Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything was great up until Izuku turned 4. He lived a happy life with his mom and dad. He smiled and laughed without a care in the world. Every Saturday he would go play with his best friend Katsuki (or, to him, Kacchan), at the park while their moms chatted and laughed along with each other. He drew pictures that his mom would hang on the refrigerator and played heroes until he was so sleepy he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore. He had always felt loved. He had always felt safe with his family. Why wouldn’t he, right?

—

“Bye, Kacchan!” Izuku waved excitedly before climbing into his car seat. He kicked his feet quickly as the car pulled out of the Bakugo’s driveway. Instead of the usual route home, Inko drove back to the hospital despite just getting off work. Dr. Garaki had made room to see Izuku about his quirk after she explained to him that there was no sign of manifestation yet. 

Izuku had spent the entire day at school coming up with ideas of what his quirk could be. Katsuki and all his other classmates enthusiastically helped, trying their best to activate his quirk before his appointment. Usually Izuku hated being the center of attention, but he couldn’t deny that this was the best day he’d had at school yet. Even when Mitsuki picked him and Katsuki up and brought them back to the Bakugo residence like she did everyday. 

“What if my quirk, it’s that, I can like, make fire! But into different shapes!” Izuku happily recalled his classmates' theories to his mom as she drove.

“Oh, maybe! That would be fun, huh?” She replied. 

“Or! Or! It could be that I can move stuff, but big stuff! Like, what if I could move the, the car by myself?” Izuku kept rambling on, even when Inko stopped responding to every new idea. She did that sometimes. Izuku never really noticed though.

It didn’t take long at all to get to the hospital. Inko let him lead the way to the front desk where he was bouncing on the balls of his feet excitedly, soaking up the compliments from Inko’s coworkers. They wished him luck in his quirk diagnosis as he skipped down the halls, Inko trailing tiredly behind him. He never stopped spouting out ideas and theories of what his quirk could be, even as they walked through Dr. Garaki’s office door. Izuku was ready to get started immediately, letting him run his tests and little experiments. The entire time he ranted on about how he was going to be the next best hero. When Dr. Garaki left momentarily to pick up his X-ray results, Izuku was practically vibrating in his seat. 

“Do you think my quirk is going to be as cool as Kacchan's?” He questioned happily. 

“Of course I do.” Inko said as she gave him a small nod. “Now let’s be patient until Dr. Garaki comes back, okay?”

“Okay!” Izuku all but yelled. 

It was the most agonizing three minutes in all of Izuku’s four years of living, but he kept himself partially distracted by revisiting his and his classmates' theories. He imagined himself lifting a fallen building, rescuing everyone with a smile on his face like All Might. Or flames engulfing him like a fiery shield as he faced a villain head on. He saw himself stopping an out of control train with his mind before all the passengers came out to celebrate him. The ideas were fun, but he just couldn’t wait another second. Luckily Dr. Garaki came waddling back into the room soon after, but his smile was no longer present. Izuku didn't notice, he was busy literally squealing with excitement. 

Dr. Garaki sat down in his chair with a sigh before facing him and his mom. “Sorry kid, it's not gonna happen.”

Izuku’s entire body went cold as his All Might figure fell to the floor. In every single possibility he had thought of, there was not a single one that ended up in this scenario. Inko was just as shocked, holding her hand on his back in an attempt to comfort him. It didn’t make sense. Both Inko and Hisashi have quirks; have parents and grandparents with quirks! 

“Izuku should’ve already manifested one of yours or your husband's quirks or a combination of both but after reviewing his X-rays I don’t think he's going to. You see, when superpowers first began appearing, there were many research studies conducted and doctors discovered a link between the bones in a person's foot and their likelihood of getting a quirk. People with powers on have one joint in their pinky toes. Their bodies have evolved into a more streamlined version of the human form. You can see here that Izuku had two joints in his pinkies; like roughly twenty percent of the population these days.” Dr. Garaki explained while pointing to the X-ray.

Izuku and Inko both stared at the screen in horror. There it was; that awful second joint that would forever ruin Izuku’s life. He stared at his feet, tears welling up in his eyes. Inko and Dr. Garaki kept talking, but Izuku wouldn’t be able to tell you a word of what they said. He couldn’t tell you about the walk out of the hospital or the drive home either. The overwhelming idea that he’s going to have to tell everyone he knows. The thought of how his classmates would laugh, Kacchan's harsh stare he knows he’ll receive for ruining their plans of becoming pros together. He wondered what his dad would say. Hisashi told him to make him proud; and this was nothing to be proud of. Even at four years old he understood that.

At home, he sat on the couch staring down at his All Might figurine. Inko was cooking dinner as they were anxiously awaiting Hisashi's arrival from work. Neither of them could help but flinch ever so slightly at the sound of the door opening.

“Hey, how’d it go?” Hisashi called from the door.

Izuku stayed quiet on the couch like Inko previously instructed him to while she quietly broke the news. Hisashi didn’t say anything, just slammed the door behind him as he went back outside. “Where did he go?” Izuku whispered.

“Just… on a walk. He’ll be back for dinner.” She said, hurrying back to the kitchen while keeping her head down. Hisashi was indeed back for dinner. The most awkwardly quiet dinner he’s ever had; but dinner none the less. They sent him to bed earlier that night, still tucking him and kissing his head good night with tears in their eyes.

Izuku wishes that he had just fallen asleep right then.

“I can’t do this anymore, Inko.” Hisashi said in no attempt to keep his voice down. Still, Izuku could hear Inko shushing him.

“Please, just give me some more time!” Inko sounded panicked. It was getting harder to hear their voices, so Izuku crept out of bed and pushed his ear up to the door. “I’ll find somewhere to send him, just give me a few days!”

“You’ve been saying that for four years! Maybe you should send that thing to one of those sweat shops.” 

“He is our son, Hisashi! It’s not his fault he was born this way!” Inko defended. Suddenly, there was a clear smack followed by a gasp from Inko.

“No son of mine will be some quirkless disgrace!” Izuku flinched as his dad screamed. “I never wanted this life, dammit! I’m… I’m leaving tonight. I refuse to spend one more night around that freak. You can come with me, but it stays here.”

“I-I…Hisashi, he’s our son. You can’t honestly expect me to just turn my back on him like this ,” Inko cried, her voice breaking as she grew more and more desperate. “You promised—no matter what, we’d find somewhere good for him!!” 

From behind his door, Izuku clenched his fists, struggling not to rush to her side. To defend himself against his dad. He was supposed to be asleep. If they caught him eavesdropping, it would only make things worse. The hitting would start again.

“Then you’ve made your choice already. Do not contact me again. Tell that little mistake whatever lie you make up to keep him away from me. He is the reason our ‘family’ has torn apart. You had a choice.”

And with that, all Izuku can hear is his mother's sobs and screams while the front door slams.

Izuku climbed back into his bed his parents had previously tucked him into and kissed his head like usual. He couldn’t keep his tears in anymore, sobbing into his pillow to muffle the sound. The things his dad had said about him echoed in his head, along with the fact that his parents have been trying to give him away.  The longer he thought about it the more it upset him, only making the tears come out from his eyes faster. His pillow was effectively soaked in tears by the time exhaustion caught up to him. 

When he woke up, his room was dark and still. He laid in bed for as long as could, too afraid to face the repercussions his extra toe joint brought. 

Izuku glanced over the digital clock his parents got him to help him know when he was allowed to leave his room. Admittedly, he had a bad habit of jumping off the couch and making as much noise as he could manage in the mornings. The people who lived in the apartment below them had complained multiple times about his ruckus so his parents bought him a small digital clock. They taught him that when the clock reads 7am, he’s allowed to come out and play. If he happened to wake up before then, he had to play quiet games, like coloring or flashcards he got from school, in his room until it was time to come out. 

The clock read 8:47am.

Izuku sighed, climbing out of his bed and creeping over to the door where he stood the night before listening to his parents yell. His dad’s insults speared right into his heart again as he stared down at his feet. When he finally summoned the courage to open the door and peek his head out, he saw the once tidy apartment an absolute mess. There was broken glass and broken dishes everywhere. Clothes littered the ground along with actual trash. Inko was sitting at the dinner table with her head buried in her hands and surrounded by empty bottles.

He walked to her slowly, unaware if she was asleep or not. In the blink of an eye she shot up from the table and looked at Izuku with the angriest expression he had ever seen on her face. He flinched at the sudden sound and movement, but reached his hand out to her to hold; just in case she was sad.

What a wrong move that was.

Inko stared at him with disgust. She muttered under her breath and stood up, towering over Izuku completely. He yelped when she grabbed his hand tightly, squishing his bones together. She raised his arm up, just past the point of comfort. 

Izuku whined from the pain, tears already falling from his eyes. She held him there, practically dangling him from his arm before finally throwing him back down towards the ground. He landed harshly, cutting his palm on a piece of broken glass. He used his other hand to push himself onto his feet, clutching the bottom of his shirt with his now blood covered hand.

“M-Mommy… where did daddy go..?” Izuku really should’ve kept his mouth shut. Inko whipped her head towards them and grabbed his shoulder, pushing her thumb into his collarbone. 

“Where did he go? How the hell am I supposed to know? He left us. He left me! He left because of you!” She raised a hand and swung down on his face. Hard. “You ruined everything !”

She didn’t stop. She pushed him down and swung her foot into his side, kicking him hard enough to slide around with each hit. Izuku had no other choice than to wrap his arms around his head and wait for it to be over. Inko screamed in his face, telling him how he ruined her life. Her marriage. That he’s the reason she’s doing this. That he caused the one man she loved more than anything else in the world to leave her.

After a while, the abuse stopped. Inko told him to sit on the couch and to not move. He did as he was told, coughing blood and feeling dizzy from the ringing in his ears. Breathing was a difficult task as blood flooded through his nostrils. Sitting there, chest heaving and eyes out of focus, Izuku watched as she pulled all of his belongings out of his room. All his books, toys, blankets, and school projects. Everything.

She smashed his toys one by one in front of him, ripping the arms and legs off action figures and decapitating all of his stuffed animals. Page by page she tore his books and burned his art projects. She took scissors to his clothes, threatening him with them when he begged her to stop.

After what felt like an eternity she pulled him back into his room. His walls were bare and everything had been taken out. All that was left was a mattress on the floor and hooks around the walls, ceiling, and floor that Inko had put in.

“This is your fault. You have no one but yourself to blame.” She threw him across the room and slammed the door shut before he could push himself up, locking it behind her.

“N-No, no, no! Mommy! Please, I’m sorry!” Izuku banged on the door, pleading uselessly. He didn’t understand why this was happening. Why was his mom so mad at him when it was Hisashi who left? What did they mean when they said she should give him up to the sweat shops? Why did she take all of his stuff away? Why did she hit and kick him after she told him at least 100 times ‘we don’t hit or kick or throw things when we’re upset. We take a deep breath and talk about how our hearts feel’? Where did his dad go? When was he coming back? Why don’t his parents love him anymore?

Izuku sobbed and begged at the door for his mother to let him out. He was hurting and needed his mom’s hugs and kisses to make it go away. His ribs were burning and his head was pounding. But what bothered him the most was how his heart ached for some kind of comfort. Even if it wasn’t from Inko; he just needed something to wrap his arms around.

‘This is your fault, Izuku.’ Her voice echoed through his head. He gave up after minutes of begging for freedom before crawling to the mattress on the ground. Hands tucked into his chest and ankles crossed behind them, Izuku’s sobbing turned into subtle sniffling. 

Izuku could vaguely hear his mother on the phone from the living room. She had called Mitsuki Bakugo, wailing out fake tears as she told her about his unfortunate diagnosis. She told her about a school in America for quirkless kids, saying that Hisashi had taken him there. That the school is where Izuku will be living for the rest of his life. Inko repeated the same lines over and over to  all her friends and his school.

It finally clicked for him that he would not be allowed to leave his room for a very long time. That he’d be locked in for the rest of his life. However short it may be.

He continues living like this for years.

No, Not living. 

Surviving.

Chapter Text

At some point, Izuku loses all senses of reality. All he knows now is pain and tears.

A few months after he began living like this, his mother painted his windows black to keep the sun getting in. Izuku has no way of telling what time of day it was most of the time.

Inko left and returned from work at all different times. She worked as a nurse at the local hospital. Izuku used to think that her job was one of the best jobs anyone could have, next to being a hero of course. He doesn’t think that anymore. He stopped believing that when his mother would inject him with needles of clear liquids that made him numb and tired. He always fell asleep after she’d given him the injections. And he always woke up with more cuts, bruises, and pain than with what he’d fallen asleep with.

He’s not sure how old he is anymore, either. Last time he knew how old he was, he had just turned 4. But he was too big to be four now. It was hard to tell how long has passed since he’s been locked in this room, but if he had to guess, he felt about 7 years old.

Tonight was a very good night for him though. Well, as good it got for him. Tonight Izuku was allowed to eat a meal. Most days Izuku would wake up hungry and go to sleep even hungrier. But every once in a while, maybe every four days he had guessed, his mother would put a plate of food in the middle of the room and untie him from his bed.

These meals started coming with a price though. The nights Izuku had a “meal night”, a strange man would come into his room. It wasn’t always the same man, there had been around 5 different people who’d come to see him. To touch him.

—

Izuku remembers the first time it happened. He was probably 5. He’d felt warm and full of enough food to keep his sunken stomach from rumbling. He was enjoying the satisfaction of something in his system to keep his body from destroying itself. But then he heard his mother welcome someone into the house. She talks to this stranger in a quiet but stern manner. Something about an hour of use per week. Whatever that means. They’re using too many words he just doesn’t quite understand. He stops trying to listen all together, but the silence in his room is making it out to be an impossible task. He doesn’t start worrying about it until he hears a pair of footsteps that are too heavy to be his mothers, coming towards his room.

