Chapter Text
Hizashi Yamada considered himself a pretty lucky individual. It wasn’t that he had a perfect life or anything. He’d been muzzled until he was six, because he was born with his quirk and it was volatile and uncontrollable for a baby or toddler. His parents had been unable to care for him and put him up for adoption. He’d been muzzled and avoided, locked away so he couldn’t hurt anyone else.
But he still considered himself lucky. He was adopted by an older deaf couple at seven, found his best friends in UA, and despite the death of Oboro, had gone on to become a successful hero and radio show host. He had married his Shouta two years after they graduated in a small ceremony that Nezu had officiated, with Tensei Iida and Nemuri Kayama, their best friends since high school as witnesses. His adoptive parents had been able to see him happy and successful before they passed away. A year after their marriage, they had agreed to get teaching licenses after Nemuri badgered them, and two years later, they started their first year at UA as teachers instead of students.
So all in all, he considered himself a lucky guy. And if some of that luck transferred to his family and friends, he was all for it. Luck may be the only explanation as to how he found the first of their eventual adopted children.
A year after they started teaching, Hizashi had been on a routine patrol on the outskirts of Musutafa. Most people just saw him as the loud, bright Daylight hero who could level buildings with his quirk, but Hizashi preferred working in the shadows, taking on a twilight hero role. Everyone knew him, knew his name and his jobs, but with his hair down and a uniform change, he was perfectly capable of blending into the shadows of the underbelly that his husband frequented. He was in the middle of his patrol, and the sun’s rays were dropping below the skyline as twilight bled into night. It had been fairly quiet and he was reviewing his plans for his radio show the next day when he heard a soft scuff of noise from an alley. His hearing aids barely picked up the noise, but it had him on alert, moving quietly so he didn’t spook whatever was hiding there.
Years of living with Shouta had acclimated him to moving slowly and quietly around the various feral cats his husband took care of, and he was oddly glad for the instinct when he carefully stepped around a dumpster and found a small child instead of the animal he was expecting. The kid’s face was buried in his knees, and dark straps cut through his pale hair, making Hizashi’s fists bunch for a second before he forcibly relaxed them.
“Hey, little listener… that can’t be very comfortable.” His words were a soft croon as he crouched down just out of reach. He was more than just a screamer, and Nezu had taught him how to use his quirk to simulate a soothing rumble. He laced that through his voice as he cautiously extended a hand, trying to get the kid to look up at him. “Can you tell me why you’re hiding in this yucky alley?”
A pair of lavender eyes peeked over a thin arm and then Hizashi was swallowing a curse when he saw the muzzle strapped to a too-pale face. “Mm, can I get that thing off for you, little one?” He stayed still until a single, small head nod gave him permission, and even then, kept his movements slow and obvious. “Okay, let’s see what we’re working with here…” The muzzle was locked on with a key, and now that he was closer, he could see where tiny fingernails had tried to pull it away, delicate scratches down cheeks showing a desperation that Hizashi could unfortunately relate to.
He really needed that muzzle off, probably just as much as this kid did.
“Okay, this should be easy. I’m going to grab the utility knife from my pocket and we’re gonna cut through the straps.” When the kid nodded slightly again, Hizashi grabbed his knife and showed it to him. “This is very sharp, little listener, so you’re gonna have to say suuuuper still, all right? We’re gonna get that thing off of you, but I don’t wanna hurt you accidentally. Do you understand?”
Another head nod, and this time the small child turned away, letting him see the straps easier in the dying light. “Good job, kiddo. Now stay very still.” He made quick work of the thick leather straps, holding them in place so the kid couldn’t rip the muzzle off and hurt himself more. “Okay, keep staying still for me, you’re doing great.” He shifted around the smaller form to grip the front of the muzzle, giving the child a gentle smile. “I’m going to pull this off, but we’re gonna go slow. It looks like you’ve got some cuts there and I don’t wanna make them worse. Can you hold on for just a few more minutes?”
Hizashi’s smile quirked a bit wider when he get a tremulous thumbs up and he very carefully pulled the metal and leather away. When it was completely off, the kid slumped backwards, terrified eyes staring at it as he covered his mouth. Hizashi set it to the side and gently pulled those slender hands away from his face. “It’s gone, sweetheart. You’re okay now. Can I see your scratches?”
Both hands gripped onto one of Hizashi’s and he cursed softly at how cold they were. Now that the muzzle was off and he could focus a little more, he could see how dirty and cold the little boy was, out in a t-shirt and jeans that looked about two sizes too small. Definitely not appropriate clothing if he’d just been out and about and gotten himself lost. The lines from the muzzle that had cut into his cheeks weren’t deep, but they looked inflamed and Hizashi worried immediately about an infection.
“Okay… okay, new plan. Can you tell me your name?”
One hand released the hero’s and trembling fingers spelled out *H-i-t-o-s-h-i*. “Hey, little listener, you know JSL! Good job! Hitoshi, yes?” The nod made him smile and Hizashi wiggled their hands gently. “Okay, Hitoshi, here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna give me my hand back for just a minute so I can get my coat off. You are suuuuuuper cold, kiddo, and I wanna get your warmed up. Can we start with that?”
Hitoshi looked reluctant, but nodded, watching Hizashi intently as he shifted just enough to get his coat free without hitting the poor kid. Once the leather was wrapped around him, pale fingers pulled it closer, clinging to the warmth. “Good job! Now, we need to get those scratches looked at, huh? I can clean ‘em up a bit, but we should really have a pro look at ‘em!” He kept his voice soft, but cheerful, keeping those purple eyes on him. “I should probably tell ya who I am, huh?”
