What Is Written [Part 3]

[Chapter 2]

Izuku couldn’t help but laugh when Masaru opened the front door, his eyes widening as he took in the tiny figures looking up at him. Kisaku seemed torn, unsure whether to hide behind his family or to leap into Masaru’s arms, instead left dithering with one hand on Katsuki’s leg and one hand reaching toward Masaru. Thankfully, Masaru recovered quickly, making the decision for him; he scooped Kisaku into a big hug, grinning when Kisaku snuggled in like the arms were made for him.

“Hey there little guy,” he said softly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“This is Kisaku,” Izuku said softly. “And this here is Kiyomi. You wanna say hi?”

“I’m not a baby,” Kiyomi huffed.

“I know that,” Izuku assured her. “I just don’t know what you know and who you’ve met, remember?”

“I know my own Grandpa,” Kiyomi grumbled, stepping forward to hug him all the same. “Hi, Grandpa.”

“Hi, Kiyomi,” Masaru said warmly, bending down to absorb her into their hug. “It’s so nice to meet you, even though you’ve met me before.”

“Uh-huh,” Kiyomi murmured. “It’s okay.”

“Do you guys wanna come in? I was just thinking about what to make for lunch, what would you two like? I could make soba, or curry, or potato croquettes-”

“Croquettes!” the twins cut in quickly, Kisaku quickly following it with an “if that’s okay”.

“Sure,” Masaru smiled warmly. “You guys are croquette fans?”

“Only yours,” Kiyomi shrugged, releasing her grip on him to let them all file inside. “You made them when we were babies.”

“Oh yeah? I did that for Katsuki, too.”

“You had to sneak Daddy vegetables,” Kisaku nodded knowingly. “You didn’t have to for me and ‘Yomi but they were yummy anyway.”

“I’m glad, I’ll keep that in mind. What would you like in them today?”

“Leek?” Kiyomi requested, gaze darting away. “If you have any.”

“You know what, I think I do. Why don’t we go take a look in the fridge and you can pick some things out?”

“Okay.”

He glanced back over his shoulder, but Katsuki and Izuku waved him off, smiling to themselves fondly. Aizawa had warned them not to say too much on the phone or in messages, to be wary of who might be listening in, so they hadn’t had a chance to warn him about the quirk. They’d just sent a quick text to let him know they were coming to visit before they’d jumped on a train, hoping for the best at the other end.

“Mitsuki is due home soon,” he called back to them. “Boy will she be surprised.”

“We knew you’d both handle it,” Katsuki chuckled to himself, as they followed him to the kitchen. “The hag always nags me about giving her grandchildren one day, so she’ll cope.”

“Such sweet ones, too,” Masaru praised. “Look at you two, how could I not be happy?”

Kisaku giggled, but Kiyomi didn’t respond, just hovering silently as Masaru opened the fridge to explore.

“Aizawa said it couldn’t hurt to bring them over,” Izuku explained. “But that we shouldn’t talk about it on the phone, in case people were listening to our calls or anything. So we just had to hope for the best. The kids knew though, they’ve been really good at handling all these people who don’t know them, and keeping our future a secret from us.”

“That must be really hard,” Masaru hummed thoughtfully, hugging Kisaku a little tighter, and reaching to put his other hand on Kiyomi’s head. “Your parents are gonna be so proud of you when they get you home.”

Kisaku sniffled a little, but Kiyomi just straightened up, squaring her shoulders and standing a little taller. She was so staunch, Izuku couldn’t help but wonder what had made the pair so different – surely nature didn’t beat out nurture so drastically.

The front door clicked open behind them, and Izuku smiled when the familiar voice rang out down the hallway.

“Oi brat, who died?” Mitsuki called. “You can’t scare your parents with these surprise visits, at least give us a little context!”

To potentially everyone’s surprise, Kiyomi’s lips twitched into a smile, quickly ducking out of Masaru’s grip to hurry to the hallway. Katsuki stepped aside, letting her pass, and watched with glee when his mother turned the corner and froze in her tracks.

“What the fuck?”

“Grandma,” Kiyomi said softly, hugging her tightly without even waiting for the shock to pass first. “Welcome home.”

“What the fuck,” she repeated, hugging Kiyomi back all the same. “Where did you come from?”

“The future,” Kiyomi mumbled. “It’s a long story.”

Izuku cracked a smile at that, but Katsuki wasn’t as subtle, snorting loudly as laughter burst out of him. Kiyomi glared at him briefly, but didn’t bother to complain, too busy tangling her hands in Mitsuki’s pants to hold her close.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Mitsuki said, finally getting past the shock enough to hug her back. “I guess you already met me, though. Sorry.”

