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Chapter 9: The Next Morning After

The late afternoon sun streamed through the grand stained-glass windows of the foyer, fracturing into pools of emerald, sapphire, and ruby light across the polished white marble floors. The celestial constellations depicted in the glass—Orion, Ursa Major, Lyra—glowed with internal fire. The vast, echoing space was usually silent at this hour, save for the distant, rhythmic hum of the mansion’s climate control.A sharp, metallic clack broke the quiet. The sound of a key in the heavy front door.

The door swung inward, and Katsuki shouldered his way through, a massive black gym bag hanging from one fist. He kicked the door shut with a backward heel, the sound echoing.He smelled of salt, effort, and clean sweat. His shaggy blonde hair was damp, clinging to his forehead, and his green T-shirt was darkened in patches across his chest and back.He dropped the bag with a heavy thud that resonated in the atrium.

He was halfway to the curved staircase, intent on a shower, when a flash of white in his peripheral vision made him stop.

At the very base of the grand staircase, on the first cold marble step, Izuku waited.He wasn’t sitting. He was on all fours, back straight, head held high.His posture was perfectly attentive, like a show dog in a stance. His long, pure white hair, freshly brushed, flowed over his shoulders and down his back, nearly blending with the fluffy white ears pricked forward. He wore a simple, soft grey cotton romper, the back seam open to allow his equally fluffy tail to lie still against the step. His pale blue eyes were fixed on Katsuki, wide and unblinking. His tail, previously still, began a slow, tentative wag, the very tip twitching side to side. A soft, nearly inaudible whine escaped his throat.

Katsuki stared at him for a beat, his post-workout scowl softening into something private, almost gentle.A smile touched the corner of his mouth.

“Well, look at you,” he murmured, his voice a low rasp from exertion. He changed course, his sneakers squeaking softly on the marble.He didn’t walk to him; he dropped. He went straight down onto his knees a few feet away, the impact a dull thud of his own weight meeting the hard floor.He didn’t seem to feel it.

He held out his hands, palms up.“C’mere, puppy.”

Izuku didn’t need more invitation. He crept forward, his movements deliberate and graceful, until his nose bumped Katsuki’s nearest palm. Katsuki’s hands, calloused and strong from lifting, immediately came up to cradle Izuku’s face, his thumbs sweeping over the high cheekbones. Then his fingers plunged into the thick, snowy hair at his temples, scratching firmly at the base of his ears.

Izuku’s eyes slid shut. A full-body shiver of pleasure wracked him, and he let out a shuddering sigh, leaning into the touch. His tail wagged harder, a sweeping motion that thumped rhythmically against the marble step.

“Missed you, huh?” Katsuki whispered, shifting his scratching to behind Izuku’s ears, the spot that always made him go boneless. “Were you waiting for me? Just sitting here like a good boy?”

Izuku nodded, a tiny, earnest movement against Katsuki’s hands.He whimpered again, a sound of pure contentment.

Then, in a sudden, fluid motion, Izuku rolled. He tipped himself over onto his back right there on the cold marble floor, arms curled loosely against his chest, presenting his belly. The grey romper rode up, exposing the pale, soft skin of his stomach and the delicate lace trim of the matching underwear beneath. His tail continued its joyful, uncontrolled wagging, now slapping the floor. His head lolled to the side, looking up at Katsuki with half-lidded, trusting eyes.Katsuki let out a low, fond chuckle. “Demanding little shit, aren’t you?” There was no heat in it. He obliged, his large hands moving to rub and scratch the offered belly. His touch was firm but careful, knowing exactly how much pressure the hybrid liked. He scratched in wide circles, then rubbed with his knuckles along the softer fur of his lower abdomen.

Izuku’s legs kicked out in a few happy, spastic jerks. A soft, bubbly giggle escaped him, a sound so light and sweet it seemed to hang in the sun-dappled air.“Yeah, you like that. You’re such a good boy,” Katsuki murmured, his voice dropping to a possessive, gravelly tone. “My good boy.Been thinking about you all through my last set.Annoying. Distracting.”

He leaned down, his face close to Izuku’s.“You wanna play? Huh?Got some energy to burn?”

Izuku’s eyes snapped fully open, alight with excitement. He nodded vigorously, his hair fanning out on the marble.“Okay. Okay, hold on.” Katsuki straightened up and reached for his gym bag. He unzipped a side pocket and pulled out a small, sealed pouch of premium hybrid treats—little bone-shaped biscuits made with venison and blueberry.He tore it open with his teeth. “First, your reward for waiting so pretty.”

He held out a single biscuit. Izuku took it delicately from his fingers, his soft lips brushing Katsuki’s skin.He crunched it happily, tail thumping. Katsuki gave him two more, watching him eat with a satisfied smirk.“Good. Okay.”