The door unlocks and opens, light from the hallway spilling into his room. The person he sees isn’t his mother. It’s a man he’s never met. He’s big and looks unkempt. He has brown hair and pinkish eyes. Izuku stared at the man in fear, not knowing what would happen next but having a gut instinct tell him it’s not going to be good.

“H-hello?” His voice was small and squeaky. The man just grinned, staring down at the helpless little boy in the corner. He stepped in the room and locked the door behind him.

“What’s your name kid?” His voice sounded rough and uninterested.

“I-izu-uku,” He clears his throat and tries again. “Izuku Mi-midoriya.”

The strange man just hums and sits next to him on the bed. Izuku backs away until his back hits the wall behind him. “Come back over here. Now.”

“I-I don’t know y-you…”

Anger washes over the strange man’s face, but he takes a deep breath and tries again.
“I want to play a game with you. That’s why I'm here. To play a game.”

Izuku perks up. He hasn’t played since his mom had locked him in the room. “W-what game?”

“It’s a fun game called Fire truck. Would you like to play?” The man offers Izuku a hand and he takes it happily.

Sitting next to the man, Izuku still feels nervous about the stranger but he pushes his feelings down because he gets to play a game for the first time in what felt like forever. “So how do you play?” He asks, smiling wide. The man explains the game to him. The man’s hand will be the fire truck and Izuku is going to be the city streets. He’s going to put his hand somewhere on Izuku’s body and Izuku tells him either “Green light” if the man is okay to keep going or “Red light” if Izuku wants him to stop. Seems simple enough.

“Okay now you know the rules. Are you ready to play?” His eyes made Izuku’s nervous feelings come back, but he wants to remember what it’s like to play and laugh and giggle again. So he smiles at the man and says, “Yes!”. The man instructs him to lay down to play the game properly. And with that, the “game” begins

The man starts by putting his hand on top of Izuku’s head. “Green light!” Izuku is giggling. His hand moves down and cups his cheek. With another “Green light” the man moves his hand down to his shoulder, going all the way down his arm and back up. Izuku is giggling and squirming because the touch tickles his skin. The man’s left hand grabs Izuku’s ankle and starts moving up. That’s when his heart starts racing and panicking. By the time the man’s hand reaches his thigh, Izuku yells “Red light!”, expecting the man to stop his movements. But the man never stops.

“R-red light!” He tries again. The man’s right hand on his waist, left of his upper thigh.

“Silly boy, don’t you know? Fire trucks don’t stop for red lights.” The man moves his hand up from Izuku’s thigh to his-

This isn’t how the game is supposed to be played.

Izuku is crying and thrashing. He’s trying to kick the man but he’s too weak to produce any actual results.

The man is laughing and forcing Izuku’s clothes off. And then his own pants. All Izuku can do is scream and beg him to stop.

He does, eventually. Gets dressed, pats Izuku on the head, and walks out like nothing had happened.

Except something did happen. He’s not sure what to call it, but he knows he hated it.

He had learned two things that day.
1. Fire trucks don’t stop for red lights.
and
2. People don’t stop for screaming.

—
That had been years ago. Izuku still hates it. He hates the way he feels during and after it. How the strange men looked and talked to him. How his mother allowed those men to do it.

It was going to happen tonight too. It was “meal night” after all.

He finishes his small portion of food his mother had given him and sets the dish next to the door like he always did. Now all there was left to do was wait for whatever man was coming for him tonight.

He had learned that crying and begging for it to be over was pointless. There was no point in trying to make the men stop. It just wore him out even more. So he completely stopped fighting. It was just a part of his life now, no matter how much he hated it and how disgusted he had felt with himself. He would just lay there with no emotions coming from his face and only made noise when the pain was just too much to handle. He just hoped tonight he’d be able to keep his food in his stomach.

He could hear the front door of the apartment open. Here we go again he had thought. The familiar sound of a man chatting with his mother. His mother came in and took the dishes from next to the door before the man had come in, looking at him with eyes asking him if he was going to put up a fight. He stared up at her a bit longer, hopeful she’d tell him that there would be no more strange men coming to the apartment, that dad was home and he could come out of his room and into the world again. But she just grit her teeth and he sighed and opened his shaking thighs apart. She hummed, still angry but content with Izuku’s actions.

When the man appeared in the doorway, Izuku felt his spine shiver. “Well well. Looks like he’s all ready just for me. Good little slut.” They called him that name a lot. Along with many others. Toy, whore, cum dumpster, bitch. He doesn’t know what any of them mean. He just knows he doesn’t like them.

Izuku forced himself into his mind numbing state when he saw the man, closing and locking the door behind him. He could pretend that none of it was happening like that. He could go back to before all of this started. Back when his parents lived together with him and he was free to leave his room or go outside whenever he wanted. He thought about the outside world, the trees and flowers, the smell of flowers in the air, the sun on his skin. There’s a pair of hands grabbing his waist. He flinches, and forces himself deeper into his mental state. Before that though, he had caught a glimpse at the man’s phone, looking at the time. 12:03am July 15, 20XX.

Oh. So he guessed right.

Happy 7th birthday to me then. He had thought, then let go of his reality.

Chapter Text

-Shouta’s POV-

It’s 4:28 in the morning and Shouta Aizawa is ready for his patrol to be over with already. He wants nothing more than to go home to his fiancé and cuddle in their warm bed until the day they rot.

He reimagines his night, before he had left for patrol. He thinks about how Hizashi made him his cup of coffee while he got ready. How they spent the last little bit of time together before he had to leave. He thought about the kisses they had shared and I love you’s. Only another half hour and he’d get to go home to him. He usually enjoys his patrols because he loves being a hero and protecting those who can’t protect themselves, but today he felt an eerie vibe in the air. Like something scarring was to come.

His peaceful day dream was interrupted by the ringing of his work phone. He sighs and brings his phone up to his ear.

“Eraser Head speaking.” He just wants to go home.

“Sir there’s a situation we need you to get to as soon as you can.”

“There always is. What’s the situation?”

“We got a call reporting screaming going off and on for the past four hours in the southern apartment complex building number 2, in Musutafu. Let me just send you the address and how fast can you get there?”

I hope this won’t take long. He checks the address that was just sent to his phone. “I can be there in less than 5 minutes.” He hangs up the phone.

And he’s off, running across rooftops and searching for the apartment building. Once he has eyes on the building, he sees a man coming out of the complex’s gates. Telling by his clothes and general appearance, he didn’t live around here. He drops down in front of the man. “Hello, sir.”

The man jumped and nearly fell backwards.
“UAHG!- Jeez man, don't sneak up on people like that!”

Shouta knows he is up to something. It’s 4:37 in the morning. The man is jumpy and yet looks tired. “Didn’t mean to startle you. What apartment did you just come from?”

The man looked Shouta up and down,“Oh you must be here for that kid and his mom.” A kid? “Yeah man, just go to the second building, third floor, closest to the stairwell. He’ll show you a real good time.” The man just winks at him and starts to walk off. He doesn’t even make it another step before Shouta has his binding cloth had the man hanging by his arms on a street lamp. 'This involves a kid. ‘He’ll show you a real good time’? What does that mean? He needs to call for backup. Whatever is happening to that kid, won’t be happening anymore.'
-
It takes about 15 minutes before his backup gets there. Around 10 policemen, Tsukauchi, and medics. Shouta is just about ready to rip someone's head off their shoulders.

Tsukauchi is investigating the man tied to the street lamp. The medics are set up and prepared to take someone to the hospital. Shouta has the police follow him up to the apartment number the man had given him.

-Izuku’s POV-

Izuku had woken up from his forced dream-like state sore, bruised, and exhausted. But most importantly, confused. His last bad man had just left minutes ago, but he still heard a loud knocking from the front door. He lays in pain on the thin, dirt and blood covered mattress on the ground. It’s all he has. No toys. No books or posters. Just a dark, dirty, silent room.

He listens as his mother grumbles angrily outside his door. She quickly moved away and opened the front door.

—Shouta’s POV-

A woman opens the door with a smile on her face. She’s short, has green hair and looks like a hug from her could make anyone break down crying. She seems so welcoming.

Shouta doesn’t buy it for a second.

“Oh my! How can I help you gentlemen?” She smiles softly. Shouta can feel something wrong from inside the apartment.

“We’d like to come in and search your apartment, ma’am.” As soon as the officer flashes the search warrant, Shouta is already inside.

He can hear the woman talking but he isn’t interested in what she has to say. He’s too busy looking for a child.

He looks through cabinets and drawers for the kid. Being unaware of how old the child is and how small the child is, he refuses to leave anything unchecked. He makes his way into a hallway checking every door.

A closet with nothing but cleaning supplies; Empty.

A bedroom that clearly belongs to the woman; Empty.

A bathroom, so clean it looks as if no one has ever stepped foot in it; Empty.

And finally a door with a lock high up so a child could not reach it. Shouta takes a deep breath and unlocks the door.

When he opens the door, the first thing he sees is the child. Bruises, dirt and blood, cuts, and scar’s covered his body. His hair was dark and matted. His stomach caved in and there was almost no meat on his bones whatsoever. There’s rope tying his little arms to each other.

Then he examines the room the boy is in. It’s pitch black beside the light shining in from the hallway. The walls and floor are covered in scratches, dirt, and blood. There is a window but it’s been painted over with black paint. He sees the hooks coming out of the walls. A mattress is in the corner of the room but it’s worn down thin and crusted with blood and dirt.

He takes a deep breath and tries to keep himself together. He found him. He takes a step into the room but backs back into the doorway when he sees the child flinch.

“Hey there bud. My name is Eraser Head, or you can just call me by my real name, Shouta Aizawa. I’m a pro-hero. Can you tell me your name?” He talks quietly but loud enough the kid should hear him.

“…R-real hero?” The kid's voice is barely above a whisper.

“Yeah a real one. Would you like to see my hero license?”

The boy just nods after a long pause.

“I’m going to come in and show it to you. Is that okay with you?” The boy looks confused.

“…O-okay w-with me?” And Shouta’s blood starts to go cold. Consent shouldn’t need to be questioned like this.

“I won’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with, okay? I’m not here to hurt you in any type of way, I just want to get you out of here and somewhere safe,” He has already planned to foster this kid with Hizashi. This child needs a place to live where he can be safe, eat 3 meals a day, and be nothing but loved and cared for. Shouta doesn’t trust the foster system to take care of this boy. Not as well as he can. “I need you to trust me on that. We can leave right now, or we can wait until you feel more comfortable.”

The boy just stares at him like he’s waiting for Shouta to lie to him. He’s not lying. The two stare at each other for a few more moments before the boy starts shaking.

“Mmm! Can’t l-leave! Sh-she got m-mad!” The boy cried out. It looks like he’s crying, but there’s no tears coming out. Probably due to dehydration. Shouta just squats down, attempting to lower himself so the both of them were around the same level.

“You’re allowed to leave now. She can’t get mad or hurt you anymore. She won’t. I promise you.” The boy stays silent for a while. Shouta couldn’t miss when he started squirming his wrists against each other.

“P-please…”He mutters out. Shouta makes his way to the boy as he attempts to stand up. He falls into Shouta's chest and just stays there. Shouta just wraps his arms around the small, skinny boy. He rubs his hand up and down the kid's shoulder. They stay like that for a little. Feeling the shake and hurt from the boy.

“Let’s go then, kid. Let’s go somewhere safe.” He unties the boy's arms and is immediately pulled into a hug as he wraps his arms around Shouta's. He just picks him and cups his head, telling him he’s going to be okay. Nothing can hurt him anymore. He’s safe now. Shouta can feel his heart racing as the feeling of holding this kid in his arms, a weird warm feeling overwhelms him.

“I-Izuku…” The kid whispers as he reveals his name.

‘It’s really nice to meet you, Izuku.”

Chapter Text

For the first time in 3 years, Izuku has a real opportunity to leave his room.

He’s scared a part of him wants to go back to the bed and wait for his mother to let him out, but he knows if he did the pain would never stop. The yelling and the men who violated him would continue to be a constant in his life. He knows all of this is true, but the overwhelming fear of what his mother would do to him is greater than his need for freedom.

His mind flashes back to last time he got a foot out that door. His mother had been drinking, more than normal. Usually, when Inko beat him, it was almost emotionless in a way. Of course she was always angry but this time it was like she was more focused on something other than just causing pain. Like she was trying to make this beating more memorable than past ones. If that was her goal, it worked. She had used a knife to carve an X in the middle of his back, cutting up his shoulder blades while he tried to wiggle his way out from underneath her. When she had left, Izuku listened for the sound of the lock that kept him trapped in. The sound never came. For the first time ever, she forgot to lock the door. He crawled his way to the door, the pain making it almost impossible to move. He forced himself to stand up, and he opened the door. Izuku only was able to take two steps before he was picked up and thrown across the room, slamming into the wall behind him. He ended up passing out from the pain but when he woke up, his vision was blurrier than usual and he could tell his toes on his right foot were broken.

Izuku was in no rush to go through that again.

But this time, there is a real life pro hero here, holding him in his arms in a way he hasn’t felt since he was 4. He didn’t understand why he didn’t feel the way he usually does when he’s this close to someone. Instead of feeling like he’s in danger or the overwhelming feeling of disgust like he usually did around other people. He felt as if maybe the only way to stay safe is to stay exactly where he is. Like there was a force field around him where absolutely nothing and no one could ever hurt him.

When the hero starts walking towards the door, Izuku can feel his fear surging through him. His blood switched from what felt like boiling hot to ice cold. His muscles felt weak, weaker than normal. He tried to grip onto the hero’s clothes but his hands got tired after just a few seconds. He braces himself for the impact of a hit or maybe a kick as he goes through the doorway, but all he feels is his hero’s arms holding onto him just a little tighter.

