at the resort so make sure you don’t lose them.” The woman at the desk explained. Inko nodded in understanding and gave one to Toshinori and Izuku.

“They all say ‘Midoriya’,” Izuku noted. He dropped his bookbag accidentally and hissed in English, “Shit.”

“Hey,” Inko glared at the sheepish males, though she mostly directed it at Toshinori. She knew exactly who Izuku had picked up that terrible habit from.

“They must have made a mistake when I registered the three of us,” Inko fretted. “I’m sure they can change--”

“I don’t mind!” Toshinori blurted. Why would he turn down living one of his greatest living fantasies for this vacation?

If Inko and I…got together, Toshinori inwardly gulped. I could take her last name? Would she insist on becoming a Yagi? Would Izuku? Maybe they could be Midoriya-Yagi? Or I could be Yagi-Midoriya?

“Toshinori…? Are you ready to go to our rooms?”

Startled out of his daydreaming, he rubbed the back of his head. “Yes! Sorry! Lead the way.”

Everyone had their own room for privacy -- especially now that Izuku was dating. Toshinori loved his son but he didn’t want to get woken up by the boy’s late-night conversations with his boyfriend and girlfriend.

“I’m going to change and go down to the beach. See you both there in a few?” Toshinori inquired. Everyone agreed and it took only a few minutes to set out his suitcase and change into his red and white striped one-piece swim piece.

Saddled with the beach umbrella and towels, Toshinori cheerfully left his hotel room and headed to the resort’s private beach. Stepping out into the heat of the day and taking a deep inhale of the salty air, the retired hero’s heart felt full.

He would happily go through all of his trials and tribulations again if it meant that he would have Inko and Izuku in his life.

This is already one of, if not the best birthday in my life.

Quickly getting to work, he fumbled with the umbrella before getting it to open fully and plugging it into the soft sand.

“Hey, Dad!”

Toshinori paused in setting up the beach towels under the wide blue umbrella and scrunched up his face in confusion.

“Izuku, my boy, are you alone?” He asked in concern. Where was Inko? She was supposed to come down with Izuku.

Clad in dark blue swim trunks and a gray shirt, Izuku shook his head. He pointed behind himself.

“Nope, Mom is over there.”

Toshinori felt everything come to standstill as he gazed upon Inko Midoriya dressed in an adorable blue one-piece bathing suit adorned in a white star pattern. Miles of creamy skin was exposed to the sun’s bright rays and Toshinori suddenly felt entirely too hot.  

“Hello, Toshi! Hope we’re not too late!” The cheerful woman grinned with her eyes closed in happiness. One hand clutching her wide-brimmed hat from flying away while the other carried their snacks in a cute picnic wicker basket.

So cute! Toshinori inwardly exclaimed with bright pink cheeks as he coughed up a metric ton of blood.

“Dad?!”

“Toshinori?!”

He waved them off. “I’m fine, I swear!”

Izuku and Inko reluctantly backed off and soon all three were situated on beach towels and basking in the sun.

“Ugh, I’m thirsty,” Izuku complained after a little while in true teenager fashion.

Toshinori paused before he felt his adrenaline spike as he turned to face his son with a look of unholy glee in his sunken blue eyes.

This is it. The perfect moment.

It felt like he’d been waiting his whole life for this.

“Hi thirsty,” He said, a note of menace underlying his words. Inko and Izuku tensed. Their matching green eyes were wide as they practically begged him not to finish.

No such luck.

Toshinori pulled on the fading embers of One for All and his muscles bulked as he powered into his All Might form.

“I’M DAD!”

Inko smacked her hand to her forehead in exasperated amusement while Izuku plopped his head back as he contemplated how his childhood hero, the greatest and strongest man in the world, had just hit him with a dad joke.

“Never meet your heroes,” Izuku sighed.

Toshinori reverted back to his smaller form with a cackling cough of glee.  Totally worth it.

(Everyone, including his boyfriend and girlfriend, assumed that if Izuku could talk to his younger self, he’d mention how their wish to be a hero would come true. In truth, Izuku would talk about how they would be blessed with an incredible dad who would love them and their mother with all of his heart.)  