He shoved the treat bag back and rummaged in the main compartment, past his sweaty clothes and lifting straps.His hand closed around something else. He pulled out a hybrid play toy: a long, braided rope with a thick, knotted handle at one end and a softer, chewy tug ring at the other.It was clean, obviously kept separate in its own pocket.

Izuku was already back on his feet in a crouch, his whole body vibrating with anticipation. His earlier languid grace was gone, replaced by a coiled, playful energy.

Katsuki got to his feet, towering over the small hybrid. He held the rope toy by the handle, letting the ring end dangle just above the floor.“You want it? Come and get it, puppy.”

He swung it slowly, side to side, just out of reach.

Izuku tracked it with laser focus, his body shifting with each swing. A low, playful growl rumbled in his chest—not a threat, but an invitation to the game.

Katsuki’s grin turned sharp and wild, mirroring the dog’s energy.He feinted left, then jerked it right. Izuku pounced, a burst of white motion, but Katsuki was faster, yanking it up high. Izuku stood on his tiptoes, jumping, swiping a hand through the air.

“Too slow!” Katsuki taunted, laughing now. He swung it in a wider arc, making the rope whistle through the air.

This time, when Izuku lunged, it wasn’t for the toy. He dove at Katsuki’s legs, wrapping his arms around his calf and pretending to gnaw gently on his knee. Katsuki stumbled back, laughing harder, a real, unfiltered sound that echoed off the high ceiling.“Hey! Cheater!”

He lowered the rope, and Izuku instantly released his leg and snatched the ring end in his teeth, pulling with surprising strength. Katsuki held on, bracing himself, and for a moment they were in a mock tug-of-war, Katsuki leaning back, Izuku digging in, his fluffy tail whipping back and forth like a flag in a gale.Soft, determined growls vibrated from Izuku’s throat.

“You think you’re strong?” Katsuki grunted, grinning. “You’re a little puffball. I bench more than you weigh.”

As if to prove his point, he gave a sharp, powerful yank. Izuku, caught off guard, lost his grip on the toy and went tumbling forward. But Katsuki was already moving, dropping the rope and catching him before he could hit the ground, sweeping him up into his arms. Izuku yelped in surprise, then immediately dissolved into giggles, squirming.

Katsuki held him tight, a bundle of warmth and soft hair and muffled laughter against his sweaty shirt. “Gotcha.” He buried his face in Izuku’s neck, inhaling the scent of clean cotton and the special, mild soap they used for him. “Stupid puppy.”

“Not… stupid,” Izuku gasped between giggles, squirming.“Yeah, you are. Adorably stupid.” Katsuki walked them away from the stairs, spinning in a slow circle. The world became a blur of colored light from the windows.Izuku clung to him, his laughter rising, pure and unfettered.

A new voice, dry and flat as stone, cut through the mirth. “Is this a new cool-down routine?Dynamic stretching with a living plushie?”

Katsuki stopped spinning. Hitoshi stood at the entrance to the east wing hallway, leaning against the doorjamb. He’d clearly just showered; his black hair was darker, damp, and he wore loose black lounge pants and an oversized, faded band t-shirt for some obscure death metal group. One eyebrow was arched so high it vanished beneath his fringe.

“Fuck off, Eli,” Katsuki said, but he didn’t put Izuku down. “It’s called bonding.”

“It’s called looking like a dork who got tackled by a cloud.” Hitoshi pushed off the wall and padded barefoot across the marble.He reached out and poked Izuku’s cheek. Izuku, still breathless from laughter, turned and nuzzled into the touch. “He’s gonna get your gym stink all over him.”

“He likes my stink. Don’t you, pup?” Katsuki jostled him.Izuku nodded enthusiastically. “Katsu smell… strong.Good.”

Hitoshi’s other eyebrow joined the first.“His vocabulary is evolving. Soon he’ll be able to fully articulate how gross you are.” He scratched under Izuku’s chin.“You wanna come with me?I’m clean. I don’t smell like a locker room.”

Izuku looked between them, a flicker of conflict in his blue eyes. His loyalty was a tangible thing.Katsuki solved it for him. He heaved a dramatic sigh and set Izuku down gently on his feet.“Go on. Betray me for the goth. See if I care.”

Izuku immediately swayed towards Hitoshi, but then turned back and wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s waist in a tight, quick hug. “Love Katsu,” he mumbled into his sweaty shirt.

Katsuki stiffened for a second, then his hands came down, heavy and warm, on Izuku’s back. He didn’t say it back, not in words. But he rested his chin on the top of Izuku’s head and held him for a full five seconds, his eyes closed. When he let go, his usual scowl was back in place, but it lacked all conviction.“Yeah, yeah. Go bother your other brother. I need a shower before I start marinating.”