He was interrupted when Hitoshi’s hands came up again, signing out, *Present Mic. Hero.* “Woah, you’re a smart kiddo! You’re absolutely right, I’m Present Mic. But my real name is Hizashi Yamada. Since I’m calling you Hitoshi, you can totally call me Hizashi, okay?”
Hitoshi nodded again, the fear in his eyes bleeding into at least a little excitement. “Excellent. You’re a rockin’ little kid, Hitoshi. Can I pick you up, or do you want to walk a bit? I’m gonna get us a super cool ride to the hospital so we can get you looked at, ya dig?”
The kid obviously considered this for a minute before tentatively lifting his arms up. Hizashi smiled and scooped up the destroyed muzzle before pulling Hitoshi up and against his chest as he stood. “All right! Ridin’ in style, am I right?” He was rewarded with a tiny giggle, which made him tighten his arms in a gentle hug. Adjusting the kid to sit on his hip, he shoved the muzzle into a pocket on his belt to free up a hand for his phone. “Okay, little listener, we’re gonna call my husband and he’s gonna bring a car to take us to get you looked at. While we wait, I’m gonna ask you some questions, okay? Just yes or no, you can just nod or shake your head, got it?”
Hitoshi gave a hesitant nod, resting his head on Hizashi’s shoulder.
“Perfect. Gimme just a sec.” He hit a button on his phone and it only rang once before Shouta picked up.
“Zash, you okay? You usually don’t call during patrols.”
“I’m fine, love. I found a little listener hiding where your strays usually hang out.”
“That’s…” It obviously took a second before Shouta grasped what he was trying not to say. “Okay. Do you need me?”
“You and the car. The little rockstar needs to be checked out. If you could grab some shorts and a t-shirt too, and maybe a blanket or jacket?”
“Got it. Where am I meeting you?”
“Corner of Eighth and Manju.”
“Heh, you weren’t kidding about the strays. I’ll be there in ten.”
The line went dead and Hizashi tucked his phone away, sitting on a bench with Hitoshi wrapped up in his arms. “Time to get to know each other, kiddo! If you don’t wanna answer a question, you can just pat my chest, got it?” When Hitoshi nodded, Hizashi cuddled him closer. “First question, did you run away?”
Hitoshi stiffened and held still for a second before lifting a hand to waffle it from side to side. “Did someone lock you out of your home and then you left?” He’d dealt with runaways and bad foster homes before; places like he was in before his parents adopted him. A nod was his response, tiny and obviously scared.
“That’s okay, sweetheart. You didn’t do anything wrong and you’re not in any trouble. You don’t feel safe there?” The almost forceful headshake broke his heart, but he just ran a hand soothingly down Hitoshi’s back. “That’s understandable. Did your parents put the muzzle on you?”
Hitoshi shook his head again, sighing very softly. “Not your parents… are you in a foster or group home?” A nod and Hitoshi held up two fingers. “A group home, huh?” Another nod.
“You’re doing amazing, Hitoshi. I’m super proud of ya. Did they do that because of your quirk?” The sudden trembling and ducked head was all the answer Hizashi needed. “Hey, hey, shhh… it’s okay. You’re safe. No one is gonna put one of those things on you ever again. I promise.” When the trembling didn’t settle, Hizashi gently started rocking them, humming with that soothing rumble of his quirk laced in. He had all the information he needed for the moment.
Shouta pulled up only a few minutes later and Hizashi gently tapped Hitoshi’s back to get his attention. “Our chariot is here, little listener. We’re gonna go get you checked out, and then we have some clean clothes for you to change into, at least for tonight, okay?” Hitoshi gave a little nod and Hizashi stood up as Shouta stepped out of the car with the blanket in his hands.
“I wasn’t sure how big the kid was, so I grabbed a longer t-shirt in case the shorts didn’t fit. I also snagged one of your sweatshirts for us to go home in.” He wrapped the blanket around both of them, noticing the way Hitoshi’s fingers clung to the leather jacket like he was afraid it would be taken away. Large purple eyes stared at him and then Hitoshi lifted his hands to get Hizashi’s attention.
*Eraserhead.*
Shouta’s eyes were wide and Hizashi stifled a laugh, nodding. “Right on, Hitoshi, that’s Eraserhead. You gotta keep it a secret, but his name is Shouta Aizawa. You can call him Shouta if you want.” Hitoshi nodded shyly, offering the dark-haired man a little smile and getting one back. “My back pouch, Shou… it needs to go in an evidence bag and then put it in the trunk. I don’t want it anywhere near me or the little listener.” The tightness in his voice had Shouta moving quickly and Hitoshi snuggling into his chest. His husband’s soft curse as the muzzle was pulled out helped alleviate some of the tension, and it was quickly shoved into a bag and tucked away in the trunk.
“All done, Zash. Let’s get the kid to the hospital. I let Nao know that he was gonna be needed there.”
Hizashi nodded, slipping into the front seat and pulling the seatbelt over both him and Hitoshi. “Good. Toshi here says he was locked out of his group home and wandered here. At the very least, quirk discrimination and neglect of a minor.” He rocked side to side, soothing the kid who was curled against his chest. “He’s non-verbal, but can speak and understand JSL.”
Shouta nodded, resting a hand on Hizashi’s knee soothingly as he drove them to the hospital. “Then it’s a good thing we both speak and understand sign too, huh? If you have anything at all you want us to know, Hitoshi, you can tell us, okay?”
The little nod and a soft yawn were his answer and Hizashi chuckled gently. “It’s been a long night, huh, kiddo? This shouldn’t take too long.”