“S’okay,” Kiyomi assured her. “I’m Kiyomi, Papa spelled my name like yours and Daddy’s.”

“I love that name,” she answered, painfully genuine compared to her usual personality. “You’ll have to write it down for me, so I can see how you spell it.”

“I can,” Kiyomi agreed. “You told me Papa chose it because I was his hope and his world, you showed me how to write it. This time I can teach you instead.”

“I’m glad we got to share that experience,” Mitsuki said softly. “I’m looking forward to it, now and in the future.”

“And ‘Saku too,” Kiyomi said, glancing back at him smiling sweetly in Masaru’s arms. “Daddy named him. He can teach you his.”

“Who’s- Oh. Hello there. I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”

“Hi Grandma,” Kisaku answered, not nearly as shy as he’d been with the classmates. “I’m Kisaku.”

“My twin brother,” Kiyomi clarified. “But I came first.”

“I’m sure you did,” Mitsuki grinned. “I bet you’re a good big sister.”

“Uh-huh. I’m gonna take good care of him until his quirk comes.”

Izuku felt his chest ache again, at those words, but Mitsuki didn’t even twitch, just nodded firmly as she bent down to hug Kiyomi properly.

“That must be hard, with everything going on right now. Will you let me take care of you both for a little while, so you can have a break?”

“Just for now,” Kiyomi agreed. “And Grandpa is making me croquettes.”

“Oh yeah? He does make excellent croquettes.”

“Uh-huh. Daddy has tried to make them and they’re good too but they never work the same as Grandpa’s.”

“Good, I’m glad we have a reason to keep dragging you back to visit your old grandparents.”

“Daddy says that too but Papa says we would visit anyway and Daddy just doesn’t like to admit he misses you.”

“Bullshit,” Katsuki huffed. “Like I’d miss this old hag.”

“Like that,” Kiyomi giggled, even Katsuki softening into a smile when he heard it. “He always says that.”

“Good to know he never changes.”

“He doesn’t,” Kisaku confirmed, smiling contentedly. “Papa looks different though!”

“Mm-hm,” Kiyomi agreed, ignoring the questioning look Izuku shot her. “I almost wasn’t sure, for a second.”

“That different?” Katsuki asked, curiosity getting the better of him. “What, did he go bald or some shit?”

“Kacchan!” Izuku protested. “Stop asking questions about the future!”

“No way, I gotta get out before it’s too late if you’re gonna be bald as fuck.”

“He’s not bald,” Kisaku giggled. “But Daddy shaved his head once and Papa told him he had to grow it back!”

Katsuki looked borderline offended by the comment, but Izuku just snickered, grabbing a handful of Katsuki’s hair playfully.

“I like your hedgehog hair, don’t cut it off!”

“I’d still be hot as fuck with no hair!”

“You heard Kisaku! You don’t!”

“He didn’t say that, asshole!”

Mitsuki glanced down at Kiyomi as they bickered, smiling apologetically as she stroked Kiyomi’s hair lightly.

“Sorry you have to deal with my hair too,” she said softly. “I know it’s kind of a nightmare to do anything with.”

“You never apologised to me for that, hag!”

Mitsuki ignored the protest, still looking down at Kiyomi, who dropped her gaze as she touched her hair lightly.

“It’s okay,” she mumbled. “Daddy is okay at it, back home.”

“Okay,” Mitsuki nodded understandingly. “I’ll make sure he learns before you’re born, and I’ll help you here until he learns.”

“Thank you.”

“So what’s happening while you boys have to be at school?” Masaru asked, setting Kisaku down finally to start work on lunch. “Or is it only a short-term quirk?”

“We don’t know anything about it yet,” Izuku admitted. “Only what these two have told us, which is basically that it’s a time-travel quirk used by a villain the heroes have been chasing. Aizawa is investigating, so hopefully we’ll get some answers soon.”

“I’ll call work.”

“What?” Katsuki frowned. “Why?”

“I’ll take time off,” he clarified, opening the fridge to let Kisaku take a look inside. “They won’t mind, I haven’t taken a vacation since you started high school.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Izuku assured him. “They’ll probably want the kids at U.A. anyway, to protect them and all.”

“I can come to U.A.,” Masaru shrugged, surprisingly resolute – Izuku wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him so sure of anything in his life. “I’ll call Aizawa too.”

“I’ll help out too,” Mitsuki smiled fondly. “And I’m sure Inko will want to be involved, when she gets here.”

“You two pick out what you want in your croquettes,” Masaru instructed, stepping aside. “I’m gonna go call my boss, I’ll be back in a minute.”

“I’ll start chopping,” Katsuki offered, stepping forward to take his place. “And uh, thanks.”

