Stolen (Katsudeku)

a birthday wish

Izuku POV

I never liked my birthday. Why would I? It's nauseating proof I'm an affair child. Or an illegitimate child. Or adopted– take your pick, they all suck. Mum always makes a big deal of it, buying too many pointless gifts and making different sweets every year. It's equally appreciated and loathed. For as long as I can remember I've felt significantly empty. Nothing against mum or dad, something just feels off-putting or unsettling about my existence. And my birthday is a blinding spotlight on that eerie feeling.

Kacchan makes up for it though. He's good for pretending it's a normal day.

I tug my backpack on when the final bell rings, about to head out when my teacher calls my name. "Bakugo Izuku."

I rush up to his desk. "Yes Sensei?"

"I noticed you're the only one who hasn't turned in a high school application. I figured you must've lost it." He hands me a small stack of forms. "Turn it in as soon as possible."

"Yes sir!"

Exiting the room, I huff out a sigh and stare blankly at the first page as I walk. Almost everyone is applying for the local high schools that offer hero courses, Kacchan being the only one who applied for UA, an elite high school. I kind of want to be bold like Kacchan, but my quirk is too dangerous for me to even try being a hero. I guess I should just enrol at a local high school as well...

"Deku!"

Katsuki POV

I round the corner and see Izuku walking at a snail pace, staring down at some papers. "Hey! Zuchan!" I snarl and feel my palms begin to collect sweat. I need to lower my temper with something– I smirk.

"Deku!"

His head shoots up, eyes terrified. I bark out a laugh and clutch my sides from the pain. "The look in your eyes! That was priceless! You're Deku from now on."

"Kacchan! Stop it." He grumbles as he joins me in step.

"Nah, you don't seem to want to respond to your damn name so you're Deku from now on." I shove my hands into my pockets. "So, you wanna hit up that new arcade?"

Izuku gives me a disappointed look and shakes his head. "You know I don't like doing stuff today."

I roll my eyes and shove him lightly, just enough for him to lose his step. "If it was any other day it would be fine. Not wanting to do something for your birthday doesn't mean you don't do anything. Are you just gonna ball up in your sheets for the rest of the day?"

He gives me a challenging look, "I will now."

I sigh in defeat as we turn to head home. "I even told mum we'd be going after school. Now she's gonna be upset."

"Don't guilt me into this. We can just go over the weekend."

We continue walking in silence until we reach home, and I unlock the door and head inside, Izuku trailing behind me.

"We're home-"

"It's his fourteenth birthday! He probably already suspects it, so we just need to tell him the truth!" That's dad's voice.

"That will just hurt him right now! He needs to be focused on school!" That's mum's voice.

Izuku motions with his head to go upstairs. I give him a look, motioning my head in the direction of mum and dad. What is wrong with you? They're talking about you! Shouldn't you be curious too?

"Do you want him to feel like he's been living a lie even longer? We have to tell him!"

Izuku grabs my arm and tries to drag me up the steps.

"Well what would you do if you were adopted and found out when you just turned fourteen!?"

My head starts spinning wildly. One question is chasing me... What. The. Fuck.

Izuku POV

There it is. Out in the open. I already suspected it, so I know the person taking this the hardest is the boy limply attached to my hand.

"Kacchan..."

He darts around the corner into the living room. "You liars! Izuku is my family! You're lying! YOU'RE LYING! YOU LYING PIECE OF SHIT!"

The only option now is to follow behind him. I quickly tug his explosive palms behind him and pin him on the ground. "Kacchan calm down, before you blow up the house."

"I-Izuku!"

I look up to mum and dad and smile weakly. "I suspected it already, so don't worry about me. Katsuki is taking the news the worst– worry about him."

I get off of him and mum rushes to guide him upstairs. I help dad set the table silently, and thirty minutes later they both emerge-- eyes swollen and red. The four of us eat dinner in silence, something I never expected to happen until we were dead. I stare down at my empty plate and clear my throat.

"So... um, do you know my parents?"

"Uh..."

I hear mum take a deep breath. "Izuku... honey, I... I don't know how to say this lightly."

I hear Kacchan exhale heavily– if he knows the answer or not, I'm not sure.

"Your... your mum's name is Midoriya Inko. We don't know who the father is."

I feel my lungs expand and release a few times in a rush of emotions, eyes lifting to meet mum and dad's teary faces. "Do you know why she put me up for adoption? Did-Did she love me at least?"

"Oh! Of course she loved you, Izuku."

"Your..." I've never heard dad get choked up before, and before I know it tears are spilling down my cheeks as well. Maybe I don't want to know the answer...

"Well... honey... Inko died giving birth."

I hear a chair thud to the ground. I hear the echo of my stumbling footsteps. I feel blankets burying me alive. Kacchan joins me at some point in the night and hugs me tightly through the mass of empty warmth.

Why did I ask? I don't wanna know anymore... I don't want to know...

We sit crying, not saying a word. Nothing could be said about how much this would change our lives.