“How are my grandson and daughter-in-law doing?”

Toshinori sighed. He slumped on the park bench and adjusted his cell phone to his ear. Today had been such a pleasant day so far.  “Please don’t start.”

Gran Torino took that as his cue to start.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t gotten off your skinny butt and made it official with Inko?!”

The blonde groaned and threw his head back. “It’s complicated.”

He couldn’t admit to his mentor that he was scared.

That for all of Inko’s kindness and tenderness towards him, for all that he was Izuku’s father in all but blood, the green-haired woman might not see him as a potential romantic partner.

That she might only see him as her co-parent.

Gran Torino scoffed. “I knew you were a slow boy, but I never took you for a complete dolt. Someone is going to scoop that woman up and then you’ll be sorry.” Something in the old man’s voice shifted.

“Unless you want to watch Inko kiss another man in front of you while Izuku also calls him ‘Dad’.”

Toshinori nearly crushed his phone hanging up.

No. Absolutely not.

The thought burned through him nearly as fierce as One for All did in his heyday. Shoving himself to his feet, Toshinori found himself walking in an effort to outrun his anger.

To willing give up Inko and Izuku?

He must be out of mind. It was bad enough that he wanted to track down Inko’s ex-husband and shake the man-- to rage about how he could walk away from two of the greatest blessings in the world.

Taking a deep breath, Toshinori tried to temper himself. Tonight, he decided. I’ll talk to Inko tonight.

If it all burst into flames, taking his heart with it, he was positive that, with time, he and she would be able to at least be in the same room together to effectively parent their son.

Eventually.

Licking his suddenly dry lips, Toshinori noted that he was just outside a coffee shop. Making up his mind to grab a drink and maybe a bite to eat for fortification, he peered through the store window to see if there was anything appetizing.

It was then that he caught sight of Inko.

Sitting at an intimate table for two and talking animatedly with another man.

(If anyone ever said that getting their heart broken didn’t physically hurt, Toshinori would beg to differ.)

As far as Toshinori was concerned, it was the weekend which meant he had two whole days to stew. His phone buzzed incessantly for what sounded like hours until a dead battery invoked blissful silence.

I just need some time, he thought. His joints were killing him but he refused to get up from sitting on the ground with his forehead pressed to his knees and his back against the wall.

I’ll pull myself together and smile and laugh and joke at the next family dinner like everything is okay.

A thought crossed his mind and he squeezed his knees tighter. He wondered if that man would be there.

It’s not like I can say anything about it if he is. After all, he and Inko were just co-parents.

Never had he thought he might hate that term but a small vicious part of him does.

There was a rustling at the door and Toshinori glanced up in alarm and confusion when he heard the jangling of a key.

The door swung open with a sense of impending doom and Toshinori felt his jaw open when he met Inko’s angered orbs.

“Inko? What are you--”

“You didn’t answer Izuku and I’s calls. We thought something happened. That you might’ve gotten hurt or something. Luckily, he had a key.”

Ah, I forgot I gave him that.

She stepped into the apartment and closed the door, taking the time to slowly lock it as she collected her thoughts. The greenette shuffled to his couch and sat down.

Her unsaid order was quite clear.

Toshinori sighed and pushed up from the floor, groaning as his bones cracked and screamed in misuse. He walked over to the couch and sat down beside her, though he was careful not to touch her.

“Why?”

The blonde swallowed. “I saw you. At the coffee shop.” Inko shifted but he couldn’t meet her gaze. “You were with someone.”

“I don’t understand how that translates to you going five hours without picking up your phone.” She responded sharply. “Your son and I were so worried when you didn’t answer and yet here you are--”

Unable to take it any longer, Toshinori turned suddenly to face the fiercely glaring woman. Cradling her face, he pressed his lips against hers, pouring all of his frustration, terror, jealousy, and ardor into the physical act.

Her lips were so soft and warm that Toshinori barely contained a groan. Kissing Inko was everything he imagined it would be and more.

Breaking apart for air, Inko pressed a hand to her swollen lips as she stared at him wide-eyed.

Toshinori’s electric blue eyes were gleaming and frantic. If this was his only chance, he would make it count.