As the pair make their way to the living room, Izuku closes his eyes tight. He hadn’t seen light this brightly in so long, it just hurt his eyes and head. So he focuses on what he hears instead.

There’s a lot of different noises going on. There’s a bunch of people talking. The shuttering of a camera. Static from walkie talkies. There’s footsteps coming from everywhere around him. He can hear his own heartbeat. He can hear his hero’s heart beat too. He can hear the way he’s breathing and whispering to him. He can hear a buzzing from the light bulb and the creaking of the floorboards. But worst of all, he can hear his mother.

“I-Izuku! Go back to your room, you know the rules! Izuku!“ She’s talking in a condescending tone that shakes Izuku to his core.

“S-stop…” Izuku throws his hands over his ears as he starts panicking. His breathing is heavy and fast. So fast it starts feeling like there’s no air around him at all. His heart is beating fast and hard. He can see it moving when he looks down. Everything is too much. Too much noise. Too much light. He’s cold and hot at the same time and he just wants it to stop.

—

Shouta can feel Izuku panic. He just needs to get him outside, away from everything; especially his mother. He walks a little faster and gets the two of them outside. He puts a hand up to the officers, signaling for them to wait and give him a few minutes.

“Hey, hey, hey. Shhh there’s no need to panic. Take some big deep breaths with me okay?” He takes Izuku's hand and puts it on his chest and takes a deep breath.

“Can you do that with me? Just how I did it, I’ll do them with you okay?” He watches him nod and takes another deep breath. Izuku is trying to do the same as he is but his breathing is still too fast. It just takes time.

“There you go, just like that. You’re going great, champ. Just a few more. ” He has the two of them take another deep breath and another and another. They stay like that until Izuku is breathing normally again.

“Are you feeling better now?” A nod.

“Do you want to try and tell me what was wrong or do you want to keep it to yourself a bit longer?”

He takes a while to answer, but when he does it’s so quiet he almost didn’t hear it. “W-what’s gonna happen now?”

“Now, we are going to go down to those medics who are waiting just for you,” he points to the medical team waiting on the ground, “and they are going to make sure you’re not injured too badly. We’re going to get into the ambulance right there and we’re going to go to a very special hospital. One made just for heroes and their families. Then we are going to see a very good friend of mine. Her name is Chiyo Shuzenji. You can just call her Chiyo. She is the very best doctor anyone could ever have.” Izuku just nods and watches the medics chat and finish preparing all their stuff.

“A-and then…?”

“Well it’s hard to say. Depending on what Chiyo says, we might stay in the hospital for a little while. Not very long, a few days at most. During which, my other friend down there,” He pointed down to Tsukauchi. “might come to see you and ask you some questions. You don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to. Nobody will be mad. He just wants to help you as much as I do.”

“P-pro hero too…?”

“No, not quite. He’s a detective. He’s going to make sure that your mom doesn’t hurt you anymore and that she goes away for a long time.” He feels him flinch.

“W-where do I-I go?” His breath starts picking back up.

“Hey woah woah, take some deep breaths. Focus on breathing.” He waits for Izuku to calm back down before continuing.

“Your mom is going to go to jail because what she did to you was wrong in every way, it’s very important that you know that. I don’t know if it’ll be a permanent place for you, but after we're done at the hospital you’ll come with me. But I promise you, you will always have a place to live.”

“W-with you? I-I can l-live with you…?” Shouta can hear the hope in his voice and his head breaks all over again.

“Yeah, kid. You can live with me and my fiancé. We’d love to have you in our home, if that’s what you want.” Shouta wants nothing else more than to take this kid back to his and Hizahi’s home. He wants to love and care and support this kid no matter what. He wants to buy him so many toys he doesn’t even know what to do with them. To cook him his favorite meals. To laugh and make jokes with the two of them. To be the one he goes to when he’s scared or sad. He wants to be there for all of it.

“P-please don’t leave m-me alone…” Izuku is hugging him so tightly, not even All Might could force them apart.

He just hugs him back, cupping the back of his head and sways him back and forth until he falls asleep in his arms.

He walks them down the stairwell and puts a finger to his mouth, telling everyone to keep quiet so the boy can sleep.

—

When Izuku wakes up, he doesn’t know where he is and he panics. He quickly looks around the new environment.

The room he’s in has light. It’s light but not very bright, and it’s a warm light. He sees sage green curtains all around him, hanging from a ceiling. The hero he had met is sitting in a chair in the corner. He looks like he’s sleeping though. The bed he is in, he notes, is much more comfortable than the one in his room. It’s a lot cleaner too. There’s a beeping noise on his right, coming from a machine with a bunch of weird lines and numbers on it. He’s never seen something like it.

He moves his hands up to his face to rub the sleepiness from his eyes and notices two things.

1. His hands and arms are clean and have a a wire coming out of one of them
   And
   2. Something is his cheek and he doesn’t like it.

He touches the strange thing on his cheek, only to realize it’s another wire. It’s thinner than the one connected to his arm and it’s going up in his nose. He traces the wire from his nose, to around his ear, and up to a weird bag hanging next to him full of a tan liquid.

He decides instantly, he wants it off his body.

He tries to pull the wire out of his nose, only to be met by pain and discomfort. He cries out, not sure how to get the thing out without it hurting. He can feel his heart speed up as he starts to panic. As his heart beats faster, the machine beeps faster with it.

No no no no no n-

“Hey hey buddy calm down, it’s alright.” He hears the hero say to him, moving closer to him, but not touching him.

“W-where?! What a-are the-these?!”

“You’re in the special hero hospital I told you about last night, remember that? And I told you about my super cool doctor friend?” Oh yeah. He does remember that. “And those tubes and wires? The one on your arm is called an IV. It’s helping you hydrate yourself. And that one on your face? Going down your nose? It’s called a NG tube. I know it’s uncomfortable but it’s pumping food into your stomach so you can feel better.”

He feels calmer, but he still doesn’t like it.

“O-off…”

“I know, kid. But you’re going to have to keep it on for a little while longer, just until you gain enough weight to keep some meat on your bones. Would you feel better if I had an IV in my arm with you? So you don’t have to do it all alone?”

He nods. He doesn’t trust himself to talk because he doesn’t want to say the wrong thing. But he’s scared. He woke up in a strange place, with weird things coming out of him, and he’s scared. He doesn’t want to do it alone.

“Okay. I’ll have Chiyo hook me up to an IV next time she comes in to check on you okay?” He nods again.

He can see the hero better now. He has long black hair that kind of hangs in his face. His eyes were black and looked very tired. And he had stubbly hair on his face. He was tall and skinny, and he had been slouching the whole time Izuku had been awake.

To him, he looked like the nicest person in the whole world.

“Mmm…t-time..?”

“Hm? Let me check,” He watches as the hero pulls out his phone. “It’s around 5:47 in the afternoon. Why do you ask, kid?”

“I-Is it still Ju-July… um… o-one five?” He can’t remember the correct name for the word he’s looking for, and he hides away in the pillow behind him out of embarrassment.

“Yeah. It’s still July 15th. July 1-5.”

He can’t help but give a small smile. His birthday wish came true this year. He got to leave his room.

“My b-birthday wish came t-t-t… um.. t-to real life.” What’s the word?

“…It’s your birthday?” He sounded so sad when he asked the question, Izuku thought he had done something wrong. So he started crying.

“I-I’m sorry…! I w-wasn’t t-trying to make y-you sad..!”

“Izuku, you didn’t make me sad. There’s no need for tears right now. Would it be okay with you, if I hugged you right now?”

He takes a second to think about that. Is it okay if he hugs me? He decides that he trusts the hero enough to let him hug him.

He gives him a nod and opens his shaky arms a little. He is immediately greeted with a hug, tight enough to feel his heartbeat but soft enough it doesn’t hurt.

“Happy birthday, Izuku.” The hero whispers to him.

He starts crying again but not out of fear or pain, but out of relief. Out of the feeling of warmth and safety and comfort. He keeps crying, and the hero just keeps holding him. He cries until he falls asleep again.

Chapter Text

With Izuku back to sleep, curled up in his arms, Shouta takes out his phone and texts Chiyo. He tells her that Izuku had woken up but fell back asleep, and that he needs an IV set up for himself.

Then he texts Hizashi.

Shouta: Will you pick up a birthday present for him on your way over?
I’m not sure what he likes but I honestly don’t think he’d be picky about whatever it is.

Hizashi: Oh god… yes I’ll get something together for him
I’ll see you in around 15 minutes

Shouta: Sounds good.
Thank you.
I love you.

Hizashi: I love you too, Sho <3

He just shuts his phone off and holds on to Izuku. Rubbing his hand up and down his scarred back gently, his other hand in his hair that’s so matted he’d have to call in Best Jeanist to help him get it under control. He closes his eyes and presses his lips into the boy’s hairline. They just stay like that, calm and comfortable in each other’s presence. Izuku sleeps and Shouta whispers sweet things to him when he stirs.

After what felt like hours and somehow only seconds, there’s a very gentle knock on the door. 'He’s here. Thank goodness.'

He gently pulls himself from the boy's grip, pulling the blankets over his shoulders and putting a pillow in between his arms before kissing his head.
“Shhh don’t worry kid, I’ll be right back. You’re not alone.” He whispers and moves the hair out of his face. He walks past the curtains and opens the door.

“Hey, Sho.” 'Ah, my love. Thank god.' He doesn’t say anything. He just takes Hizashi’s hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the lines in his palms.

“How is he?” Hizashi asks quietly.

“He’s um… it’s not good. He’s severely underweight and physically underdeveloped for a boy his age. He has scars all over his body and multiple injuries. His hair is just so matted I can’t even imagine how long it would have to take to get to that point without getting nauseous. Hizashi… it’s a miracle he’s still alive and responsive.” He’s doing everything to keep himself from crying because he knows if he starts now, he won’t be able to stop. He watches Hizashi’s eyes tear up and he has to close his eyes to take a deep breath to ground himself.

“And how are you doing with all this?” Hizashi’s voice breaks a little when he asks.

“I-I… this isn’t an easy situation to solve. It’ll take Izuku years to recover from all this and he’ll probably never get to live a normal life. I just met him and I’d already do anything I could for him. Zashi, I can’t just hand him over to the foster care system after this. You know that foster care wouldn’t take proper care of him, he could end up in the same situation that we just pulled him from. I can’t just leave him like that…”

“Sho, love. If you’re asking me about taking him in, I’m a little offended that you’d even think about having to ask and already knowing what I’m going to say.” Hizashi says with a small chuckle. He reaches out and holds the side of Shouta's face before getting serious again. “I can tell how much this case has already affected you and I know you have a big heart. It’s 100% okay with me if that’s what you feel you need to do. I’ll be waiting with open arms.”

That’s when Shouta released the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He is so grateful to have such a kind, supportive, and loving partner like Hizashi. He has no idea what he’d do without him.

They stay in each other’s presence for a little while longer. Enjoying the warmth and quiet of their own little bubble they’ve made around themselves. Only a few minutes had passed, but it felt like hours, when they had pulled away from each other. Izuku’s shuffling around was signaling Shouta that he was waking up.

“Stay right here for now, yeah? I’ll ask him if he’s up for a visitor so he doesn’t get overwhelmed.” He whispers. He just gets a nod and a small smile back.

—

When Izuku woke up again, he didn’t feel as panicked as he did the last time. He only freaked out when he noticed he was completely by himself. “W-where….” He doesn’t even finish the sentence when he sees Shouta walk back into the curtained off room.

“Shh, no need to worry. I’m right here. How are you feeling?” He’s talking quietly and sits on the bed next to Izuku's feet.

“H-hurts…” It hurts all over his body, but the pain in his arms is undeniably the worst.

“Hurts where, kid?” He just uses his hands to point to his arms. He can’t think of what they’re called. “Okay, that’s okay. They’re probably just tired from you using them so much today.” ‘Oh. That can happen?’

His train of thought was interrupted by the hero clearing his throat. ”So I was wondering, would you be okay with seeing a visitor? I’ll be there the whole time unless you want me to step out.” A visitor? Someone had come to see him?

“D-detec-tive friend…?” The question earns him a smile. ‘Did I do something good?’

“No, not the detective friend. Not yet anyways. Do you remember how I said that you might get to come live with me and my fiancé?” He nods. Of course he remembers that. It had been some of the best news of his whole life. Even if he didn’t know what the word “fiancé” meant.

“Well he’s here to see you, if it’s okay with you. He wanted to bring you something special just for you.”

“N-not a mean m-man…?”  He just needs to make sure. He doesn’t think the hero would bring one of the mean men here, but he doesn’t want to risk it.

“No, kid. No more mean men. They’ll never come near you again. He’s a good guy.” And he leans in and whispers, “He’s a real life pro hero. Just like me.” Another pro hero? Wants to meet him?

“O-okay. I wa-wanna meet him…” He’s just rewarded with another smile.

—

Shouta gets up to pull the curtain back, revealing Hizashi to Izuku. He watches for Izuku’s reaction first. He sees him tense and flinch at first but he looks at Shouta again, like he’s unsure how to react. He just gives him a smile and a small nod and whispers “It’s okay, I’m right here. He’s not going to hurt you, I promise.” Izuku just nods and looks at Hizashi again.

Then Shouta looks at Hizashi and it feels like he’s falling in love with him all over again. He can see the love in his eyes when he looks at Izuku. But he can also see the hurt and sadness of seeing someone so young in the state he’s in. Hizashi is already looking at him like a worried father and is holding everything in himself back so as not to rush to Izuku’s side and hug him.

No one talks for a moment. Hizashi and Izuku only look at each other, examining everything about each other. Hizashi, not surprisingly, is the first to break the silence.

