Chapter Text
Izuku paced the conference room as everyone sitting at the table screamed over one another. Plan upon plan was running through his head, but none seemed right. He needed his partner to bounce his ideas off of. This had been their ritual anytime either of them had a big mission, they would go home and run through different plans together before rejoining the team with their ideas. But now he didn’t even know where Hitoshi was, let alone how to save him.
“Izuku!” Aizawa said sternly.
Izuku looked back at the table and found everyone sitting quietly, staring at him. He blinked and Naomasa cleared his throat.
“We’ve received a message from the arsonist,” Naomasa announced.
Kacchan dragged Izuku to a chair and he dropped into it, Kacchan sitting next to him.
“They want all videos taken down, and the heroes to drop from their positions,” Naomasa said.
“First off, fuck this bitch. There’s no way anyone would agree to that,” Mei said from where she sat at the table with Nedzu, five laptops spread between them.
“Second, nobody has to because we have a location,” Nedzu continued, letting out a cackle that Mei mimicked.
Aizawa smirked and Izuku let out a relieved breath. This news trimmed his plans down from forty-six to five options. Everything was a flurry after Nedzu announced the location drop. Some people were sent out of the meeting while others were called in. Kacchan had given Izuku a notebook and would read off his ideas to the group as Izuku scribbled them down. Kacchan wouldn’t be a part of the rescue mission, so he technically should’ve left the room, but no one was going to make Kacchan leave Izuku’s side, knowing that neither of them was in a good place with Hitoshi kidnapped.
Within two hours, they had footage within and surrounding the building and a plan to be executed that night. Hitoshi was coming home.
“Team Mask, sound off,” Naomasa said into their earpieces.
“Deku,” Izuku said, tightening the straps on his mask. His mask for the Underground team he was in was similar to the mask he used as a vigilante in high school. Except, instead of getting the look of the mask being dirty and destroyed naturally, it was intentionally made to look that way. His hero costume was also made in darker colors but still had the same theme and design.
“Tsukoyomi,” Tokoyami said. Izuku could see the faintest outline of his shadowy figure standing on the roof of the building they were about to infiltrate. The biggest giveaway of his appearance was Dark Shadow’s glowing eyes.
“Oh shit, my turn,” Hagakure said. Usually, Hitoshi was next in the roll call, and Izuku’s heart strained at the thought. Izuku couldn’t see her, but he knew she was hiding within the building, wearing her new DNA-infused invisible hero suit. “Prisma here.”
“Eraserhead,” Aizawa said from next to Izuku. They were both standing across an alleyway from the building, hunched in the shadows.
“Masks on,” Naomasa said. “Move in.”
Aizawa and Izuku crossed the alley quickly and made their way inside the building through the side door they’d been watching. The building the arsonist was occupying was an abandoned office building. They entered on the ground floor and took the stairwell that would take them up to the third floor where the arsonist was hiding with Hitoshi. If all had gone as planned, no one would be expecting their approach.
‘Stick to the plan,’ Aizawa signed to him as they reached the third-floor door.
Izuku nodded. However, whether he would stick to the plan was still up for debate. He would not risk losing Hitoshi, even if he lost himself in the fight.
Aizawa saw this in his eyes and shook his head, but still opened the door for them to enter the hallway. The arsonist may be good at setting fires and getting away with it, but it seemed that other criminal activities were not his forte. He had not thought about the cameras within the building and surrounding area. Even though it was abandoned, power still ran through the building which led to the cameras still working. He hadn’t set any traps either, which made their walk to the room he was in easy. All they had to do was mask their footsteps, which Aizawa had extensively trained his class in after the war.
They reached the room and Hagakure tapped their shoulders to alert them to her presence before she retreated again. Izuku peaked into the room and found Hitoshi strapped to a chair in the middle of the room with the arsonist pacing in front of him. He was tall, muscled, and had a buzz cut, but that was all Izuku could really see. There were four other people in the room with them, all similarly built to the arsonist. Either the arsonist had more people following him then they originally thought, or it was extremely easy to pick up henchmen nowadays.
“This is fucking stupid!” The arsonist shouted. “They were supposed to lay down and listen to me!”
“Heroes aren’t dogs at your beck and call,” Hitoshi scoffed.
