The Man Behind the Screen

No More Hiding

BAKUGO'S POV

"Where is Jun and Akio?" Himari asked while we stood outside Jungle Junction, an inside playground and arcade for kids we booked for Daiki's fourth birthday.

"They're inside," Deku replied while crouching down. "We wanted to talk to you about something while it's just you." Daiki was with my mom, but we already talked to him about it yesterday. We didn't want to bring it up on his birthday because we didn't want to take away from his special day, but we need to know by tomorrow to get the paperwork in. So we figured we would ask Himari now.

"We wanted to ask how you would feel if we adopted Jun and Akio," I said nervously. The kids were still adjusting, but that was going to take time. They're still a little awkward around Himari and Daiki and get overwhelmed sometimes, but they have a lot of trauma and abandonment issues. They don't want to get too attached to someone. They're going through a lot, and it is going to take time, but if we waited until they were completely better, they would be in another foster home.

"They're getting better," she smiled. "They're nice. I would like them to stay forever, but you have to promise me something," she said sternly.

"What's up, baby girl?" I asked her.

"Five boys and one girl. I don't like those odds. The next time you want to adopt someone, please let it be a new sister," she sighed, dramatically throwing her arms in the air.

Deku and I laughed before pulling her into a hug. "You got it," Deku said. "Why don't you go inside now? We'll wait out here for Daiki."

She nodded before running through the front door, joining everyone else.

I turn to Deku with a smile. "You heard her, babe. She wants a sister."

"There's a slight problem with that," he said. "We only talked about it briefly, but I remember you saying you wanted to look for a surrogate because you wanted to have a newborn with your genes."

"Does that bother you?" I asked. I love our kids more than anything, but even Deku told me it's a different feeling to watch someone who is half of you grow. Plus, I don't want to boost my own ego, but I guarantee I would make cute kids. I also want a newborn, which would take years if we went through adoption, and it is incredibly unpredictable.

He shook his head. "No, but we can't guarantee it would be a girl."

"If it's not, we'll just adopt a sixth kid."

He laughed again. "You're really going to let me have enough kids for a football team, aren't you?"

"I don't know. Six or seven is probably my cutoff." When most of our kids are in high school, I would be okay to keep fostering and maybe even adopting older kids. But there has to be a cutoff at some point.

"Katsuki, I love you," he said quietly.

"I love you too, baby. So much."

I looked at him as my heart swelled. That happened a lot when he said my first name. It just did things to me. "Damn, Nerd," I said softly against his lips as I moved in for a kiss. He chuckled softly, pressing his lips to mine.

The kiss was cut short as we heard, "Daddy, Papa!" from an excited, small voice we would both know anywhere. His tiny body wormed its way between our legs as we both laughed.

"Hey, birthday boy." Deku picked him up and swung him around. "Did you have fun with Nana?"

"Yes, she takes me to breakfast, birthday breakfast." he giggled.

Deku shook his head. "No, buddy, she took you to breakfast."

He looked at his dad with a hint of embarrassment on his cheeks. "Oh, yes, she took me to breakfast." He smiled that damn Dekuish smile I freaking love. "She also, umm...took me to Lego Land. I got this for my birthday!" He held out a twelve-inch tall Lego figure of Shitty Hair.