“You must be the brave Izuku I’ve heard so much about. Am I right?” Hizashi’s voice is quiet and warm. His small and welcoming smile seems to have an effect on Izuku, because he just relaxes on the hospital bed.

Izuku just nods,“What d-did you h-hear…?”

“Well, for starters, I heard what’s happened to you and I’d like you to know that I’m not here to hurt you. And I’ve heard that you have been so very brave the whole day. I was told that today is a very special day because it’s your birthday.” He lifts up the gift bag he was holding for Izuku to see.
For the first time since Shouta has met Izuku, his eyes have a light behind them. He can't help but smile. “Do you want to open your birthday present, kid?”

“Not a-allowed to have an-any-thing…” He can tell Izuku wants to open it, but he’s holding himself back.

“I know it’s hard to understand this now and it will be hard for a while, but you are allowed to have things, especially whatever we give you. You don’t have to live by your mom’s rules anymore. This is just for you.” Hizashi moves closer to the bed slowly, and puts the bag near Izuku’s feet. “If you want it, all you have to do is say so.”

Izuku looks at the bag, then at Hizashi, and then at Shouta. He just nods at him, encouraging the boy to open the bag. “Go ahead, kid.” He whispers.

—

Izuku reaches out his hands hesitantly and grabs the bag, pulling it closer towards him. He takes another look at Shouta, who gives him another encouraging nod and smile. When he reaches inside of it, he takes the thing on the top out. It’s a big, black fuzzy square with silver stars, tied together with a ribbon. He looks at Shouta with a confused expression. “I-I’m sorry… I d-don’t know…” He trails off, feeling embarrassed and guilty for not knowing. He watches as Shouta moves towards him slowly, and feels him rubbing his hand on his back.

“It’s okay if you don’t know. No need to apologize or feel embarrassed. Would you like me to show you?” Hizashi asks him. All he can do is nod, refusing to look either of them in the eye.

Hizashi slowly picks the fuzzy thing up. As he unties the ribbons, Izuku just watches his hands work. Hizashi eventually gets all of the ribbons untied and unfolds the square. “It’s a blanket!” Izuku reaches out his hand to feel it again. “B-blanket.” He echos.

“Did you have one before? With your mom?” Hizashi asks as he puts it over Izuku, making sure he’s completely covered by it from the neck down.

“N-no… sh-she took it away.” He rubs his face with the new blanket. He has already decided he likes it more than the ones he woke up with.

“Oh, sweet boy… I’m sorry for how you were treated. This blanket is all yours now though okay? No one is going to take this away from you.” He just nods. He’s too invested in the new texture to respond verbally. He rubs the blanket on his hands and arms, absorbing in the warmth and softness. It’s been way too long since he’s felt something like this.

He only stops when he remembers he’s not alone. Scared, he looks up at Shouta, expecting to be hit or yelled at for being greedy. “I-I’m sorry!” He flinches and throws the blanket off of himself, waiting for the pain to strike or the loud yelling to come to life. But it never comes. There’s only a small smile and a quiet voice saying, “No need to apologize, kid. You did nothing wrong. I think there’s something else in there for you.”

Izuku pulls the bag over on its side so it’s easier for him to reach in. He reaches in and feels something a bit more familiar. He pulls out a stuffed sea turtle, about the size of his head. It was yellow and had a green shell with big dopey eyes.

And when Izuku smiles, both Shouta and Hizashi both feel their chests fill a feeling that's new to the both of them. They can't help but smile as well.

“T-turtle!” His eyes are wide and his mouth is open as he looks at Hizashi.

“Yeah buddy, I didn’t know what you would like so I was hoping you’d like it. What do you think?” He said.

“Th-thank you! I love s-sea an-im-als!” He brought it closed to him and hugged it so tight, it almost hurt. He then moved it close to Shouta to show him. “D-do I really get to k-keep it?”

“Yeah, kid. It’s all yours.” He smiles at him.
Izuku wraps his arms around the stuffed toy again, and he looks at Hizashi again. “Th-thank you!”

Chapter Text

Shortly after his nurses realized Izuku was awake, they wanted to take advantage of this time to test Izuku’s brain function.

Key word: wanted.

Izuku would start yelling the second they would step inside his curtained off “room”. It got just about ten times worse when he saw the needles. He would cry and beg the nurses to back away from him. Shouta thought he was a quiet kid, but he was sorely mistaken. Izuku’s screaming could be heard throughout the entire hospital floor, and it was blood curdling. It would happen so suddenly, both Shouta and Hizashi nearly jumped out of their chairs each time.

It was almost like Izuku would go feral. His eyes would go incredibly wide, his arms and legs pushing him as far back on his bed as he can get. It was like he was blacking out for a few seconds before Shouta and Hizashi could calm him down.

It happened about twelve times before Izuku got somewhat used to people coming in and out of his room and sticking him needles. Instead of screaming he would just hold his breath, not taking his eyes off whichever of the medical staff would come near him.

Shouta could tell Izuku was getting tired of the tests he was getting put through. He doesn’t blame him. He was being kept up for hours as they were doing just about every test imaginable on Izuku. They tested his eyes, hearing, joint function, brain function, and allergies while also testing for any infections, diseases, and anything that will affect him if not treated in time. He slumps back after the staff leave him alone for what feels like only five minutes. He starts responding in fewer words, not that he was responding with many in the first place, and he starts talking even more quietly. The medical staff notices his increasingly annoyed attitude. He was sighing, on the verge of tears every time they came in to check his vitals, give him more medicine, or whatever they needed him to do.

“It’s alright kid, you’re almost done.” Shouta reassures Izuku after the nurse takes her leave. Izuku just looks at him for a few seconds before moving his eyes back to his turtle in his lap and sighing. “I know, I know. You’ll be able to go back to sleep soon. Go ahead and rest your eyes for now, it’ll take a little while to get all the results back.”

Izuku doesn’t hesitate to close his eyes, grabbing the arm of his new toy. Just seconds after his head hits the pillow behind him, his exhaustion shows. His muscles relax immediately, his breath going from conscious deep breathing to shallow steady breathing, and his eyebrows relaxed. When Izuku was sleeping, he almost looked like any other typical child. Peaceful and unharmed.

Shouta sits to the left of Hizashi, their knees touching each other. Feeling as tired as Izuku looks, Shouta takes a deep breath. As he’s exhaling he tilts his head until it hits the wall behind him. He only got in about 30 minutes of sleep since bringing Izuku to the hospital, spending most of the time Izuku was sleeping talking to doctors about his condition, filling in his rescue report, and sitting by Izuku’s side hoping to find a way to help him as much as possible.

Luckily, Shouta was no stranger to the hospital. He knew how long it’d take to get all the test results back. He knew what time the nurses would come back in to check Izuku’s vitals. Izuku has about fifteen minutes of rest before Shouta’s going to have to wake him back up, but he could use all the rest he could squeeze in.

Shouta needed it too, but for him that just wasn’t an option. Of course he was exhausted, but how was he expected to sleep when he was just so worried about Izuku? Between keeping him calm, waiting for his test results, and just about any and everything else, Shouta’s mind is just a whirlwind of overwhelming thoughts and stress.

Not that he’d let it show.

He refuses to worry Hizashi. Nobody knows Hizashi like Shouta does. He knows that he cares more than he probably should, that he too is worried sick about Izuku. It’s in his facial expression and body language. His leg is restless, he’s chewing his bottom lip and using his hand to cover it. Hizashi is terrible at hiding his feelings. Mostly because he’s just about the most open person anyone could ever meet. He has never been afraid to tell anybody exactly what he’s thinking. Shouta admires it. The day he met Hizashi he knew he wanted to keep him in his life one way or another after Hizashi bluntly told him his opinion on his dark demeanor.

“What happened to him that made him react like that? Who would do something so terrible to such a sweet kid?” Hizashi whispered sadly, looking at Izuku as he slept.

“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about that right now though.” Shouta took a deep breath before continuing. “Chiyo should be back with all the test results in about ten minutes.”

“I know how stressed out you must be. Do you think you’ll feel better after hearing the results?”

“Yes. Well, that’s what I’m hoping for.” Shouta noted how he wasn’t as slick as he thought he was at hiding his emotions.

Hizashi hooked his pinky around his, giving it one tight squeeze before relaxing their hands on the small table in-between them. “That’s my hope too.”

They took Izuku’s quick deep breath as a cue to finish their conversation. They sat silently together as Shouta watches the clock; timing when to start to wake Izuku up before Chiyo comes in. He didn’t want to wake him up at all. If it were up to Shouta, Izuku would be allowed to sleep for the rest of the week if he wanted to. However, Shouta knows that Chiyo prefers to talk to her patients directly, no matter the age.

The seconds went by like minutes and the minutes like seconds. Before he knew it, it was time to wake up Izuku. He used standing up as a headway into stretching his arms up before stepping next to the bed.

“Izuku, it’s time to sit up.” Shouta could feel his heart break as he said it. Izuku’s face switched from relaxed to pure sadness. “I know but it’s the last time today. I promise.”

“Very last time?” Izuku whispered, not yet moving from his cradle position.

“Yes. It’s the very last time today. This time you don’t even have to do anything. Just sit and listen.” He promised.

Izuku took a deep breath before sitting up and rubbing the heaviness out of his eyes.

Like clockwork, Chiyo made her presence known before entering through the curtains.

“Ah young one, you woke up just in time.” She jokes. It’s clear he was woken up despite his disagreement. Izuku got used to her quickly. He enjoyed her sassy attitude towards Shouta and Hizashi that balanced out how sweet and gentle she was with him. He just whined a response back at her.

“Alright I know you’re all tired so let’s get through this as fast as we can okay?” Chiyo asked while quickly reviewing her clipboard full of papers.

“Thank you, Chiyo. We really appreciate your help with all of this.” Hizashi expressed.

“Oh hush for now, child. Thank me later. Young Izuku, how are you feeling? Any new pain?” She asked.

“No, just tired.” Izuku answered quietly. Shouta gave a small smile towards the boy. He can tell that he’s more relaxed. His stutter naturally faded out as he talked to the medical staff, Hizashi, and Shouta.

“Good, good. Alright let’s get into these test results, huh?” Shouta moves back to his seat beside Hizashi while Chiyo sits on her chair and slowly moves it to the side of Izuku’s bed.

“Okay let’s get started with the results of your allergy test, hm?” She continues without a response. “Good news is, the only allergen you reacted to was peanuts. Bad news, it’s a pretty severe allergy. You’ll be able to avoid having an allergic reaction easily, just not eating anything with peanuts or having it touch your skin in any way. If that does happen, I’m sending you home with an EpiPen. I’ll show you, and those two as well, how to use it properly before you guys leave. Your hearing test came back perfectly normal, however your vision test came back less than ideal. The standard score is 20/20 but the scan of your eyes came out with a score of 20/50. Some point tomorrow you’re going to pick a frame for your glasses and those will be ready the day after tomorrow.”

Izuku’s eyes shifted from Hizashi to Shouta, watching for a reaction. He didn’t quite understand all of what Chiyo was saying but he got the gist of what she said. No peanuts. Good hearing. Getting glasses, meaning bad eyes. Which makes a lot of sense to him. He didn’t think things were supposed to be all blurry. He didn’t know how to feel about it. He wasn’t sure how upset or happy he should be. Neither Shouta or Hizashi seemed too upset, so he’ll hold off his panic for a little while longer.

“On account of your physical status, you came in with a lot of improperly healed bone fractures and breaks. My quirk will be able to heal those up for you however, your muscles and tissues in your legs have grown over incorrectly. My team and I are going to have you go to physical therapy where we’re hoping you’ll get at least eighty percent of your mobility back. Some of your open wounds, especially on your back, became infected so we already started you on antibiotics. We’ll keep giving them to you via IV while you’re here and then when you go home when we’ll put you on a pill form of these antibiotics. You’ll also be taking antibiotics for a kidney infection, which is causing the pain in your back.” Chiyo continued hurriedly. As much as Izuku appreciated that she was trying to be fast but she was going just too fast for him to keep up. He just nodded as she continued, reading off what seemed to be a list of everything to know about Izuku medically. “Next, your brain scans came back clear of any life impacting injuries, so all good is there. Lastly, all STD results came back negative and no life threatening diseases. Shouta, Hizashi, you two can breathe again.”

Izuku watches both men as they let go of a breath. Neither cried or smiled, making their reactions harder to read, but Hizashi nodded slowly and Shouta rubbed his palms against his knees.

“That’s the gist of it. I’d like to talk to you all about an official medical plan, but that can wait for now. Izuku, do you have any questions for me?”

“No, thank you.” Izuku answered quietly. He looks down at his hands, mindless fidgeting with the corner of his blanket.

“Okay sweetie, let me know if you have any in the future.” Chiyo talked as she was reorganizing her files and getting ready to take her leave. “I’ll let you rest for now, but you did very well today. Rest well tonight, we’ll be seeing more of each other tomorrow.”

Chiyo finished her goodbyes quickly, leaving the three with the promise that Izuku truly is done for the day. Shouta moved next to Izuku after walking her to the door. He watched Izuku’s head hitting his pillows as soon as the curtain returned to its closed off position. “How are you feeling, kid?”

Izuku just shrugs, not taking his eyes off the spot on the ceiling above him. He lied to Chiyo about not having questions, he knows better than to question anyone. His mother engraved the rule into his memory with a very strict teaching regimen. Izuku actually had loads of questions. He was confused, tired, and sore. He was also okay with waiting a little while longer for the answers he was looking for. He just needed to sleep now.

“Why don’t you go to sleep now? We’ll talk in the morning.” Shouta whispered as he moved the blanket over his shoulders. Izuku’s eyes shifted to Shouta’s. He gave a small yawn before whispering, “Thank you.”

