A Christmas Baby [Christmas 2020]

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you enjoy this little mini-fluff!

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“Hey, Deku?”

Izuku looked up, grinning when he found Katsuki’s head peeking through the doorway.

“Welcome home, Kacchan!”

They’d been living together for over two years, ever since they graduated, but still Izuku never tired of saying those words. There was something so blissfully domestic about it, like they were an old married couple, just like their friends always teased. They bickered endlessly, argued about everything, yelled at each other constantly on patrol, but when they got home for the night to the little apartment they shared, it was just too perfect, too full of love and warmth.

“Is it okay if I give you your present?” Katsuki asked. “I know it’s not Christmas yet, but I uh… Couldn’t delay it.”

“Sure!” Izuku leapt off the couch, only pausing when Katsuki held up a hand to halt him. “Is it too big to hide? Or something to eat tonight? Or… Something frozen?”

“Sit back down,” Katsuki directed him. “Try to uh, stay calm. In fact, just… Close your eyes.”

Izuku obeyed without hesitation. Back in their middle school years he’d have been wary, scared of some gross bug shoved in his face or an explosion aimed his way while he couldn’t defend himself. Now, though? Now he would do anything Katsuki asked of him, without stopping to question it. He trusted Katsuki more than anyone else on Earth – more than he trusted himself most days.

Soft footsteps padded toward him, and he saw a shadow of Katsuki through his eyelids, bending down in front of him. A small click, a whisper he couldn’t make out, and then Katsuki took a deep breath.

“Okay, open your eyes.”

Izuku opened them, and his jaw dropped. In Katsuki’s cupped hands, almost trembling with how much effort it took to be so gentle, sat the tiniest, fluffiest kitten Izuku had ever set his eyes on.

“F-For me?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki snorted, stroking his thumb over a tiny head. “Do you wanna hold her?”

“I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.”

Katsuki chuckled, but he laid his hands in Izuku’s lap all the same, letting a shaky hand reach out to stroke her. Katsuki gently slid his hands away, letting the little ball of fur rest on Izuku’s thigh, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw the tears pouring down freckled cheeks.

“I figured since we have the holidays off, for once, it was the right time,” he explained. “I know I’ve been uh… Stubborn, about it.”

“No, you were totally right,” Izuku sniffed, wiping his face on his sleeve. “I just wanted one, I wasn’t thinking about whether it was smart or fair.”

“That’s why you have me. To balance out your emotions,” Katsuki chuckled, wiping a tear from Izuku’s cheek gently. “She’s had her vaccinations and been spayed, so she’s all ours, now.”

“Kacchan, I love you so much.”

Katsuki grinned, climbing up beside him on the couch and leaning into his side. As much as Izuku had been the one desperate for a cat, Katsuki had to admit that she was super damn cute.

“The shelter closed for the year on the twenty-second,” he explained. “I managed to sweet talk them into letting me in today, but it was my only chance. They had about a dozen with them, you would have brought every single one home.”

“How could you even choose?” Izuku whined. “It must have been so hard!”

“She made it easy,” Katsuki smiled faintly, reaching out to scratch her tiny chin with his pinky finger. “I   walked into the room, and she immediately started rubbing on my feet for attention.”

“She chose you,” Izuku giggled. “What’s her name?”

“She doesn’t have one yet, that’s for you to decide.”

“For us to decide,” Izuku corrected him, grinning. “She’s our baby.”

“Fine,” Katsuki snorted. “But we both know you won’t appreciate my names.”

She stood up, rubbing herself against Izuku’s hand, and Izuku welled up all over again when she blinked her big, sleepy eyes at him.

“Look at her tiny paws,” he whined, gently stroking one with his fingertip. “Her legs are so short!”

“And her little ears,” Katsuki agreed, petting them lightly. “Everything about her is just ridiculously small.”

“We need food for her,” Izuku mumbled, starting his mental checklist. “And toys, and a bed, and blankets since it’s cold at night lately, and a scratching post, and-”

“Hey,” Katsuki snorted, elbowing him lightly. “I got food and a litter box from the shelter, I thought we could look through the rest online and order them with the quick delivery. They’re not urgent.”

“How about Purr Might?” Izuku asked.

“No.”

Izuku pouted, but Katsuki just smiled and dropped his head to Izuku’s shoulder, watching as he gave pats and scratches to the sleepy little baby in his lap.

“Princess Murderclaws,” Katsuki suggested.

“No.”

“Told you you’d hate my ideas.”

“She’s a Christmas baby, she should have a Christmas name.”

“Princess Murderclaus. You know, like Santa Claus.”

“Kacchan! No!”

“Like what, then? Fried Chicken?”

“That would be kind of funny,” Izuku admitted, cracking a smile. “Little Chicky baby. I was thinking more like… Yuki. Or Holly.”

“Lame. How about Colonel Sanders?”