“Shut up!” The arsonist screamed at him.
“Maybe they need some motivation,” one of the other people said, gesturing toward where a camera was set up in the corner.
“It hasn’t even been 24 hours since we sent the last message, maybe they need to see their little hero getting hurt,” another one offered.
The arsonist smirked and gestured for them to set it up. When it started recording, the arsonist started monologuing and threatening Hitoshi’s well-being if his demands weren’t met.
Izuku raised his hand and waved at Hitoshi, finally getting his attention. Hitoshi smiled and it melted the tension in Izuku’s heart. He ducked back out of the doorway when one of the other people turned towards them.
“And if you want to keep your precious hero safe, then you better deliver. Or else…” the arsonist stalked towards Hitoshi.
“You do not want to do that,” Hitoshi said, acting as if he hadn’t seen his partner. “Trust me.”
“Masks!” The arsonist called out and the other people in the room all put on what looked to be firefighter masks. One of them handed the arsonist a large butane torch and he turned towards Hitoshi with a manic grin as he lit the torch.
“Alright, have it your way,” Hitoshi said. “Mask!”
“Copy,” Izuku said, stepping into the room with One for All flickering around his body. He could feel Aizawa enter behind him, casting a red glow on the villains. Hagakure materialized on his other side, refracting the light from the torch back at them. Right on time, Tokoyami burst through the window, sending shattered glass flying into the room as Dark Shadow expanded to block all the exits.
“You!” The arsonist shouted, pointing at Izuku.
“Me,” Izuku said, sending out Blackwhip as Aizawa threw out his capture scarf. They both easily detained all five of the villains. “Pathetic,” Izuku muttered as they cuffed each of them. Police filed into the room and carried them all out as Izuku ran to Hitoshi and used one of his knives to cut through the rope. “Hitoshi, you could’ve gotten out of these ropes in less than a minute. What the fuck?” Izuku asked, coming around to stand in front of his boyfriend with his arms crossed.
“But then I wouldn’t get to play damsel in distress and have my scary boyfriend come rescue me,” Hitoshi said, batting his eyelashes.
“Next time, try not to get kidnapped,” Aizawa muttered.
“Yeah, Izu is terrifying when he goes into revenge mode,” Hagakure said with a shudder.
“He can be a true being of the darkness at times,” Tokoyami added.
“You’re exaggerating,” Izuku said with a pout. All four of them gave him a deadpan look and Izuku rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever! Maybe people should learn not to threaten my family then.”
Hitoshi stood up and hugged Izuku. “I’m sorry for letting myself get kidnapped without warning you. I knew it was the only chance that we’d have to actually capture him though.”
Izuku shook his head and turned his face into his boyfriend’s neck. “I understand why you did it. I just wish I could’ve had some warning. Kacchan had to fly over to tell me you were gone and it- I- it was just like how I found out about Mom.”
Hitoshi started rubbing Izuku’s back and placed a kiss on top of his head. “I’m so sorry Izuku. I promise that I will make sure that you know in the future. Even if it threatens to give away my position.”
“No,” Izuku said, shaking his head. “No. I trust you and I know that you can handle yourself. You’re a hero too, and there’s going to be moments like this on missions. My mom didn’t have any defenses. I can’t compare you two.”
“Come on, lovebirds,” Aizawa said, running a hand through both of their hair. “We have paperwork to do before we can go home and I’d like to get it done as soon as possible.”
Izuku and Hitoshi laughed and they all exited the building.
Kacchan was standing outside and his shoulders dropped as soon as he saw Hitoshi and Izuku walk out, holding hands and whispering to one another. “Never pull that shit again, Eyebags,” Kacchan said, before pulling him into a quick hug.
Hitoshi blinked at him in surprise, but a smile formed. “Sorry for worrying you, Pomeranian.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Kacchan said before walking away and leaving them.
“Tatsuo Tamanaha,” Hitoshi said. They were sitting in the interrogation room with the arsonist, whose name they’d finally learned. “You’ve denied the right to a lawyer.”
“I have no need for a lawyer,” Tamanaha said, pulling at his cuffed wrists. “I’ve done nothing wrong and everyone knows that my message is right.”