“For what?” He asked quietly.

He was asleep before he could answer, but he would’ve said for not making him do everything alone. His loneliness was his enemy for way too long but now, he doesn’t feel alone. Not anymore.

Chapter Text

Hizashi sent Shouta to sleep quickly after Izuku fell asleep. There was no need for Shouta to stay awake any longer and he wasn’t as good as he thought he was at hiding his exhaustion. He had been awake for the past 22 hours and it was obvious. Hizashi took the opportunity to rest too because he, unlike Shouta, doesn’t find it necessary to stay up worrying. A sweet, yet self destructive habit. He could probably sleep well now, knowing that Izuku is going to be okay. Hearing the test results took a thousand pounds off their shoulders. It really was nothing less of a miracle. His injuries seemed so minimal considering the situation he received them from.

They knew that his malnutrition was a serious problem before Chiyo came in. Izuku only weighed 14.6 kilograms, 8.4 kg underweight. Which may not seem like a lot but it’s 36% less than Japan’s average weight for boys his age. The NG tube he’s hooked to is actively helping. It’s not like Izuku couldn’t chew and eat food orally, this was just a temporary way to quickly get him to gain weight. Everyone was aware that his recovery process would be long and hard. However, it’s not going to be impossible. He has the chance to overcome this. Hizashi and Shouta will keep him on his new high calorie diet prescribed to him, make sure he’s doing his physical therapy, and he will grow up to be just fine. Physically, anyway. And for tonight, that was enough.

Hizashi had woken up to stretch his now cramping hip, when heard a slight sniffing. When he looks up, he’s met with the Izuku staring right back at him as he cries. He was sitting up; his new belongings pushed to the foot of his bed.

“Hey you okay, champ?” He whispered.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you up!” Izuku whispered back.

“Oh, no you didn’t wake me up. Even if you did, it’d be okay. What are you doing awake, kid?” He moved from his chair to the side of the bed. He maneuvered his foot to bring Chiyo’s rolling chair to himself; sitting so the two are at equal levels.

“I’m not supposed to be here…” He murmured.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean… I wasn't supposed to leave my room. My mom is going to be really m-mad at me…” Hizashi’s heart sinks when he hears him stutter. He watched as he worked to correct it just hours ago. He lays his hand out on the bed next to the boy; who takes it hesitantly.

“That’s a pretty scary feeling, huh? But you know, I think I disagree with you. I think you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.” Hizashi countered. He slowly raised his hand to Izuku’s face, wiping his cheeks dry pointlessly. He takes his confused expression as a cue to continue. “Well, let’s think about it. Can you tell me something that made you happy from when you were with your mom?”

Izuku took a while to think, whispering when he finally came up with an answer. “Sometimes they brought me candy. I could only have them after they- um…” He didn’t need to finish his sentence. They both knew what he meant and neither of them wanted to think about it for the time being.

“You got candy? I bet it was yummy, huh?” Izuku just smiled and nodded. “Can you think of anything else?”

“No.” He responded quietly.

“That’s alright. Now, can you tell me something that’s made you happy here?” Hizashi asked.

‘Um, I got to meet you and mister Shouta. Miss Chiyo too.” He didn’t have to take that much time to think about what made him happy here. “And you gave me a blanket and a turtle. I’m also not hungry anymore.”

“Woah, that’s a whole lot to be happy about.” Hizashi chose to ignore how his last sentence broke his heart. “So I think it's safe to say there’s more to be happy about here, right?” Izuku thought about it for a second before nodding slowly. “So if you have things to be happy about, you’re safe, and you’re on your way to being healthy, don’t you think you're being here is exactly where you’re supposed to be?”

“Well yeah but… my mom said I couldn’t leave and then I did. And then I took your blanket and turtle, and I really am not allowed to have anything. I didn’t follow the rules, so why haven’t I gotten punished yet? Please… stop making me wait.” Izuku finally looked Hizashi in the eyes, his cheeks stained by his tears. He’d been getting increasingly nervous all day. He can’t stand not knowing when his punishment would start.

“Izuku, we aren’t going to punish you for leaving or accepting your present. Your mom is the only person who wanted you there, and she’s not here. Nobody here wants to hurt you. I know it must be scary, having so many feelings and that’s okay. It’s okay to be scared, but no matter how scary it might all be, we will be here for you.” Hizashi went from whispering to quietly talking. He wasn’t worried about waking up Shouta; he wasn't a light sleeper and this was too important.

Izuku was fighting against himself in his head. He wanted to believe Hizashi, but his mothers voice echoed through his head. On one hand, he hadn’t been as happy as he was here in a very long time. On the other, the fear that everyone around him was going to turn on him was suffocating. His mother wasn’t here and neither were those who had visited him to hurt him. But then again, how was he supposed to just trust Hizashi and Shouta just because they said they wouldn't hurt him. As Izuku weighed his options in his head, he fiddled with Hizashi’s hand. It reminded Hizashi of how Shouta would do the same thing when he was thinking.

After a few minutes, Izuku tightened his grip on Hizashi’s hand slightly and whispered. “Okay. I-I believe you…”

Hizashi raised his free hand to Izuku’s face slowly, not making contact until Izuku leaned towards his hand subconsciously. He used his thumb to dry his cheeks while he continued to let out a few more tears. “It’ll get easier with time, honey. You might not believe it now but you’re going to be just fine now. But for today, you have to rest up for tomorrow. We have a day full of activities to do.”

Izuku nodded and gave a small yawn, feeling the exhaustion hit from crying. He laid back down, his muscle memory kicking in making him curl into himself. When Hizashi pulled his hand away, Izuku immediately missed the warmth that it produced. He tucked his hands into neck and face, a tactic to keep warm he taught himself and perfected over the years. He felt Hizashi pull the blanket he had shoved to the foot of the bed over him. Guilt overwhelmed him again. His eyes darted towards Hizashi as he continued to tuck him in. Hizashi just smiled as he moved a strand of his hair out from Izuku’s face. “It’s okay, I want you to have it. Do you think you can help me keep this little guy company? He told me he got a little lonely when he was over there.” He held up the stuffed turtle, waiting for Izuku to take it.

Izuku’s eyes went back and forth from Hizashi and the toy. “I’m sorry I made you lonely.” He started tearing up again as he talked to the turtle.

Hizashi moved the toy's head to his ear, nodding and agreeing as he pretended to make it talk in his ear. “Okay, I’ll tell him.” He told the turtle before looking back at Izuku. “He wanted me to tell you that he forgives you, he knows you didn’t mean to hurt him. He also wanted to give you something.”

“What is it?” Izuku wiped his eyes and yawned.

“He wanted to give you these.” He slowly moved the toy and started lightly tapping the turtle's face onto Izuku’s while making smooching sounds. Izuku loved it more than Hizashi thought he would. He giggled and squirmed around, letting it go on for a little while before wrapping his arms around the toy and giving it a big kiss on the nose. Hizashi let Izuku take the toy from his hand, enjoying the pure happiness from the boy. “Alright you two keep each other company for tonight, and I’ll see you both in the morning.”

“Thank you, mister Hizashi.” The boy whispered as closed his eyes, letting his need for sleep consume him.

“You’re welcome, mister Izuku. Sleep well, honey.” Hizashi whispered. He moved back to his seat beside Shouta, who was still fast asleep. He waited until he was sure Izuku fell asleep before falling asleep himself.

Izuku slept through the rest of the night, keeping his turtle close to him at all times. Both Shouta and Hizashi woke up a few times to check on him, to move his blanket back over him or move the hair out of his face.

This dynamic was something the three of them could get used to. The group enjoyed each other’s company. Hizashi and Shouta adore the boy and his happiness was enough to fill both their hearts with pride and joy. Izuku found relief and comfort in the fact that he found adults that had his best interest at heart. Izuku could picture himself leading a genuinely good life with the pair, which was a nice change from the fear that he would be stuck in that room for the rest of his most likely short life.

Things were really starting to look up for him, finally.

Chapter Text

The next day was chaotic, to say the least.

Izuku woke up early, his eyes adjusting to the new kind of brightness that lit up his curtained off room. Once he got used to it he immediately noticed Shouta and Hizashi missing from their chairs. He tried his best to stay calm and think, but the heart rate monitor connected to him exposed his anxiety. It took about ten seconds before the pair were pulling back the curtain gently.

“Hey, good morning. Are you okay?” Shouta asked, moving to Izuku’s side and pressing the back of his hand to his forehead, checking for a temperature. Izuku got used to him doing this, the nurses told him to tell if his fever worsens. He only nodded in response, rubbing his palm over chest trying to slow his heart rate. “Sorry to make you nervous, we just wanted you to rest for as long as you needed. How are you feeling?”

“Hm, okay.” He responded truthfully. He was still tired and sore but he was warm and comfortable so everything was alright to him.

“Yeah? You’re looking better today.” Hizashi spoke up as he sat on the foot of Izuku’s bed. Shouta agreed as he helped him sit up.

“Um, what’s over there?” Izuku asked quietly as he tried to peek around the slightly opened curtain. The golden light from the other side piqued his interest.

Hizashi looked behind himself to see what he was referring to. Before Izuku woke up, Hizashi and Shouta stood together watching the sunrise through the window of the hospital room. It was a gorgeous summer morning and the view from the hospital overlooks the whole city. Hizashi moved off the bed and moved the curtain to completely reveal the rest of the room to Izuku.

Izuku looked around his now bigger room, but his eyes fixated on the golden light that stuck to the wall and table. He moved his gaze to the window but his eyes made it harder to see anything in specific. Shouta noticed how captivated he was by the light, so he wasn’t too surprised when Izuku asked, “Can I- um…” He pointed to the window shyly.

“Do you want to go look outside?” Shouta asked. When Izuku nodded, he started unhooking his heart monitor and making his feeding bag and IV portable before picking him up. Shouta adjusted his blanket, making sure it was securely wrapped around him before handing the stuffed toy back to him. Izuku laid his head on his shoulder as he made it over to the window with Hizashi following close behind.

The second the sunlight hit Izuku’s skin, he wasn’t sure how he’d been living without it. He felt the warmth spread over his skin, absorbing it like a sponge with water. As it started to seep into his skin, Izuku felt more alive than ever. The tightness in his chest he was unaware was there, loosened and he finally felt like he could breathe again. He felt the energy surge through his veins, a tingling feeling dancing throughout his body as it made its final destination in his fingertips. He felt genuinely awake, like he was finally in control of his body and his mind. It was like a part of him had trouble thinking so negatively when just the night before it seemed like the only thing he could do. Clearity hit him like a bus. He moved and wiggled out his blanket, which he wouldn't have done for anything just a few minutes ago, letting the sun hit more of his skin. Izuku truly felt euphoric in the sunlight. He felt strong, alive, and energetic. Everything he stopped feeling the day after his fourth birthday.

Shouta and Hizashi quickly noticed the change in his demeanor. They had both known Izuku hadn’t seen or felt the sun in a while, but neither could have guessed how much the deprivation could have affected him. At first they just smiled and watched as he soaked up the sun in Shouta’s arms. They turned their attention back to the view of the city, enjoying the calm fading into the usual busy traffic as the sunlight turned deep gold to a light natural yellow. After a few minutes is when things started getting weird. The longer Izuku stayed there, the more energetic and restless he got. He moved and squirmed around like it was just getting impossible for him to sit still, which wasn’t unusual for any other seven year old boy but the day before, Izuku wouldn't even sit up properly for a few minutes at a time without slumping over from exhaustion. After the ten minute mark, Hizashi was the first to notice Izuku’s physical changes too. His hair went from a matted ball of black and green to blonde and green fluffy curls that reached his shoulder blades.

“Shouta, look at his hair.” He spoke suddenly, pulling Shouta from his thoughts and his eyes from the window. Shouta’s eyes went big as he processed the difference from the boy's now platinum blonde and green hair.

Izuku’s eyes darted from Hizashi’s to Shouta’s as he started getting anxious at the looks they were giving him. “I know, it’s messy…” He whispered self consciously, moving his hands to cover his previously matted hair.

“Izuku, does your quirk change your hair?” Shouta asked, eyes still fixated on his hair.

“I-I…don’t have a quirk.” Izuku answered shamefully. He knew being quirkless was the source of his mother's rage. If he was just born with a quirk, his father wouldn’t have left and his mother would have never locked him away. If he had a quirk he could have at least had a better chance of fighting back the men who ruined his already tragic little life. Izuku blamed everything in his life on not having a quirk.

Hizashi moved his hand slowly up to comb through his hair. His hair was thick around his fingers but they didn't snag. “Hm…”

“What’s wrong with it?” Izuku asked. He really didn’t want to upset them, so when they started staring at him after mentioning his hair, he really started to panic.

“Nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your hair.” Shouta consoled him. “What do you think of the view?”

“It’s pretty. I like the sun. It’s warm.” He said, choosing to believe his words and Hizashi’s smile. He laid his head back onto Shouta’s shoulder, letting himself absorb the sunlight again. He smiled as he closed his eyes, feeling as waves of tingles coursed through his veins.

Shouta let him rest in his arms for another five minutes before he moved him back to his bed. “W-wait I don’t wanna go back yet.” Izuku protested slightly but he had no sunscreen on and Shouta knows Chiyo will be coming by any minute.

“I know. We’ll come back to the window later. I’ll bring the chair over for you and you can sit in the sun for a little while longer, but for now we have to check in with Chiyo.” Hizashi quickly remade the bed and laid the fuzzy black blanket on top so Izuku could still feel it without getting too warm. Izuku sat with his legs crossed as Shouta put him down. He fidgeted with his stuffed animal as he watched Hizashi rummage through Shouta’s tool belt from his hero costume and pull out his phone.

