The clock on the wall ticked softly in the dimly lit apartment. Izuku Midoriya sat on the couch, his green curls tousled from leaning against Shoto Todoroki’s shoulder. The two pro heroes had taken the rare opportunity to unwind after a long day of hero work. Shoto’s heterochromatic eyes scanned the pages of a thick novel, while Izuku half-heartedly scrolled through his phone, his thoughts drifting.

It had been years since they’d graduated from U.A., but the bond between the three of them had only grown stronger. Izuku, Shoto, and their boyfriend—an accomplished doctor—had built a life together that balanced the chaos of heroism with moments of quiet like this. Tonight, though, Izuku couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern.

He glanced at the clock again. It was nearly midnight. Their boyfriend had mentioned the night shift at the hospital might run long, but still, Izuku worried. He always did. The thought of him dealing with emergencies, exhaustion evident in his warm eyes and tired smile, tugged at Izuku’s heart.

“He’ll be fine,” Shoto said softly, as if reading Izuku’s mind. His voice was calm and steady, the perfect anchor for Izuku’s anxious tendencies. Shoto reached over, brushing a hand against Izuku’s knee in a soothing gesture.

“I know,” Izuku replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I hate that he’s out there working so hard while we’re here relaxing.”

“He loves what he does,” Shoto reminded him. “Just like we do.”

Before Izuku could respond, the sound of keys turning in the lock made them both sit up. The door creaked open, and there he was—hair slightly disheveled, dark circles under his eyes, but still the man they adored. Their boyfriend stepped inside, shrugging off his coat with a weary sigh.

“Hey,” Izuku said, immediately standing and rushing to greet him. He wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug. “You’re home.”