Trigger Warning!
This chapter contains references to self-harm!

"You want to know...If we're free?"
Hanta was audibly perplexed with the question, as his partner sat across from him with a similarly confused look plastered across his face.

"U-Uh yeah, I just kind of...Wanted to catch up."
Izuku stammered out, already beginning to wish he hadn't bothered to call.

He'd already felt awkward being on a call right after patrol--he was even still in his uniform.

The irony of how intimidated criminals and villains felt when just his title was mentioned, when he himself felt so small just on a mere phone call.

"Like m-maybe we could go to a cafe, or on a walk...Whatever's fine. I-If you're free, that is."
Alright, this was getting ridiculous. Why was he acting so damn nervous?

Hanta cleared his throat.
"U-Um, I don't think–"

"Who's that?"
Izuku heard a voice interrupt, almost immediately recognising its owner.

"Denki, it's not-"

There was a sudden audible struggle, distorted murmurs and hushed commands filtering through loud rustling.

If Izuku didn't know Denki, he would've automatically assumed Hanta was in some sort of immediate danger.

"Hello? Who's this?"
The blonde asked in a snappy tone.

'Kill me now...'

Izuku could almost see Denki with his hand on his hip, phone poised against his ear from within the other.

"U-Uh, Kaminari, hey-"

"Midoriya?"
Denki's voice noticeably softened, some sort of concern lacing his tone.

"What's up? You need something?"

"Ah, no--well, sort of--I just--I was asking Hanta if you two were free? Like to go out or just hang. Anything works, really."

Denki glanced at Hanta, who almost immediately began shaking his head furiously and making X's with his arms.

"S-Sure we're free, how does Wednesday sound? We're good around... Four-ish?"

"Sounds great. I'll give you guys a call when I'm swinging by. See you then."

"Y-Yeah, see ya."
Denki kept an anticipating tone, before nearly going limp when he hung up.

"Are you mad? Iida's gonna kill us! Did you forget about what he said about 'giving Midoriya space'? This ain't space, Kami! This is the opposite of space!"

"I know, I just, I feel kind of bad for him...You know?"

...

Izuku stared in disbelief at the phone in his gloved hands, beaming.
He couldn't believe it.

He had plans...With friends...

This whole 'moving forward' thing might not be as hard as he'd anticipated...
...

"Ochako,"
Asui croaked, slowly opening the brunette's front door with caution.
"Pardon the intrusion."

She slowly made her way through the dead silent complex, not before politely removing her shoes at the entrance.

"Uraraka?"
Asui called, resting a grocery bag of various goodies meant for spoiling her best friend.

Soft sniffling and hushed sobs immediately worried the shorter heroine.

"Ochako? Where are you?"

Asui stumbled into a dark bedroom, which was also empty.

She noticed the warm light leaking from the frame of the ensuite bathroom door.

She heard a gentle sniffle before a splash, then silence.
The situation was all too frightening, indicated through her alarmingly swift strides as she made her way over to the door.

She'd contemplated politeness and common guestly etiquette, but her worry far outweighed her modesty.

Mentally apologising for the intrusion, she swung the door open furiously.

Asui felt her skin grow cold, a pricking sensation at her fingertips.

There was...Red.

So much red.

"O-Ochako?"

...

"Daddy, can you braid my hair for school tomorrow?"
Shoto gave a soft smile as he combed his fingers through Kana's dark hair.

"Of course, princess. Just remind me in the morning, okay?"

"I will, I will!"
The four-year old chanted, wiggling her tiny fingers.

"Goodnight, love."
Shoto kissed her forehead, brushing her hair back.

"Goodnight, daddy."
She smiled.

Shoto pushed off of the small bed, watching Kana gently turn over and curl into her blankets.

Shoto quietly left the room, slowly closing the door behind him.

He made his way into the living room, only to be met with Tenya on his knees picking up toys and tidying up for the night.

Shoto leaned against the doorframe, lavishing in the fact that Tenya didn't hear him approach the room.

"Quite a view from here, if I do say so myself."
He teased, holding back a snicker when Tenya froze mid-crawl.

"Ha-ha-ha. Very amusing."
Tenya said sarcastically.
He stood up, carrying a handful of dolls and stuffed animals and placing them in their designated basket.

"I'm glad you enjoy my humor as much as I do."
Shoto walked over to his husband, wrapping his arms around board shoulders and pulling him in for a kiss.

As they separated, Tenya rest his head on Shoto's shoulder, hugging his waist tightly.
"I'm an idiot."
He exhaled.

Shoto stroked Tenya's hair as he spoke,
"No you're not. You can be a little insensitive, but you're not unintelligent."

"I-It's just...I was so afraid. And he just..."

"Shh, breathe first. I know he had you worried, and I know you were hurt when he disregarded your feelings, but you can't cut him out of everyone's life because you think he's going to come crawling back.
He's your best friend.
He needs you. He needs us. All of us. We're all the family he has left."

"He hates me now, doesn't he?"

"No, no he doesn't. He's also hurt, but you didn't really give him a chance to say so."

Shoto's heart sank when he felt Tenya's breath become uneven.

He was crying.

Shoto raises Tenya's face to his, cupping rosy, tear-stroked cheeks.

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay. He doesn't hate you--in fact, I'm sure if you went to see him right now he'd be ecstatic to be with you. It's fine, everything's fine."

Tenya noticed how Shoto's voice was beginning to crack.

Little did he know how much it really hurt Shoto to see him in distress.

They were both each other's weakness. One couldn't possibly live without the other; even when Tenya was a little to sharp, or when Shoto seemed cold and distant.

"What would I do without you?"
Tenya smiled through glossy eyes.

"Well, you'd be about 75% more sane, that's for sure."
Shoto responded.

The two shared a sappy chuckle.

Tenya began to imagine a life without Shoto--what if he'd lost him just as Midoriya lost Katsuki?

Waking up alone...
Raising Kana alone...
Being around everyone and everything that reminded him of Shoto...

Just the thought of it had him protective all the more, until he was clutching onto the fabric of Shoto's dress shirt for dear life.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what Izuku was experiencing--let alone relate to it.

Shoto almost gasped when he could no longer feel the ground beneath his feet.

Tenya held him steadily, allowing a moment to process what was happening.

Shoto instinctively clasped his hands around Tenya's neck, heterochromatic eyes widening when he realised Tenya was carrying him...In a princess hold.

"Wha-why all of a sudden?"

"S-Sorry–are you uncomfortable? I'll put you down if that's–"

"No, I'm fine, it was just unexpected, is all."
Shoto closed his eyes and rest his head against Tenya's shoulder, bearing a warm smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts.

"I love you."
Tenya carried his husband to their sofa with ease--it was like they were teenagers again, sneaking through the halls and running away from patrolling staff.

They curled up together, legs and arms intertwining until they were comfortable.

Their chests rose and fell against one another until their breathing synced–like their hearts had long ago.

Shoto gave a gentle laugh,
"I love you too, my hero."