“Izuku, would you like to see your hair?” He asked, opening the camera app and handing it to the boy. He nodded in response, hesitantly taking the phone and lifting it to see himself. Shouta couldn't help but laugh a little bit when Izuku’s jaw dropped and his eyes widened. He too started giggling at his appearance. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was supposed to look like but he knew for a fact his hair used to be green and black. He continued to stare at himself, examining his face from every angle he can manage. ”What do you think, honey? Do you like the blonde?” Hizashi chuckled as he continued to make faces at himself.

“Yes! It’s never done that!” Izuku couldn’t tear his eyes off the way his curls faded from a pale blonde into light green.

“Well let’s tell Chiyo all about it when she comes in and maybe she’ll be able to tell us some more about it.” Shouta pitched. He knew that there was a quirk specialist that worked at the hospital that could give them more insight on his quirk without having to find out the hard way.

“Oh yeah, good idea!” He agreed bubbly.

When Chiyo came in, Izuku greeted her brightly which was just about as surprising as his new look. She had him tell him all about how the sun affected him while checking his vitals. Izuku’s personality felt like it had done a full 180°. He was practically bouncing as he talked, and he chatted away as she worked. In fact, everytime Chiyo came back throughout that morning, Izuku roped her into conversation. The other medical staff didn’t get to meet this new chatty side of him but his attitude towards them definitely improved and he didn’t give them too much trouble when they asked him to do something. His optometrist had brought him a case full of different frames that he got to go through. He ended up picking out a clear rounded frame and his new glasses were delivered to him just two hours later. Hizashi took a picture of him when he tried them on, cherishing how the frame was just a little too big for his face. As the hours passed by, Izuku’s hair never faded back to black and the pair started wondering if this was going to be the new permanent look for him. Luckily they wouldn’t have to wait to find out from the quirk specialist.

The three look up from their conversation after hearing three knocks from the woman now standing in the doorway. She was tall with short brown hair that framed her face and eyes dark blue. She smiled at the trio as she made her way to the counter beside Izuku’s bed. It was safe to say, she made him overwhelmingly nervous. “Hi Izuku! I’m Dr. Nakano, I’m the quirk specialist here.” She introduced herself as she extended her hand to Izuku.

“I-I don’t have a quirk…” It’s the only response he gave to anyone who tried to tell him otherwise. He stared at her hand, shifting himself away from it.

Hizashi stood up, taking her hand and shaking it so she wouldn’t have to go through the awkwardness of taking her hand back when Izuku didn’t take it. “Hizahi Yamada and this is Shouta Aizawa. It really is a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse him, he’s still not used to meeting new people.”

“Oh please, the pleasure is all mine and really it’s no problem. I work with kids developing their quirks everyday, it’s not the first time helping someone on the shy side.” She laughed half heartedly.

“Shy may not be the word I would use to describe him. Paranoid maybe, but not shy.” Shouta said as he shook her hand as well. He gave Izuku a playful wink when he noticed him side-eyeing him after calling him paranoid.

She laughed again as she pulled out the rolling chair Chiyo used and sat next to the foot of the bed. “Izuku, can you tell me what happened this morning? Right before you're changed.” She asked as she briefly scanned the notes that were left for her.

“I already told Miss Chiyo.” He grumbled. Something about her presence made him feel like he needed to be as defensive as he could be.

“Oh yeah I know, I was just hoping that you could tell me yourself.”

Izuku looked at Hizashi and Shouta, who encouraged him to talk to her. He did so bitterly, only explaining how he felt in the sunlight to please the pair rubbing small circles into his back as he talked.

Nakano smiled and nodded as he talked, not letting his obvious disapprovement of her get to her head. “So the tingly feeling traveled into your fingers? Did they stay tingly after you moved out of the sun?”

“It stayed for a little bit but now my fingers just feel… full? Like strong.” His caution didn’t fade, but he accepted the fact that no matter how much he didn’t want to, he would have to talk to her.

“Okay, that’s a good sign. I would like to try something, is that alright?” She asked, continuing when he gave her a small nod. “Great, I want you to hold out your hand, whichever one you feel more comfortable with, and face the palm all the way up to the ceiling.” She showed him what to do with her own hand as an example.

Izuku held out both hands before choosing his left hand to stay in the air. His right hand gripped Shouta’s for comfort. He looked back at Dr. Nakano when he was ready for the next set of instructions.

“Perfect! Now I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on the feeling in your palm. Try to move that full feeling right into the center of your hand.” Izuku did as she said, feeling a small vibration in his hand. He felt as the inside of his hand started to get warm, starting to pinpoint in the dead center of his palm. “Woah.” He whispered to himself.

“Can you feel it moving into your hand?” She questions. She can’t help but smile when he nods, so entranced by the feeling in his palm he forgot to put a little attitude behind the silent response. “That’s good! That’s exactly what we want. Now, this part is going to be a little more tricky but I want you to try and move that feeling from your hand to this clipboard.” She quickly took all of the papers that the clipboard was holding and moved them to the counter behind her. She moved the clipboard about a meter and a half above his hand.

Izuku did as she instructed, willing the strange feeling in his palm to meet the clipboard above him. When he tried the first time, he knew it wasn’t going to work. His palm stayed open in the air when nothing happened he made a fist and crossed his arms. “It doesn’t work. I told you I don't have a quirk.” He muttered, leaning deeper into Shouta.

“Not everything works the first time you try. Let’s try it a few more times!” Dr. Nakano tried cheerfully. Izuku let out a quick breath before looking at the pair behind him.

“It’s alright, kid. Just try again.” Shouta comforted him by rubbing his shoulder lightly. He knitted his eyebrows together and sat back up. Extending his hand out once more, Izuku focused the buzzing feeling pinpoint heat into his palm again and took another deep breath. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it would feel like if something were to actually happen. When he heard Hizashi encourage him to open his eyes, he did exactly that but he wasn’t expecting to see a pale yellowish white glowing come from his hand. Izuku felt some subconscious part of him release the energy in his hand and the four of them watched as the glowing shot from his hand. It hit the clipboard and light sprinkled down on impact. The clipboard was knocked from Dr. Nakano’s hand, smoking as it fell onto the bed beside Izuku. Shouta picked it up quickly to make sure it wasn’t on fire, but the clipboard just had a black mark of soot from where Izuku’s blast made contact with it.

“Oh Izuku! That was perfect!” Dr. Nakano cheered on his success. She turned around to fill out the papers she put on the counter.

Hizashi and Shouta don’t know what kind of reaction to expect from the boy but when he shoved the both of them away from him, they were surprised to say the least. Izuku grabbed the pillows from the head of the bed and threw them on to the ground. He used his legs to push himself up the bed and curled into himself. He was expecting someone to grab him and punish him for pushing Hizashi and Shouta but when nothing happened he curled his arms over his face.

“Izuku? Honey, what's wrong?” Hizashi asked gently. Nakano turned back around to see what the commotion was all about. Izuku peeked through his arms and glared at Nakano, who got the hint almost immediately.

“I-I’ll give you guys some privacy.” She said gathering her papers, shaking the pair's hands again, and taking her leave.

As soon as she left, Izuku uncurled himself and faced the couple as they sat on either side of the foot of the mattress. He watched as Shouta picked up the stuffed turtle, and he immediately wished he had taken it with him.

“Izuku, are you okay?” Shouta questioned again, making the toy sit politely in between Hizashi and himself.

“I-I…”Izuku just huffed as he collected his thoughts. Despite watching it happen with his own eyes, he can’t wrap his head around having a quirk of his own. He had convinced himself that being quirkless is the root of everything bad that has ever happened to him. If he wasn’t quirkless then what? Was everything he was put through for nothing? His father leaving him, his mother beating on him every chance she got, having to let strange men defile him without being able to fight back; there had to be a reason for it all. If he had a quirk this whole time, then why did any of it happen? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

“Hey, we can’t help you figure this out if you don’t talk to us. Working yourself up and getting all upset isn’t going to get us anywhere.” Hizashi was getting increasingly worried about Izuku as he watched him spiral into what could be a panic attack. Izuku stared into his eyes before his anger turned into tears.

“I-I can’t have a q-quirk! I can’t-!” Izuku screamed at him as tears streaked down his face.

“Izuku, take a deep breath.” Shouta instructed. If he and Hizashi were going to help, he needed to calm him down. Izuku listened, taking one deep breath after another. He met Shouta’s eyes with his own once he finally calmed himself down.

“Okay, good. Now, can you tell us what you meant when you said you can’t have a quirk?” Shouta asked.

“If I had one this whole time, then why did it happen?” He whispered tearfully.

“Why did what happen?” Hizashi questioned.

“A-all of it! The doctor said I wouldn’t have one so dad left and mom started being mean and th-they started touching me and I couldn’t do anything about it!” Izuku tried to keep his cool but he couldn’t help how emotional he was getting.

It finally clicked for the pair. They looked at each other, communicating silently in a way only the two could understand. They could feel Izuku’s eyes darting between them but they were still piecing together a response. When they did break their eye contact, Hizashi was the first to speak. “Honey, none of what happened to you was because of your lack of quirk. Doctors are wrong about quirks way more often than you would think; they are unpredictable, especially now.”

Shouta followed Hizashi’s lead. “And if your father left, then it was because he’s small minded. There would be absolutely wrong if you were quirkless, but some people don't understand that. They believe people who are born quirkless aren’t… deserving of the same respect that those who are born with a quirk get. Does that make sense?” Izuku thought about it before nodding slowly. “Good. None of what happened to you was your fault in any way. Not because they thought you didn’t have a quirk, not because of something you did. The only people who know why you were hurt, are the ones who hurt you.”

“B-but if it wasn’t because I’m q-quirkless, then why did they do it?” Izuku sniffled.

“We don’t have the answer to that, honey, but we do know that you aren’t quirkless. You said that your mother painted the window in your room?” HIzashi was trying to help him think it through like he did the night before.

“Y-yeah… She said I didn’t deserve it anymore.” He murmured, fidgeting and bending his fingers to tangle them together.

“Well, we don’t know everything about your quirk, but we can confidently say you get your power from the sun. Your quirk never activated because your mother blocked the only energy source that could activate it. We can teach you how to use your quirk to defend yourself when you need to, if you would like.” It was starting to amaze Izuku how Shouta and Hizashi could go back and forth like they were sharing the exact same thoughts.

Izuku didn’t respond. He simply looked down, avoiding eye contact. He knew what they were saying was right, but he just couldn’t accept it. Maybe it was because he was still too young or that his trauma is still so fresh, but he couldn’t help feeling so angry at himself for being so helpless. Angry about his quirk for only working after he’s been in the sun. When he looked back up at the pair sitting across from him, guilt flooded him. There he was, acting out, feeling angry about being blessed with a quirk, and making things harder for everyone who’s trying to help him. He saw how worried Hizashi and Shouta were about him, their eyes filled with nothing but genuine concern. He desperately tried to stop the tears falling from his eyes, wiping his cheek and the top of the tube taped to his face that collected a small puddle of his tears. “I’m s-sorry… it won’t stop.” He sobbed out

“That’s okay, you can cry as much as you need to. Do you want to take a break from this conversation for now?” Shouta moved his arm out slightly, welcoming Izuku to a hug if he wanted one. He nodded quickly, hesitating only for a second before crawling in between the pair. Izuku let them wrap their arms around him and press kisses into the top of his head lovingly. He continued to sob into their arms as they comforted him until he settled down. They started telling Izuku funny stories from their childhoods to make him laugh and take his mind off everything that was making him upset. After a while he started engaging more until he was smiling more often then he wasn’t. They had him put his pillows back in their designated spot and helped him straighten up his bed.

Eventually Dr. Nakano came back, with Chiyo to settle Izuku’s nerves. They finished testing his quirk by making him use it to release the sun’s energy that resided in him. By the time they were done, his hair went from bright blonde to light brown, the shades of greens shifting as well. Dr. Nakano explained that his quirk is powered by the sun; it gets absorbed through his skin and he can disperse it by focusing the energy into a pinpoint somewhere on his hands and releasing it depending on how powerful he wants it. Izuku’s favorite thing he could do with it was shooting small, firework-like explosions that glittered down after it popped. Hizashi had to admit that it was pretty fun to watch.

They sent Izuku off to sleep shortly after the sunset, Using the time he was asleep to shower and change into the fresh clothes Hizashi brought with him.

Chiyo had them meet with her once they were done to fully go over Izuku’s strict medical plan. Hizashi and Shouta felt a little overwhelmed trying to piece together a schedule for Izuku that allowed him to both attend all of his appointments and therapy sessions, and let him rest as often as he possibly could. Once they created a schedule that pleased all of his assigned doctors and both Hizashi and Shouta, they finally went back to Izuku’s room and enjoyed the peace before falling asleep themselves.

There was no point in waking up and telling Izuku right now.

They’ll tell him he gets to leave the hospital when he wakes up.

Chapter Text

Izuku woke up before Hizashi and Shouta did, and he wanted something to do.

He wanted to go back to sleep but he was already too awake for that. Sitting still and waiting for the pair to wake up was only a successful plan for about three minutes before he just had to move. Eventually Izuku finds company with his turtle that he found shoved underneath the pillow under his head. It started with just manipulating its legs to pose the toy however he wanted, but as time grew on he started whispering stories he had created in his head. He continued his pretend conversation, shifting around mindlessly as he did.

Shouta woke up to Izuku loudly whispering and giggling occasionally. When he opened his eyes, the last thing he was expecting was to see the kid completely underneath his blanket and upside down in his bed. Yet there he was, doing exactly that. It truly was a heartwarming moment and Shouta could help but crack a smile. He gently nudged Hizashi awake, putting a finger to his mouth when he looked at him before pointing down at Izuku as he quietly hummed a made up song. Hizashi smiled when he processed what was going on. After another minute, Shouta purposely cleared his throat, making Izuku pause mid song and move the blanket to expose only his eyes and forehead.

