Chapter 9 - Bath

(A/N: I'll use Mom and Mother interchangeably now. Some texts just sound better using one or the other.)

On his way back home, Izuku realized just how much his body had improved in just a mere few hours. While he did run out of breath, it was nowhere near his initial condition.

With enough dedication and effort, Izuku believed he could recover to his past life's peak condition in about a year or so. Though, that is with the precondition that his body isn't limited by age, which he hoped to be true.

Izuku opened the door and Lin immediately dashed in, running toward her bowl of food and meowing at Izuku, and slapping the bowl a few times.

"Geez, at this rate, you'll be chubby again in no time," Izuku laughed and complied as he took out her feed and filled her bowl. Fortunately, his apartment lets them keep pets, though, even if they don't, he'll just keep Lin secretly.

After satisfying his mistress that is Lin, Izuku sniffed his body and flinched. To say he was smelly is an understatement. He looked at Lin who is now fully fed and before he could ask, she immediately fled for her life.

Izuku shrugged, She wasn't due for a bath anyway. He didn't know what pet soap god uses but Lin's fur is extra fluffy and clean ever since she came here. It would be nice if god sent some of it his way.

Taking a towel and a change of clothes, Izuku went to the only bath in his apartment and saw the lights on. He had figured out that when he didn't see her figure before, Inko was in the bathroom.

As he was about to leave and wait for his turn, he heard a clanging noise and yelp from inside.

"Mom, are you okay?" Izuku asked with concern. He knew her dominant arm was broken, but he had never experienced how troublesome an injury like that can really be.

"Izuku? You're back?" Inko shouted back, "I'm fine honey, it's just a bit hard to move like this," She said. Though, Izuku was skeptical as he heard another clanging sound.

Adopting a wry smile, Izuku innocently asked, "Do you want me to help wash your back?"

He had no intentions other than to help her right now. He did indirectly break her arm, and he was more than willing to help her in any way possible until she is healed.

Silence permeates the atmosphere. Izuku knew it was a bit of a stretch to come into the bath with his mother. He was 12 after all, it'd only make things awkward.

Thinking that she doesn't want to be in that position, Izuku decided to leave her alone. But, before he could, he heard, "Le-let me wear my panties first before you come in. They're in the basket."

'...'

Without delay, Izuku came into the unlocked bathroom and riffled through his mother's basket. He saw her purple frilled panties and immediately slide them into the shower.

Delaying or hesitating would only turn things more awkward, Izuku thought. It's better to do this quickly before anything went sideways.

"Co-come in," Inko's words were soft, but Izuku heard it clearly. He took his clothes off, leaving only the boxer he wore, and went inside.

Their bathroom is only medium-sized, enough to fit 2 people comfortably, but not for 3. His eyes were greeted by Inko's back facing him.

The only thought running through his mind is guilt as he saw multiple red bruises on her back. Small spots, but definitely noticeable. He dare not to think what her right arm looked like beneath her cask. After all, for a woman, any single blemish on her skin is akin to a sin.

Although the two haven't uttered a single word, the atmosphere was already somewhat stiff. But, Iuzku didn't mind that as he grabbed the soap and bucket of water and cleaned Inko's back.

Feeling his warm hands, Inko's back shuddered at every touch. It was bad enough that the surface of his hands was rough from the training he did before, but the several red bruises on her back made her extra sensitive.

Izuku would lie to himself if he say he wasn't attracted to Inko's body. She was, in the end, not his mother, at least not fully. He couldn't view her completely as a mother, but he also couldn't view her completely as a woman.

Inko still had a lot of charm left in her. She hasn't even breached 35. Although these recent years have cast a toll on her, eating all her stress away and whatnot, Izuku could still see her gorgeousness. Not to mention how soft and kind she innately is, it amplified her charm even more.

But, the little guilt he had for her somewhat saved him from thinking anything too dangerous. He believed had she not been hurt by him and they were in the same exact circumstances, he would already be testing his luck.

But, in the end, He didn't. He carefully rubbed soap on Inko's back for the 2nd time, ensuring she was clean while being extra careful near her bruises and finally, washing it all away with warm water.

"Thanks for helping me Izuku," Inko muttered softly, feeling the joy of being taken care of carefully by her son. Being washed by Izuku is definitely not something she expected today but she was glad this happened.

Izuku was about to leave and let Inko soak in the bathtub but She suddenly stood up and walked to the bathtub, exposing her revealed chest to Izuku.

'Oh come on mom,' He thought. Why would she do that, he doesn't know, but pointing it out would only make things much harder so he just sat there silently as she dipped her body into the tub. In the end, he needed to help her position her body so as to not let the cast be drowned, allowing him an even closer view of her vulnerable body.

Only her no-no place was covered by a small piece of cloth, but even then, it barely left anything to the imagination.

"The bath is warm. Wash up and join me will you?" She said, her face full of innocent smile as she fully expected her son not to be bothered and jump in with her.

'...'

'Ah, fuck it,' Izuku decided it was just his dirty adult mind that isn't comprehending her innocence. He's supposed to be 12 and not have dirty thoughts about his mom after all. It was all his fault, yep.

Izuku thoroughly washed his sweaty body, he didn't want to contaminate the tub with his excess sweat. This is his first time in a private bathtub, much less with his mother so he didn't want to be seen as a nuisance.

While he did so, Inko watched from the sidelines. It had been quite a while since she had a bath together with him. If she recalled correctly, the last time was when he was 9, when she deemed him mature enough to take one by himself.

She had watched him grow up until now, missing quite a few years in between his quirkless discovery until now, but she was just glad it was resolved.

Weirdly enough, she noticed faint tones of muscles appearing on his body. She had never recalled Izuku taking care of his body that much but maybe it was another side effect of his quirk. It was a good thing anyway.

He poured a full bucket of water on himself, scrubbing off excess soap, and decided to just dip in for a while. From his memories, Japanese people liked to soak in the tub for at least 10 minutes. That's 10 whole minutes that he needed to endure. 'Okay…focus now,'

Despite the fact that his body is still relatively small, Izuku could not for the life of him find a position in which his body did not make contact with Inko's. The bathtub was too small for 2 people to sit seperately.

And as if adding fuel to the fire, Inko stretched out her legs and patted her thighs underwater, "Come here Izuku, Just like usual," She said, an alarmingly innocent smile adorning her plump face.

'...What on earth am I supposed to do here? Is she not aware? No, she's not THAT clueless, is she?' Izuku's internal thoughts were about as jumbled out as when he got his first blood. So many choices yet so little time to decide.

In the end, Izuku trusted his gut (and not any other body part's) feelings and dipped into Inko's embrace. He had a small reaction when he felt her smooth thigh brush against his buttocks and legs.

He quickly tried to hide his small reaction, but it was all for naught when Inko rested two of her assets on his back and hugged him as tightly as her left arm would allow. She rested her face on his right shoulder, allowing him to feel the warmth of her every breath directly into his ears.

Something's rising, and it's not the shield hero.

~~~~~

(A/N: I will be getting some minor-ish things wrong [Inko's ages and whatnot], so just regard that as AU. Yes this is an excuse, deal with it.)