“No need to thank me,” Masaru assured him. “I just selfishly want to hang out with my grandkids.”

Katsuki smiled slightly, nodding, and Masaru patted him on the back lightly as they passed each other, Masaru heading for the living room to make his call. Mitsuki watched him go fondly, shaking her head at him when he was out of sight.

“He’s so in love,” she chuckled, nudging Kiyomi forward lightly to join her brother. “He’ll never leave their side until they’re back home.”

“Please let us know if he gets burned out or anything,” Izuku chuckled awkwardly. “We’ll convince him to take a break.”

“I will, but it won’t happen. He’s always adored kids. He’d have had twelve of them if I’d let him.”

“I never thought I’d thank you for anything,” Katsuki snorted. “But I’m glad I don’t have fuckin’ eleven siblings.”

“You’re welcome.”

The twins fired vegetables onto the counter, and Katsuki grabbed his favourite old knife, pleased to see it was still kept pleasantly sharp in his absence. He set to work on everything they handed him, never once second-guessing their choices, and Izuku felt his heart swell with love for them all. There was only one thing missing, and he knew she’d be arriving at any second, ready to complete their little puzzle.

By the time Katsuki had finished washing and chopping vegetables, and Mitsuki had settled at the table with the kids and a glass of apple juice each, Masaru was returning, looking quietly triumphant.

“My boss says I can take as long as I want,” he confirmed. “I have a few weeks of paid leave, and if it’s longer than that, they don’t mind me taking unpaid leave too. They’re happy I’ve found something I want to do more than work.”

“We’re glad to have you,” Izuku smiled warmly, before Katsuki could complain. “I’m so happy they’ll have someone familiar to take care of them when we can’t be there.”

“Aizawa is going to get me a parking pass for the campus, so I can come meet you boys at the dorms and trade off with you. Maybe we can all have dinner together, sometimes.”

“That sounds great!”

Mitsuki leaned over and kissed his cheek the moment he sat down, giving him a warm smile that Izuku rarely saw her aim at anyone other than himself, and he couldn’t help but feel a little proud of himself – even if he hadn’t done it yet, he’d helped bring two amazing kids into the world who could make even Mitsuki and Katsuki go all soft and sweet.

A knock on the door jolted him out of his reverie, leaping up to go and answer it, and the moment the door was open wide enough, he flung his arms around his mother, squeezing her tight. He didn’t know exactly how to voice all the feelings that were inside of him, so he just had to hope he could express them with his touch instead, could spread the warmth and love and pride and excitement into his mother with a single hug.

“It’s good to see you too,” she laughed, hugging him back just as tightly. “I’ve missed you.”

“Not as much as I’ve missed you,” he laughed. “I have a surprise for you, I hope you love it as much as I do.”

“A surprise? What kind of-”

The words ceased immediately when she saw two little faces peeking around the door frame, her eyes widening as they all stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“Come meet the twins, Mom,” he laughed sheepishly. “This is Kiyomi, and this is Kisaku. I’m sure they’ve already met you, but they’re getting used to dealing with that.”

“Wow, look at you!” she gushed, tears already pouring down her face. “Where did my boys get two such beautiful children from?”

The twins both giggled at her tears, stepping forward to hug her in tandem, one on each side as they leaned into her touch. Izuku hoped they felt the same way he always had in her grasp, especially as a kid – warm, safe, and most importantly, loved.

“I missed you Nanny,” Kisaku murmured, a little teary-eyed as she held him close. “I know you don’t know me yet though it’s okay.”

“I know everything I need to know,” Inko assured him. “I love you. Both of you. So much.”

“I love you too.”

“Let’s go sit down and you can tell me everything about yourselves,” she suggested.

“We’re not allowed,” Kiyomi grumbled. “It might change things.”

“There are plenty of things you can tell me that won’t risk changing anything,” Inko assured her. “You can tell me about your favourite things, your hobbies, your friends, you can even tell me things about your Dads if you whisper them in my ear.”

“Embarrassing things?” Kiyomi grinned.

“That sounds like fun!”

Izuku exchanged a smile with her as she followed the kids back toward the kitchen and dining room, and he couldn’t help but think he was the luckiest guy in the world, to have a mother so accepting and loving – not to mention his in-laws, though he probably shouldn’t have called them that yet.

“Hey,” Katsuki said quietly, as Izuku rejoined the group. “I love you, nerd.”

“I love you too, Kacchan!” Izuku answered with no hesitation, blinking back the happy tears that tried to force their way out. “I’m so glad we’re dealing with this together.”

“Yeah,” Katsuki nodded, smiling to himself as he watched the kids talk with their grandmothers enthusiastically. “There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side.”

─────

[Chapter 4]