Chapter eight: The unfolding pt.2

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The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, combining with the faint hum of the hospital machinery to create a strangely calming atmosphere. Izuku Midoriya, exhausted yet exhilarated, was cradling his newborn daughter against his chest, its tiny form swathed in a soft pink blanket. Tears of joy welled up in his eyes as he marveled at the delicate creature nestled there, her tiny fingers clutching at the fabric as if trying to hold on to this new world.

"Can you believe it, Izuku?" he murmured to himself, his heart swelling with an indescribable happiness. "She's finally here."

With a gentle hand, he brushed back a few errant strands of hair that had fallen into his eyes. As he gazed down at his daughter, he felt like the luckiest man alive. The little girl had tufts of soft black hair, inherited from both parents, and a tiny nose that he couldn't help but kiss. Her eyes, still closed, hinted at the deep emerald green that he knew would someday mirror his own.

But amid this overwhelming joy, a pang of anxiety gripped him. "What if I don't know how to be a good dad?" It was a thought that slipped into his mind more often than he would like to admit. After everything they had been through—the battle, the pregnancy, and the fear that sometimes accompanied parenthood—Midoriya felt the weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. "You doing okay in here?" Katsuki Bakugo stepped inside, his face a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration, just as Midoriya's was. The fire in his eyes was softened by the hint of awe that lingered there as he approached the bed.

Midoriya looked up, and a smile broke through his worries. "Kacchan, look! Isn't she beautiful?"

Bakugo's tough exterior melted in that moment as his gaze landed on the tiny girl in his husband's arms. There was something transcendent about seeing his daughter for the first time, something that made all the battles and struggles they had faced seem trivial by comparison. "Yeah..." His voice was low and thick with emotion. "She's perfect."

Midoriya felt a rush of warmth at Bakugo's reaction. He had always known his partner to be fierce and unyielding, but here he was, rendered speechless by the fragile life they had created. It was a side of Bakugo that many rarely saw, a gentle vulnerability that made Midoriya fall in love with him all over again.

"Do you want to hold her?" Midoriya asked, shifting slightly to make room for Bakugo beside him. The number one hero hesitated for a moment, his normal swagger replaced by a visible uncertainty.

"Uh... I don't want to drop her," he admitted, almost bashfully.

"Just support her head, like this," Midoriya instructed, guiding Bakugo's hands with gentle precision. "It's easier than it looks, I promise."

With breath held in anticipation, Bakugo gingerly took the baby into his arms, his entire demeanor transforming as he felt the weight—the reality—of his daughter resting against him. His face softened, the corners of his mouth turning upward as he looked down at her. "She looks like you," he muttered, a hint of pride washing over him.

"She has your stubbornness, too," Midoriya joked, lightening the mood. He felt relief wash over him as Bakugo adjusted more comfortably with their daughter, a small but significant step in his transformation from fierce hero to nurturing father.

Their little girl let out a small mew, and both heroes looked at each other in surprise. "Did you hear that? She likes you!" Midoriya laughed, the sound bubbling over with happiness. The air in the room lightened significantly, the weight of the world they had spent battling falling away for a moment.

Bakugo rolled his eyes, returning to his usual self as he tried to play it cool. "Don't get too cocky, Deku. I'm not raising her to be a crybaby."

"Hey now, it's normal for babies to cry!" Midoriya gently reprimanded, chuckling at his husband's defiance. "This is a good start, though. We'll make a great team."

"Yes, we will," Bakugo replied softly, the reality of their partnership solidifying in that moment. "Just stay by my side."

Midoriya nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude. They were both in this for the long haul—pursuing their hero careers while raising their daughter. It wouldn't be easy, but they would navigate the choppy waters together, just as they always had. They were a team, both on and off the battlefield.

Time slipped by as Midoriya and Bakugo took turns holding their daughter, marveling at her little features. The quiet moments of laughter and whispered promises filled the hospital room, creating an impenetrable bond between them.

But soon, Midoriya felt fatigue tugging at him, both physically and emotionally. The whirlwind of the last few days had taken its toll. "Kacchan, I think I need a nap," he murmured, unable to stifle a yawn.

"Yeah, go ahead," Bakugo said, laying the baby back in Midoriya's arms carefully. "I'll keep an eye on you two."

As Midoriya closed his eyes, he felt the soft warmth of his daughter against him, and Bakugo's presence beside him provided a sense of security he had longed for during the tumultuous months leading to her birth. In that moment of peace, Midoriya drifted off into a gentle sleep, the chaos of the outside world fading into oblivion.

 In that moment of peace, Midoriya drifted off into a gentle sleep, the chaos of the outside world fading into oblivion

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