When he tilted his head back, his eyes locked with Shouta's, who was suppressing a smile ineffectively. Izuku broke eye contact quickly and hid back in his blanket. He was expecting a hit to the mouth for being too loud, which is exactly how he lost his first tooth, so he covered his mouth with both hands to soften the blow.

“Good morning, Izuku. How did you sleep?” Shouta asked gently before standing up and stretching; Hizashi followed his lead and did the same thing.

“G-good.” He said, peeking back out of the blanket after realizing that neither of them were going to hurt him. Izuku watched the pair stretch before they stood together, staring back at him with smiles on their faces. He gave them a small shy smile back.

“I’m glad to hear. So uh, why are you upside down, buddy?” Hizashi was trying not to laugh as he talked, but if he happened to let out a little snicker or two, what can you say the guy's only human.

“I-I tried waiting for you to wake up but I got a little bored, so I started talking to my turtle and I-I don’t know, actually…” He trailed off as he tried to remember the last twenty minutes.

“Alright then! However it happened, I hope you had fun.” He replied happily. The pair help Izuku get untangled from his hospital gown and wires, before he sits on his heels. “Sun?” He asked looking towards the window.

“No, not right now, kid. I promise you will get to go in the sun later, even go outside but we are going to have a busy morning.” Shouta felt bad denying his request, but they were about to get very busy, very soon.

“What are we doing?” Izuku questioned. As far as he knew, they weren’t expecting to get any test results back or to see a new kind of doctor.

“Well we are going to meet up with all of your doctors, one by one, and they are going to tell us everything we’re going to need to know about your day to day medical plan. Then after that, Chiyo is going to come in and give you one last over-all exam and then we are on our way home!” Hizashi explained. Izuku’s eyes widened as his jaw dropped.

“We get to go to your house?!” Izuku had to admit he was pretty excited. Hizashi and Shouta had told him about their house, the layout, the pictures on the walls and shelves, the big backyard, they even told him about the big windows in the front of their house. There was so much he was already looking forward to seeing, and as much as he liked Chiyo, he was relieved he won't be getting poked and prodded all day by nurses.

“Yes, and while you're staying with us, it’s your house too.” Shouta said, smiling softly.

Izuku only hesitated for a couple seconds before nodding understandingly. The three talked a little while longer before Chiyo came in with a big smile that matched Izuku’s when he saw her. She said her good mornings and hello’s before sending Hizashi and Shouta down to the hospital cafeteria to get something to eat. Izuku was hesitant to let them leave without him, but he let them go when they promised to bring back something for him to snack on. Chiyo sat in her spinny chair as they left, before Izuku started voicing out his questions. “We aren’t going to start until they get back, right?”

“No, we'll wait for them to get back, I promise.” She answered while writing whatever she writes down whenever she sees him.

“Do you know how long it’s going to take?”

“For them to come back, or to get through all of your medical plans?” Chiyo questioned.

He thought about it for a second before responding, “Both.”

“Well, Hizashi and Shouta will probably come back in ten to twenty minutes. Going over everything is going to take a little longer. An hour, maybe two at most.” She said, before Izuku let out a small huff before leaning back against his pillows. Chiyo smiled to herself as she finished her paperwork. When she was done, she moved her chair next to Izuku to have a proper conversation with him. “You’ve been here for three days, just a little while longer and then you guys are on your way home.”

Izuku smiled at the mention of going to Hizashi and Shouta’s house. His mind filled with all the possibilities of what their home would look like, mixing with the few pictures they had shown him. Chiyo brought him back from his daydreams after a little while. ‘You know, young one, those two have brought me a lot of patients. All different kinds of people; adults, kids, men, women, and just about everything in between.”

“What do you mean ‘everything in between’?” He questioned, tilting his head to the side a little.

“Hm, that’s a good question for later. But my point is, though they have cared on some level for every person they brought me, they have never cared as much as they care about you. They always stay to make sure they’ll be okay and leave shortly after. You are the first person they have stayed multiple days with, even bringing each other here to meet you.” She said.

“Really?” Izuku liked what she was saying, but a part of him seriously doubted that he was special enough for them to care as much as she was making it out.

“Yes, really. I have known these two for a very long time. I actually met Shouta when he was your age. Quiet kid back then, he’s much more talkative now.” Talkative is NOT the word Izuku would use to describe Shouta, but he trusted Chiyo’s word for it. “Those two really have just about the kindest hearts out of anyone I’ve met, and I have met a lot of people. You are going to have a lot of fun with them.”

“I already am! But I think anything can be considered better than before.” Izuku really was having a lot of fun the last three days. His fear and anxiety were still very much present but it was easier to count the good times rather than the bad.

Chiyo let out a small chuckle before responding, “Yes, well I suppose you're right. Do you know why I’m telling you all this?”

“No.” Izuku said as he shook his head.

“I’m telling you this because I need you to know that they care very much about you. Even when they mess up and make mistakes, because they definitely will. They’ve never done this before either. It’s okay to get frustrated and upset with them but remember that everything they do is because they care about you. Do you understand?” Chiyo never broke eye contact while she spoke, so Izuku knew how serious she was.

“Y-yea- yes ma’am.” Izuku got serious too.

“Good. It’s not going to be easy at first, but no matter how upset you get with them or they get with you, you have to remember how much they care about you, your safety, your health, and your happiness. Be as patient with them as they are with you. Promise me you’ll do your best to remember that, young one.”

‘Yes ma’am, I’ll try my hardest.” Izuku promised while nodding his head.

“Good. But you know, every once in a while you can give them hell if you need to.” Chiyo said with a smile while nudging his shoulder a little bit. Izuku giggled.

Hizashi and Shouta came back a few minutes later while Chiyo was in the middle of teaching Izuku how to read the heart monitor. They gave Izuku a bag of chips and a bowl of different kinds of fruits, which he was incredibly grateful for. Chiyo called in each specialist assigned to Izuku’s case one by one. They each came in and explained every detail about how to handle his care while they were away from the hospital. The taught, or re-taught in Hizashi and Shouta’s case, the three how to use all of his medical equipment and gave them packets of the same instructions in case they forgot something. The whole process took around two and a half hours due to the pair’s constant questioning for clarification. Izuku desperately wanted to be done with it sooner but he knew that Hizashi and Shouta’s questions were for the best. Just like Chiyo had told him, they were doing it because they cared and it was pretty hard to be upset when he thought about it like that. Dr. Nakano was the last of the specialists to come in, but Izuku was starting to get tired. He laid down on his back while he listened to her explain how she wants him to practice using his quirk thirty minutes everyday and have the pair help him keep a notebook of everything new he finds out about it.

Okay so Izuku might have dozed off after that part but he was sure someone would fill him in on what he missed.

Hizashi and Shouta let him squeeze in a nap before getting his check up and going home. They knew he was excited to see their house so they figured they let him get enough energy to explore a little before he got too tired again. After an hour, they woke him up so Chiyo could finish her job. “Izuku, it’s time to wake up, kid.”

He just whined back.

“Come on, honey. Let’s get this last check up and then we’ll go home.” Hizashi encouraged him.

Izuku still didn’t open his eyes but he couldn’t hide the smile that took over his. He sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as Chiyo started by checking his breathing. They ran through the steps quickly. Izuku did everything he was told to do without a fight while he slowly nibbled at his snacks.

“Young one, you are getting better by the day.” Chiyo said happily once they were done.

“I’ve been trying.” He joked quietly. Izuku smiled to himself when he heard Hizashi and Shouta chuckling. Maybe he should tell more jokes, he liked the feeling of making them laugh.

“Well whatever you’ve been trying, keep at it.” Chiyo joked back. “I’m going to have one of you come with me to sign the release forms, and then you guys are free to go!”

“I’ll go sign it. Izuku, finish up eating your fruit. We’ll leave when you’re ready.” Shouta said while standing back up. Izuku nodded while taking another bite of his half-eaten strawberry. He gave Izuku a smile and ruffled his hair before leaving with Chiyo.

Hizashi started gathering all of their stuff, putting it all in the duffle bag he brought fresh clothes in, while Izuku kept eating his fruit; slowly but surely. “Do you want to wear your blanket when we leave or would you like me to fold it up and we’ll put it in the bag?”

“Mm, bag.” Izuku said before biting half a grape and putting it back down.

“Bag it is. Do you want to put it away now or when Shouta comes back?” Hizashi asked while he mindlessly wrapped up Shouta’s capture scarf. Izuku wasn’t used to having so much control. Actually he wasn’t used to having any control. As weird as it felt, it really was something he could get used to.

“Now, please.” He responded, quiet but happy.

“You got it, honey.” Hizashi waited for him to finish kicking the blanket off himself before folding it, placing it in the bag, and zipping it up. Izuku continued to slowly eat his fruits as Hizashi double checked that he got everything. Chiyo and Shouta came back shortly after, carrying a plastic bag. “Hizashi, you got everything together already?”

“Hm? Yeah, I thought I could take this off your plate for you.” Hizashi smiled and tilted his head to the side.

“Thank you, I really appreciate that.” Shouta loves him. He loves him more and more everyday. He’s not sure how Hizashi did it, but he has him wrapped around his finger. “Izuku, do you want to change out of your hospital gown and into these?” he asked, holding up the plastic bag. He noticed Izuku trying to peek into the bag, so he took the contents out and laid them out in front of him. He laid out a plain light blue shirt, gray athletic shorts, and little black ankle socks. Once he saw it, he gave Shouta his nod of approval and let the pair dress him because he forgot how to do it himself after so long. Izuku was actually pretty relieved to be getting out of the hospital gown; it itches and irritated his skin but he didn’t want to complain when it was a result of him getting help. He liked the way his new clothes felt, but they were a little too big for him.

“Is that alright for now?” Hizashi asked gently.

“Yes, thank you!” He responded back with a big smile. He ate the last bite of his strawberry and showed the pair the empty bowl. He wasn’t expecting to be praised for something as simple as finishing his food, but he had to admit it felt nice. Especially when they said they were proud of him; he never wanted to hear something again so bad.

“Alright, kid, ready to go?” Shouta asked while slinging the duffle bag over his shoulder.

“Mhm!” He nodded back.

“Well, young one, it has been a real pleasure meeting you. I’ll make sure to see you next time you come in for your appointments.” Chiyo said smiling.

“Promise?” Izuku asked.

“Yes, as long as you promise to think about what we talked about.”

“Yes, I promise!” He wanted to make Chiyo proud of him, so he’ll try his hardest to put what they talked about into action.

The three finished their goodbyes with Chiyo and Izuku let Hizashi carry him out since he didn’t have shoes. They moved through the maze of halls swiftly. They tried to avoid walking past other people so Izuku didn’t get too stressed out, but whenever they did pass someone he hid his face into Hizashi’s shoulder. Hizashi would tighten his grip and use his arms to cover him, which he greatly appreciated. Izuku closed his eyes and took in the way Hizashi smelled, warm and… coconutty? He smelt like a good memory. His hands mindlessly entertained themselves in Hizashi’s hair. Izuku opened his eyes again when he heard the pair thank the staff at the front desk and just stared down at Hizashi’s dark gray shirt. Once Hizashi signaled to him that there were no more people around, Izuku looked up and rested his mouth on his shoulder so the bottom of his face stayed hidden.

Hizashi could feel the boy smile as soon as they stepped out from under the awning and into the sun. He and Shouta walked a little slower so he could soak in the sun for just a little bit longer. Izuku watched as they walked away from the hospital, admiring the trees and plants that surrounded the building. He came back from his thoughts when Hizashi stopped walking. He turned his head to see just about the fanciest black car he’s ever seen; he may not have seen any cars in the past three years but he knows a fancy car when he sees one. He watched as Shouta opened the trunk to put the duffle bag in it before closing it and opening the back door behind the driver's seat. Hizashi set him inside the car and let him choose whatever seat he wanted to sit in. Izuku picked the middle seat and let Shouta buckle him in. He couldn’t help but panic a little when they closed the door but almost immediately after Shouta opened the drivers side door and Hizashi opened the front passenger shortly after. They both got in and buckled their seat belts before turning and facing Izuku.

“You ready to go, kid?” Shouta asked with a small smile.

“Mmm, d-do you know where my glasses are?” Izuku asked. He wanted to be able to see everything on the way there. Hizashi reached into his pants pocket and took out Izuku’s glasses case before opening it and handing the boy his glasses. Izuku thanked him and put his glasses on. Once they were on, he was glad he had the courage to ask for them. Everything became a lot clearer.

‘Do you need anything else before we go?” Hizashi asked.

“No, thank you.” He responded politely.

“Alright, let’s go home then.” Shouta said as he turned on the car and started to reverse.

Izuku mouthed the word home to himself. He wasn’t sure if he was really allowed to call it his home too. He hasn’t even seen it before, but he was grateful that they had opened their home to him.

Izuku hopes that he’ll get to stay with them long enough to call it home.

Chapter Text

Izuku was in absolute awe the entire car ride.

Shouta frequently checked his mirror to see Izuku in the back seat, whose eyes never left the window unless it was to look out the other window. The whole drive took about thirty minutes because Shouta decided to go the long way and let them run into traffic. He adored the way the boy’s eyes lit up at all the new sights to see. Hizashi and Shouta had seen these roads thousands, maybe even millions of times, and of course they knew their city was gorgeous. Yet, they had taken the mundane for granted. But the way Izuku admired every single detail he could register was so contagious, the pair couldn’t help but also absorb the beauty of the city they called home.