“I love you. I love our son and our family and I don’t want to share either with anyone else. My heart can’t take the thought of someone else replacing me in the middle of our family cuddles during movie night or teaching Izuku how to tie his tie for the umpteenth time. I think I might truly die if I had to watch someone else kiss you or hold your hand, Inko Midoriya. I want--need us to be more than just co-parents.”

Inko was graciously silent during his speech and Toshinori waited for her reaction as he figuratively held his heart up to her on a silver platter.

“You silly man,” She started. She pressed her hand to his cheek and pressed her forehead against his. Her eyes were astonishingly bright. “You could never be replaced. Izuku and I are yours, Toshinori.”

“But what about…?”

Inko smiled impishly and pecked his thin lips. “That was my boss for my remote translation job. He comes to town once a year for the employees in the area and meets with us in person one-on-one.”

If it were possible, Toshinori would’ve deflated like a balloon. “Oh.”

“Oh,” Inko playfully mocked. “Couples, especially when they’re parents, talk to one another, you know that right?”

Toshinori barked out a laugh as the woman stole another kiss from him though she got more teeth than lip this time since he was smiling so widely his cheeks hurt.

“I’ll be sure to remember that for the future,” He promised before diving in to steal kisses that Inko was more than happy to offer him.

(When they finally pull themselves away from one another, they immediately go ring shopping. They’re giddy and breathless, more like teenagers in love for the first time than mature adults, and, in a way that’s true. This is a new beginning and neither want to wait another moment.)

Wandering into the student common room, Shinsou took in the scene: the gleaming diamond ring on Inko’s finger, the proud expression on Toshinori’s face, a self-satisfied looking Shouto and the speechless but overjoyed Izuku who was being held up by a cheering Tenya and Ochako.

A small smirk curled its way onto his face before he turned to Toshinori with a deadpan expression.

“Congratulations on finally marrying the mother of your illegitimate love child.”

“Not you too!” Izuku cried out. His parents stared at the purple-haired teenager stunned.

Shouto, who had been quiet the whole time, turned towards Shinsou with an arched eyebrow.

“You say that as if you aren’t Aizawa-sensei’s secret love child.”

Ever thankful for his hero reflexes, Toshinori quickly pulled Inko behind the couch for cover.

(Aizawa was not pleased to see the state of the common room when he came back from patrol. Even more so when everyone, including the adults, was tight-lipped when he asked what started it. He assigned detention to all of them.)

Gran Torino smacked his lips after eating the last bite of taiyaki. He sat back in the dining room chair and patted his belly.

“Inko, have I told you that you’re my favorite daughter-in-law?”

“Not today,” The woman responded happily.

She’d been pushing Toshinori for weeks to invite his father to a family dinner-- the retired hero cited trauma as the reason why he refused to actually refer to Torino as that. And no, he wasn’t being stubborn just for the sake of stubbornness.

Izuku Yagi let out a laugh and tried to stifle it when Toshinori looked at him with a betrayed expression, no matter that he and Inko had been actually married for three months now and she was Torino’s only daughter-in-law.

“I have a little something for everyone.”

Inko left the dining table and shuffled to her purse before returning with three sealed white envelopes. She handed them to their marked recipients and remained standing.

“Go ahead and open them.”

Toshinori squinted at her suspiciously; his wife had that particular gleam in her eye that meant she was up to something.

Warily joining Izuku and Torino opening the envelopes, Toshinori pulled out a card. Flipping it over to the front, he felt his heart stutter for a moment before swelling to fill up his entire chest.

The card featured a man pushing a baby carriage with cursive script below the illustration: Congratulations on becoming a baby daddy (again).

“Mom?! Are you really…?!”

Izuku and Gran Torino looked shocked and thrilled as they looked up from their cards congratulating them on becoming a big brother and a grandpa (again), respectively.

Inko nodded and held two fingers. “I’m two months along.”

Swelling into his All Might form, Toshinori shoved the chair back and swept Inko Yagi up into a searing kiss.

(His wife was an absolute troll and he loved her, their son and he knew he would love the little one on the way.)