Izuku arched an eyebrow. “You committed arson regularly, kidnapped a Pro Hero, and sent threats against society, the hero industry, the police force, and said Pro Hero. How, may I ask, did you ‘do nothing wrong?’”
“Anything done to protect the union between man and woman is justified,” Tamanaha said, tilting his chin up. “Everything I have done is for this cause.”
“So you admit to everything that I have accused you of?” Izuku asked.
Tamanaha shrugged as if he truly had done nothing. “I set a couple of fires and took your friend here. So what?”
“He’s my boyfriend you-”
“Calm down, Izu,” Hitoshi warned, setting a hand on his boyfriend’s thigh. “Thank you for confessing to kidnapping me and committing arson Tamanaha. We will see you in court,” Hitoshi said calmly before guiding his boyfriend out of the room.
“You should have let me give him a piece of my mind,” Izuku muttered.
“Aggression is unseemly in an interrogation room,” Nedzu said. He’d been waiting outside for them, or more likely, he’d watched the interrogation and come out to talk to them. “You’ve both done so well with this whole case from start to finish. I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of the both of you.”
Izuku and Hitoshi bowed to their old principal.
“I won’t lie, this has been harder than any other case I’ve taken,” Izuku said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for losing my cool.”
Nedzu chuckled. “This case has been hard on many of us who were watching, so I can only imagine how hard it has been for the two of you. Losing your composure with the man who has caused so much pain and stress is only predictable. But, you should leave the arsonist to others for now. Henry is waiting outside to say goodbye before he heads back to the States.”
They all bowed to each other before Izuku and Hitoshi followed Nedzu’s advice and left the precinct. Henry and Aiden were waiting on the steps outside for them, and they were both caught in bear hugs as soon as they were spotted.
“I’m going to miss you brat,” Aiden said.
“Maybe Hitoshi and I can plan a vacation to your side of the Pacific sometime,” Izuku offered.
“You better,” Aiden said, squeezing him one last time before letting him go.
“My boy!” Henry wailed, pulling him into an even tighter hug. “I’m so proud of you! I wish I could steal you back to my agency again!”
Izuku laughed with the little air he was able to breathe. “Henry. Please. Breathe!”
Henry laughed through the giant tears streaming down his face and released his hold on Izuku. “Sorry, kid.”
Izuku rubbed his ribs. “It’s alright Henry. I’m going to miss you too.”
Hitoshi came and wrapped his arm around Izuku’s middle as tears started falling. “As soon as all this mess is cleaned up with the arsonist, I think we both deserve a vacation and I’ve never been to California.”
“You absolutely have to meet the rest of the team someday, Hitoshi!” Aiden said excitedly.
“Just be prepared for their jealousy when you get back that you were the only one allowed to come,” Izuku said. “I can just picture all the pranks they’re going to pull on you.”
Aiden laughed. “As long as I can get ranked in my games again, I won’t even care.”
“I wish we didn’t have to, but our plane will leave without us if we don’t start moving,” Henry said dejectedly.
Izuku and Hitoshi gave both of them one last hug with a promise to plan a trip out there soon and then they were off to the airport.
“You really want to go to California?” Izuku asked as they started walking back home.
“Of course, it’s where you lived for over a year. I want to see all your favorite spots and learn what you loved about it in person,” Hitoshi said, placing a kiss on Izuku’s hand.
Izuku blushed and shook his head. “Let’s just hope we get to go soon then.”
“I’ll have Mitsuki start planning it for us,” Hitoshi said. “That way she doesn’t freak out and think we’re running away.”
Izuku punched his boyfriend’s shoulder as they reached their shop. “First off, rude. Second off, I will never run away from you. Third off, we forgot the keys.”
Hitoshi gaped at Izuku and then frantically started searching his pockets, muttering up a storm of curses.
“We can just go through the window,” Izuku suggested.
“Fine,” Hitoshi sighed. “But we really need to give Suzume a copy of our key. This has happened too many times now.”
Izuku laughed as they went to the alleyway and Izuku started jumping in between the buildings until he reached the windowsill of the second floor. He pushed it open and slid inside, Hitoshi following soon after.
“Bed?” Izuku asked hopefully.
“Bed,” Hitoshi confirmed, shutting the window and locking it.