Chapter 5 - A Shadow of the Past

"Shhh. We gotta stay quiet."

"Easy for you to say, Izuku. You're practically in my face," Katsuki hissed, his breath coming in quick bursts of annoyance as he attempted to edge away from his overly enthusiastic half.

"Ah, no need for violence, my dearest brother." Izuku replied, grinning as he adjusted his glasses. The two boys stood at the door, tension thrumming in the air as they prepared to intrude on a moment not meant for them.

"Seriously, how am I related to you?" Katsuki muttered under his breath, annoyance simmering within him.

Their tense whispering soon melted into shared chuckles, the excitement of forbidden exploration dancing in their hearts as they carefully pushed the door ajar. The moment they peered inside, the world outside them faded, leaving only the gentle tableau of peaceful slumber.

Cuddled under layers of blankets, Minoru was nestled safely between two sleeping figures—Geneviève and Averill—while little Adlar sprawled comfortably in the gap, a perfect picture of innocent contentment. A wave of warmth washed over Izuku and Katsuki, and they couldn't help but let out a soft coo.

"They're so cute," Izuku breathed, emotions thickening in his chest.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but a faint smile crept onto his lips in reluctant agreement. "Yeah, yeah. Even if it is your kid," he murmured.

Wiping away an imaginary tear, Izuku added, "My baby is growing up so fast."

"Okay, enough of that. Let's get back to our rooms. We can't just stare at them all night," Katsuki said gently, though his heart betrayed him, wishing to hold onto the moment a little longer.

The two boys left the doorway, retreating back down the hall, their hearts lightened by the small haven of happiness they had witnessed.

Katsuki's Perspective

As Katsuki slid back into bed, a familiar warmth enveloped him. Akoyano stirred beside him, instinctively wrapping an arm around Katsuki's waist. Katsuki nestled against him, finding comfort in the contact.

"How was sneaking into your brothers' room, smuk?" Akoyano mumbled sleepily, his voice rich with affection.

Katsuki met those gently inquisitive eyes and leaned more into him. "I guess it was more fun for Izuku than for me," he shrugged, flashing a playful grin that belied the weight he held in his chest.

Akoyano chuckled softly, the sound lulling them into a tranquil silence. The room was half-drenched in dim violet tones while the other half radiated soft dusty rose, like a sanctuary painted in secrets and softly-spoken dreams. Melodies drifted through the air, a soft, inviting background to their moment of calm.

Katsuki, lost in comfort, began to gently remove Akoyano's piercings—metal off skin, tender and meticulous. It wasn't until his partner turned fully towards him, curiosity etched in his features, that Katsuki opened his mouth to speak.

"The name." It was a whisper, but it echoed between them.

"What name?" Akoyano replied, brows furrowed in confusion. Yet, somewhere in those depths, Katsuki could sense an understanding waiting to be drawn out.

Turning Akoyano around so he faced him, Katsuki traced a finger along the tattoo that adorned his cheek—an intricate symbol telling a story of its own. "Alaoui."

Silence claimed the room, punctuated only by the soothing notes of music. Akoyano's expression softened, and he wrapped Katsuki tighter against him, the warmth between them a shield against the world.

"Alaoui was my little brother," he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. The admission was raw; the air felt thick around them.

Katsuki looked up at him, his heart thrumming in empathy, as Akoyano continued, his voice trembling slightly. "I have seven siblings, including myself. Our father wasn't in our lives, and our mother... well, she was lost in a haze of addiction." Each word carried the weight of a painful memory, but Akoyano pressed on, needing to share his truth.

"I made it my mission to take care of my siblings that lived with us, trying to be a parent when I was just a kid myself. Tenko, Alaoui, and I—we stuck together, battling the storms of our situation."

He took a deep, shaking breath, closing his eyes momentarily to gather the strength to continue. "After our mother left, I became their only protector. Tenko had just discovered his quirk when everything went up in flames."

Katsuki listened, heart heavy, as Akoyano continued. Memories spilled forth like an old film projector—vivid and tragic. "I was entertaining them, creating skeletons with my quirk so they could play. But when the pros came, they thought they were real. In the chaos, Tenko's quirk manifested. He was only twelve, still an innocent child, and then everything spiraled."

Tears threatened to spill from Akoyano's eyes, and Katsuki instinctively wiped them away with the softest of touches, pressing his lips against Akoyano's in a gentle kiss. It was a moment suspended in time—a promise enveloped in love.

"Endeavor…he destroyed everything. I watched…I watched him burn my baby brother alive," Akoyano's voice cracked, a raw pain surfacing, and Katsuki pulled him closer, feeling the tremors of grief that coursed through his body.

"But Tenko is at home now. He's with his lover. You'll get to meet him soon," Akoyano whispered, a fragile hope shimmering beneath the layers of sorrow.

Katsuki smiled softly, the weight of sadness tangled with the warmth of connection. "I love you," he breathed, certainty anchoring his words.

"And I love you, smuk," Akoyano replied, his breath catching as they held each other tightly in the silence of a shared promise—their bond a sanctuary in a world fraught with chaos.

The shadows of the past lingered long after that night, but in the embrace of love, they had found a flickering light, guiding them both through the darkness that bred their deepest fears. And as they settled into the rhythm of their shared breaths, they drifted into a world strewn with possibilities, fortified by the stories they carried within them.