Izuku scampered to Hitoshi, who lifted a hand and let Izuku duck under his arm, pressing against his side. Hitoshi’s long fingers immediately began carding through the white hair, deftly untangling the few knots the play-fight had created.

“Did you at least have a good workout?” Hitoshi asked, looking at Katsuki.“Fucking fantastic. Hit a new PR on deadlifts. Four-fifty.” A flash of proud fire lit Katsuki’s green eyes.“Congratulations. Your spine is now officially a compressed accordion.” Hitoshi’s tone was deadpan, but there was a faint, approving smile on his lips. “Papa will probably want to inspect your form later. Make sure you’re not ‘engaging your glutes improperly’.”

Katsuki snorted, grabbing his gym bag. “He can inspect whatever the hell he wants.” The crude boast was automatic, but there was a genuine ease to it. The awkwardness from the previous night’s conversation about arousal was still there, a faint shadow, but it was being actively ignored, sanded down by the normalcy of this afternoon ritual.

As Katsuki headed for the stairs, the front door opened again.

This time, it was Hizashi and Shouta, returning together. Hizashi was a vision in a lightweight cream-colored trench coat, his blonde hair a smooth cascade over one shoulder. Shouta loomed beside him in a perfectly tailored, dark grey suit, his tie loosened, his long hair tied back in a messy, low bun. He looked exhausted, but the tension around his eyes eased the moment they crossed the threshold into the foyer and saw their children.

The scene was a painting: Hitoshi, lean and dark, standing like a slender pillar with Izuku nestled against him, both bathed in a pool of green light from a window. Katsuki, massive and sweaty, paused halfway up the stairs, looking back over his shoulder.

“My boys,” Hizashi sang out, his voice a warm, resonant chord in the spacious foyer.He shed his coat, Shouta catching it effortlessly without breaking stride. “What a perfect thing to come home to.”

Shouta’s observant eyes took inventory. Katsuki’s post-exercise glow, Hitoshi’s clean, damp hair, Izuku’s slightly disheveled, happy state.The rope toy abandoned on the marble. The crumbs of a treat near the staircase.A story told in objects and poses.

“Katsu hit a four-fifty deadlift,” Hitoshi offered, still petting Izuku.

Shouta’s eyebrows lifted slightly.A slow, deep pride settled on his features. “That’s substantial.”

“Damn right it is,” Katsuki said, a grin finally breaking through fully.

Hizashi glided forward, his heels clicking softly. He went first to Katsuki on the stairs, reaching up to cup his sweaty face in both hands. He pulled him down and planted a loud, smacking kiss on his forehead.“My strong, magnificent beast. I’m so proud of you.” His fingers dug into Katsuki’s scalp, giving him the head scratch he secretly craved. Katsuki leaned into it, his eyes closing for a second, the fierce competitor melting into a son.Then Hizashi turned to Hitoshi and Izuku. He kissed Hitoshi’s temple, then scooped Izuku up from his side, eliciting a squeak. He nuzzled his nose against Izuku’s, whispering, “And did my little cloud have a fun afternoon? I see you played hard.”

Izuku nodded, wrapping his arms around Hizashi’s neck.“Played with Katsu.Got treats. Hito pets.”

“A full and satisfying day,” Hizashi concluded, holding him close. He looked over Izuku’s shoulder at Shouta, his expression softening into something profound and intimate. “Welcome home, darling.”

Shouta had deposited the coats and was now standing in the center of the foyer, just watching them.The billionaire, the protector, the provider. In this moment, he was simply the center of gravity for this beautiful, chaotic, loving system. The memory of the night before—the commercial, the conversation, the discomfort—was now just a part of their tapestry, another thread woven in. It hadn’t broken anything.If anything, the fabric felt stronger, more intricate.

“It’s good to be home,” Shouta said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to emanate from the marble itself. He walked over to Hizashi and Izuku, his large hand coming to rest on Izuku’s back, his thumb stroking gently. Then his other hand reached out, clapping Katsuki’s shoulder as he came back down the stairs, clean clothes in hand.“Shower.Then we’ll eat. I’m thinking steak.”

Katsuki’s eyes lit up. “Hell yeah.”

The family began to drift from the foyer, a loose, comfortable migration towards the heart of the house. Hitoshi trailed a hand along the banister. Hizashi swayed with Izuku still in his arms, humming something tuneless and sweet. Shouta followed, a step behind, his gaze sweeping over them all, ensuring the perimeter was secure, that his pack was accounted for, that the sanctuary held.

In the warm, dusty light of the settling afternoon, amidst the prismatic colors cast by saints and stars in glass, the Aizawa mansion was not just a structure of wealth and stone. It was a living, breathing organism of intertwined heartbeats, of sweat and laughter, of crude jokes and tender scratches, of deadlifts and belly rubs—a kingdom built not on stock prices, but on the simple, savage, gentle fact of belonging.