Izuku laughed at that one, quickly calming the kitten with more pats when she jumped at the sound, but still he shook his head.

“Of course you’d want to give her a title.”

“She’s a good girl, she deserves one.”

“How about… Shortcake.”

“Colonel Shortcake?”

He expected Izuku to shoot the idea down immediately, but instead his lips just crept wider, watching her snuggle in against his hand with a faint purr.

“Colonel Shortcake,” Izuku repeated. “Is it weird that I kind of like it?”

Katsuki snorted, but he shook his head all the same, covering Izuku’s hand with his own.

“Our fluffy little Colonel.”

Katsuki closed his eyes, breathing in Izuku’s sweet scent – recently showered, probably to warm up after his last patrol for the year.

“I’m the real winner,” Katsuki smiled faintly. “Now you won’t drag me out on a date tonight.”

“You don’t like Christmas Eve dates?”

“I like any date if it’s with you,” he mumbled, blushing. “But I’m tired.”

“We can have a home-date, then,” Izuku grinned. “With our new baby girl. I need to take lots of photos for our friends. And my Mom! She’s gonna be so excited!”

“Call her, show her on camera.”

“You think?”

“She’d love it.”

“Yeah, she would,” Izuku chuckled. “You want to move first?”

“Nah, she won’t tease.”

Izuku raised his free hand to ruffle Katsuki’s hair fondly, grinning when Katsuki grumbled at him for it.

“You’re fluffy too,” he said fondly, leaning in and kissing Katsuki’s hair. “Long day?”

“Long day,” he agreed, sighing. “I’m gonna go take a shower.”

“How about I order dinner while you’re gone?” Izuku suggested. “The teppanyaki place you like?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki yawned, sitting up reluctantly. “Maybe the omelette one, with the pork.”

“Got it.”

“And a steak.”

“The fancy steak?”

“Yeah, it’s Christmas.”

“Wasn’t complaining,” Izuku giggled, kissing his cheek this time. “Just clarifying. Go have a bath and relax, I’ll be here.”

“No, I’ll be back,” Katsuki yawned, dragging himself to his feet. “For our Christmas Eve date. Delivery dinner and kitten supply shopping.”

“Okay,” Izuku watched his back fondly as he headed for the hall. “I love you, Kacchan. Thank you for my present, she’s perfect.”

While he wandered off to have his shower, Izuku sprawled across the couch cushions, grinning when Colonel Shortcake moved to his chest, mewing at him. She had the biggest eyes, so round and curious, a surprisingly pretty shade of grey-blue. Her fur was darker, a grey-brown and incredibly soft, with darker stripes that seemed to hold no real pattern or consistency, giving her a mottled look among the fluff. On her forehead was a dark little M shape, and Izuku traced it with his finger lightly, smiling wider when she purred at him for it.

“You’re so gorgeous,” Izuku murmured, lifting his head to kiss her ears. “We’re so lucky, aren’t we little Shorty? So lucky we have a Kacchan to bring you home. I’m gonna give you so many snuggles. And we’re gonna get lots of toys to play together, and all cats love boxes so we’ll get lots of boxes for you to sleep in and play in too. Does that sound good, baby girl?”

Colonel Shortcake just purred at him, closing her eyes to take a nap on his chest, and Izuku continued to stroke her little head gently as she drifted off. She was so soothing, so calming, and Izuku felt like he could easily drift off along with her. Instead, though, he pulled up the delivery app on his phone, putting in an order for their dinner before he could fall asleep and forget.

Next thing he knew, the shower was off and footsteps were heading his way, his eyes cracking open on a shirtless Katsuki with a towel draped over his head. He smiled at the sight, reaching for him, and Colonel Shortcake popped up to mew at him sweetly.

“Aww, she missed you!” Izuku grinned, tilting his head away as he crawled across him to the armrest. “Kacchan, give the good baby her snuggles!”

Katsuki snorted wordlessly, but stepped closer all the same, scooping her up to cuddle in the crook of his arm. When the intercom buzzed, Izuku jumped up to grab their food, stopping dead when he saw the familiar face in the doorway.

“Shouto?” he asked blankly, glancing down at his hands as if there might be a bag of food waiting in them. “What are you doing here?”

“Haaah?” Katsuki demanded. “Did you just say the damn halfie is here?”

“C-Come in,” Izuku stuttered, waving him inside. “Um, sorry, I wasn’t expecting you.”

Shouto reached into his pocket, producing a little toy mouse on the end of a string, and held it up as if it answered every question in the universe.

“I came to meet Colonel Shortcake,” he explained, when Izuku still stared blankly. “May I see the good girl?”

“Couldn’t get a Christmas Eve date, huh?” Katsuki sneered, curling his hand around the kitten protectively. “Figures.”

“Wait, this isn’t a date?”

“Haaaah?”

“Izuku sent me photos, I thought he was inviting me on a double date. You and Izuku, me and Colonel Shortcake.”

Izuku laughed brightly, but Katsuki just rolled his eyes, sighing as he made room for Shouto to come sit down.

“There she is,” Shouto cooed, more emotive than anything else Katsuki had ever heard from him. “Who’s a good little girl? It’s nice to meet you, Colonel Shortcake”

Colonel Shortcake mewed at him quietly, allowing the pats but remaining in Katsuki’s arm. She watched him warily even as she purred, but when he produced the mouse on a string, her eyes went wide.

“Would Colonel Shortcake like to chase the mousey?” he asked, so straight-faced that Katsuki felt like he must have practised it during the walk to their apartment. “Would you like to chase it?”

Still a little tentative, Colonel Shortcake made her way down Katsuki’s leg to investigate, sniffing at the fluffy mouse and giving it a little nudge. When the toy swung away from her, her eyes went wide again, watching it swing before she gave it another whack.

Katsuki blinked and the pair was gone, rolling around on the floor together as she chased the toy happily. Izuku laughed, and Katsuki couldn’t help but smile faintly himself, watching her delight as she walked all over him and leapt at the mouse.

“Have you eaten?” Izuku asked, when the intercom buzzed again. “We ordered in.”

“I have,” Shouto assured him. “I’ll get out of your hair soon.”

“It’s okay, really!” Izuku insisted. “We’re happy to have you!”

“Thank you,” Shouto chuckled. “I’m sure Katsuki wants to have you to himself tonight, though.”

“Don’t I always?” Katsuki snorted, dragging Izuku into his lap. “That’s why we live together.”

“Awww,” Izuku beamed, leaning in to rest his head on Katsuki’s shoulder. “I love you too, Kacchan!”

The intercom buzzed right on queue, and Izuku leapt up to go get their food for real this time, leaving Katsuki to watch the rare smile on Shouto’s face as he played with the kitten.

“You can come visit her,” he said quietly, watching Shouto’s eyes widen. “But if you tell anyone I said that, you’re fuckin’ dead.”

“Noted.”

─────

Izuku woke up with a groan, untangling himself from Katsuki’s limbs to slide out of bed. He trudged his way to the bathroom to relieve himself, rubbing at sleep-blurred eyes, cursing his bladder for tearing him away from the warm bed.

As he returned he saw his empty spot at Katsuki’s back, waiting for him to return and snuggle back in. More importantly, though, he saw Katsuki’s arm curled around a tiny ball of fluff, purring quietly as she slept, safe and secure in his arm.

He couldn’t help but just stare at them fondly for a minute. Izuku had spent the better part of a year talking about getting a kitten, trying to convince Katsuki that it was a good idea, and Katsuki had been the one who resisted the entire way. He’d almost given up on asking, and he still couldn’t entirely believe it – Katsuki had really gone out and found him a perfect little kitten to play with and snuggle, and brought it home for him for Christmas. He had the best boyfriend in the world.

And to see them together, cuddled up to sleep, was just the icing on the cake. No matter how much he’d insisted it was Izuku’s kitten, his idea, his to take care of, they’d still managed to become cuddle buddies in the space of less than twelve hours.

They looked so good together, too. If Izuku were a little more awake, coordinated enough to find his phone and enough light for it to work, he’d have taken a picture of them together.

Then again, they had years to come. He was sure he’d have more chances.

As he crawled back into bed, Katsuki stirred a little, and Izuku pressed a kiss to his soft hair – he and Colonel Shortcake were practically twins, with that fluff – nuzzling in to drift off once more. He reached an arm over Katsuki’s waist, stroking Colonel Shortcake and smiling when she purred louder, tucking them both into his grip securely.

“Deku?” Katsuki murmured.

“Sorry,”  Izuku whispered back. “Had to pee.”

“Mmm… Sleepy.”

“I know, go back to sleep baby.”

“Mm-hm. I have the cat.”

“I know, she’s very comfy.”

“What if I squish her?”

“You won’t. You never sleep on your stomach, and besides, I’m holding you.”

“Mm… Okay.”

They fell silent again, settling in to sleep, before Katsuki piped up once more, his voice even quieter than the last.

“I bought her a santa hat.”

“What?” Izuku giggled. “For Colonel Shortcake?”

“Saw it when we were ordering the tower,” he explained, leaning back into Izuku’s chest. “She’s a Christmas baby.”

“So she needs a Christmas hat?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Okay,” Izuku giggled again, stifling it in Katsuki’s back. “I’m sure it’ll be adorable. Get some sleep, okay?”

“Yeah, sleep,” he yawned, pressing a sappy kiss to Colonel Shortcake’s ears. “Night Deku. Night Colonel.”

“Goodnight Kacchan,” Izuku whispered. “Goodnight Shorty. Merry Christmas, my loves.”

By the way this is Colonel Shortcake