They drove to the left of the city before driving up a winding uphill road. Izuku watched the trees passing by and sunbeams shining through the branches. He took note when Shouta pulled up in front of a gate before rolling down his window, holding a small plastic card up to what Izuku had to guess was a sensor of some kind, and watched the gate roll open. Once they entered the gate, Izuku’s jaw dropped. He was just taken into the most obviously expensive neighborhood in what he would guess, all of Japan and Hizashi and Shouta were so casual about it. He has an extremely vague memory of going to a much nicer house than his moms but it wasn’t anything like these houses. Izuku was quiet the entire time they were in the car, but he just had to break his silence when they passed a house with a waterfall coming from the second story. “Woah!” He exclaimed.

“Yeah, I think it’s cool too, honey.” Hizashi said, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “That’s where our friend lives. Kayama Nemuri. Actually, Izuku, she has a son around your age, who came from a rough past like you. She adopted him… two years ago?”

“Yes, two years ago.” Shouta confirmed, looking at Hizashi and then back Izuku. He decided not to mention how Izuku’s socks were already off.

“What’s his name?” Izuku asked, already forming thoughts on this mystery kid.

“Hitoshi. Maybe you two will get to meet! Only when you’re ready, of course.” Hizashi said, smiling.

Izuku liked the idea of meeting someone his own age again. Maybe he and this Hitoshi kid could be friends, but for now he knew he wasn’t ready to meet anyone else. He went from almost complete isolation for three years straight to meeting more people than he could count in three days, which doesn’t count for much, but the point still stands. It was safe to say that Izuku was incredibly, socially exhausted.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when felt the car turn into a driveway. Izuku's eyes fell onto the house first. He liked the big windows that covered the front side of the first floor, the dark gray color of the walls that made the black trimming pop, and the grass and small stones that formed the front yard. He had been so excited all day to finally get here, but now that he was here, guilt and anxiety overwhelmed him. This was Hizashi and Shouta’s home, and there he was, intruding their serenity and making them deal with more than when they thought they were getting themselves into. He shouldn’t be here. He didn’t deserve to stay in this fancy house, with these kinder than kind people. He was selfish and dirty and useless. Hizashi and Shouta deserve to foster a kid who isn’t such a wreck.

Izuku could feel the anxiety sink into the deepest part of his chest. It spread to the joints of his thumbs and moved its way into his other fingers. Tears started welling in his eyes, but he tried to hide it all by holding his breath and turning his head to the side so neither of the pair in front of him noticed. Holding his breath made the sinking feeling more manageable, but it was still tight and painful in the center of his chest. Izuku tried rubbing his palm into the center of his chest to ease the pain, but the further Shouta pulled into the driveway, the worse it got. His quickening heart rate was starting to really stress him out. He tried to take a deep breath slowly and quietly, but what came out was a strained exhale and wheezy inhale. Hizashi and Shouta whipped their heads back immediately, the one thing Izuku was trying to prevent.

“Izuku, what's wrong?” Shouta asked worriedly.

“I-I-” Izuku couldn’t get a word out. His throat started closing around the tube in it. He sat there rubbing his chest and gasping for air. He felt the car go from a slow roll into a sudden stop. Hizashi and Shouta quickly unbuckled their seat belts before getting out of the car and opening both doors on either side of him. They moved forward towards him, most likely to comfort him, but that's not how Izuku saw it. Suddenly it was like he was five all over again, and his first instinct was to scream. “No! No, don’t touch me! Go away!” He yelled while shaking his head. His free hand moved to his hair, where he started tugging on a handful of brown and green curls.

“Okay, okay we won’t touch you.” Shouta said as he and Hizashi slowly put their hands up by their heads. The pair made eye contact through the open doors. Neither of them knew what to do. “Can you take one big, deep breath?”

Izuku didn’t look at either of them but he did take a deep, shaky breath. They walked him through a breathing pattern that slowed down his breathing significantly, but the pain in his chest and fingers never left.

“Are you still with us?” Hizashi asked after his breathing was regulated.

Izuku nodded slowly and unsurely. He battled with the urge to lose himself in his mind. He stayed present enough to listen and respond, and he guessed he looked the part based on Hizashi's response.

“Good. Are you okay?” Neither Hizashi nor Shouta tried to move closer to him. They both just squatted next to the doors of the car making sure to give Izuku plenty of room to get out if he wanted.

“Mr. Hizashi, I told you. I-I am not supposed to be here.” Izuku whispered after a minute.

“Izuku, do you want to be here?” Hizashi ignored the way Shouta stared at him. He kept his eyes focused on the boy who was staring down at his lap.

“I-it doesn’t matter-” He tried to answer, but Shouta wasn’t having any of that.

“Izuku. Do you want to be here?” Shouta’s tone was so simultaneously stern and gentle. The boy moved his right hand from his hair and rubbed his eyes before slowly nodding.

“Do you think being here is for the best?” Hizashi questioned, receiving another small nod from him. “Honey, it’s okay that you’re scared or you have doubts. We’re here to help you through all that, but it doesn’t mean you don’t belong here.”

Izuku didn’t respond verbally. He fought with himself in his mind for a few minutes while the pair waited for him patiently. Hizashi moved to the other side of the car, next to Shouta. Eventually, he wiped the tears from his eyes and brought his head up, looking over at the pair. When they smiled at him, his body moved before he could think about what he was doing, and the next thing he knew he was wrapped in the pair's arms. They rubbed his back gently and told him he was okay and suddenly, everything felt manageable again. He let them hold him in their laps for who knows how long, until Shouta broke the silence. “Are you ready to go inside, kid?” He asked, whispering.

The boy nodded and slumped his forehead onto Shouta's shoulder. He let Shouta carry him through the front yard and up to the front door with Hizashi following close behind. Shouta unlocked the front door and stepped into the genkan. Once all three were inside, Hizashi and Shouta slipped off their shoes.

“Okay, what do you want to do first? You can explore the house, take a bath, take a nap, or we can put on a movie, or play a game. Anything you want, that’s what we’ll do.” Shouta said, stepping out of the genkan but not yet going deeper into the house. Izuku just shrugged. He was still feeling a little anxious, so he felt selfish asking to do what he wanted. He also couldn’t decide what he wanted to do first.

“Or we can go sit outside and sit in the sun for a few minutes?” Hizashi suggested, smiling slightly. Izuku lifted his head to meet Hizashi’s eyes with his own. He smiled back at him while nodding. “Alright then.” Shouta said walking past a wall with all kinds of pictures framed and hanging up. Izuku saw Hizashi and Shouta in a few of them but most of the pictures contained people he didn’t recognize. He wondered if he would ever get to meet them.

Shouta turned left into the kitchen before he set him down and let him sit up on the counter. “Hizashi, will you get the sunscreen out of the medicine cabinet?”

Izuku turned around and watched Hizashi set the duffle bag on a dark gray couch while nodding. Hizashi disappeared up the staircase and Izuku turned back around. His mouth started moving before he could think and he suddenly blurted out, “Your house is really fancy.”

“Is that a good thing?” Shouta asked while wetting a wash cloth with warm water. He made his way back over to the boy before raising the cloth up towards his face. “Is this okay?” He asked gently.

“Yeah.” Izuku nodded. He closed his eyes as Shouta cleaned his face with the rag before continuing. “I think it’s cool, but are you sure it’s okay that I'm here?”

“I promise.” Shouta continued to clean his face with the rag gently. He cleaned off his hands as well, which Izuku appreciated. He noticed they were sticky but didn’t know how to ask to clean them. Hizashi came back shortly after, sunscreen in hand. The pair sprayed him with the stuff, with his permission of course, and carefully rubbed it into his skin. They told him it would help protect his skin and Izuku liked the way it smelled so the oily feeling it left on his skin didn’t bother him too much.

They helped him off the counter and onto his feet. It was a little painful to walk but it was nothing Izuku couldn’t push past. He held onto Hizashi and Shouta’s hands for support as they led him to the sliding glass door that led into the backyard.

Izuku took the first step outside, closing his eyes to the feeling of the heat as the sun pierced the tops of his feet and the wood planks warmed the bottoms of his feet. The warmth traveled up his legs until the seam of his shorts cut it off in the middle of his thighs. He enjoyed the feeling as it overtook his arms and face. He opened his eyes again and looked around with a small, satisfied sigh. Izuku scanned around the back yard, looking left at the chairs that surrounded a firepit and seam of where the wood and grass meet. When he looked to the right, his eyes widened when he saw a big in-ground swimming pool surrounded by huge rocks and a variety of plants.

“What do you think, buddy?” Hizashi asked.

Izuku took a step down with the support of the pair behind him before responding. “What kind of flowers are those?” He asked, pointing to the purple flowers and vines that decorated the fence on both sides of the yard.

“Wisteria, it grows from the trees along the fence line.” Hizashi had begged Shouta to let him plant it last year. The smell of it was comforting to him since he grew up with a wisteria tree outside his childhood bedroom window. He was so happy the night Shouta finally agreed to it, he had already started tearing up the backyard the next morning.

“Feel free to go explore whatever you want, kid.” Shouta encouraged him. Izuku took another step forward before turning his head back to look at them. “It’s okay, go have fun!” The pair smiled down at him before he turned back around and started walking towards the grass. Once he got to the edge of the wood deck, he looked back at Hizashi and Shouta, who continued to smile lovingly and encourage him.

Izuku hesitated for a second but eventually he took one wobbly step off the deck and into the grass that was cold and moist under his feet. He walked around the edge of the grass looking at everything up close, but his legs got tired quickly, so he moved into the center of the grass and sat down. When he looked back at Hizashi and Shouta, they were sitting in the chairs by the firepit. They waved before Hizashi called out to him. “You okay over there?”

“Yeah, my legs started hurting, so I sat down.” He called back.

“Do you need any help?” Shouta asked.

“No, thank you!” Izuku laid onto his back and closed his eyes. He concentrated on the feeling of energy rushing through his veins and warmth on his skin.

“Let us know whenever you're ready to go in, okay?” Hizashi told him.

‘Ready to go in, HA! I could spend all day right here.’ Izuku thought.

Chapter Text

Hizashi and Shouta watched as Izuku explored the backyard for an hour and a half.

Well, more like he would walk around for about two minutes at a time before having to sit or lay down for ten minutes. Still, Izuku was having fun and that’s all that matters at the moment. Shouta had to admit it was pretty nice sitting outside with the two. It was relaxing, except when Izuku was telling them he never learned to swim while clumsily walking the edge of the pool. He quickly created the rule that Izuku isn’t allowed near the pool without adult supervision until he learned how to swim. He also decided to walk next to him in case he slipped.

Izuku could’ve spent all day outside, but once he explored everything in the backyard, he was ready to see the rest of the house. Shouta went inside while Hizashi washed the dirt off Izuku's palms and bottoms of his feet with the hose. Hizashi helped Izuku dry himself off when Shouta came back with a towel. The three of them went inside and Izuku tried to rack his mind about what he wanted to look at first but luckily, Hizashi made the decision easy.

“Izuku, do you want to help me with something super quick?”

“Yes!” Izuku said, excitedly. “What is it?”

“Here take this, and follow me.” He said, handing Izuku the damp towel and leading him through the house. They walked past the living room and kitchen, and into a short hallway on the left side of the staircase. Hizashi stopped in front of the first door on the left and opened the door before turning around and squatting to meet Izuku eye to eye. “Okay, do you see that basket right there?” He said, pointing into the new room.

Izuku shuffled closer and peaked in. He saw two large dark silver machines; one with a dark, but still transparent, door on the front and the other with a similar door on the top. There were shelves above them, the same style as the cabinets in the kitchen; dark, natural, polished wood with modern handles. His eyes moved to the wall opposite of him and he found the basket Hizashi was pointing to. “The one on the little table?”

“Yes! I need you to take that towel and put it in the basket. Think you can do that?” Hizashi asked. Izuku nodded and walked to the short table the basket was on before putting the towel inside it. He turned around to face Hizashi, who was smiling at him. “Ah! Thank you so much, honey. You were very helpful.”

Izuku absolutely beamed at his words. “Do you need help with anything else?” He asked, eager to make Hizashi proud of him.

“Not right now, but if I think of something, I’ll let you know. Sounds good?” Hizashi said as he led Izuku back to the living room. Izuku nodded in response. He carefully took the two, shallow steps down, one at a time, into the living room. It honestly kind of winded him. Hizashi must have noticed it because he said, “Feel free to sit and rest whenever you need, honey.”

Izuku nodded again, before hesitantly hoisting himself on to the couch. The couch was a lot softer than it looked. He hovered his palm over it and pressed down just enough to feel the slight fuzz of the cushion. Shouta started unpacking the duffle bag that sat on the other side of the couch. “Izuku, would you like your blanket and turtle right now?”

He shook his head while he waited for the pain in his knee to fade out. His legs were uncomfortable and off balance while they were outside, but it felt manageable but now that he was inside and sitting, the pain overtook his legs. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping it would help the pain subside. It helped for a second, but the second wave of pain made Izuku wince slightly.

“Are you okay? Is something hurting?” Hizashi questioned sincerely. Izuku nodded, answering both questions with one movement. Izuku’s used to pain. He knows it’s temporary and that’ll fade. It’s not the worst pain he’s felt before, not by far.

“What’s hurting, buddy?” Shouta asked, starting to dig through the duffle bag and pulling out a plastic ziplock back that held most of the boy's medication.

“Knees and ankles.” Izuku said, relaxing as the pain finally faded into something more manageable. He watched as Shouta looked through every bottle and syringe before opening a small bottle of pills. He closed the bag, walked into the kitchen, and came back thirty seconds later with a plastic cup of water.

“Here, take a sip.” Shouta said, handing the cup to Izuku. It was a little heavy so he made sure to keep a hand next to it while Izuku took a small sip and handed it back. “Good job, kid! Take this, and leave it underneath your tongue.” He said, handing him a small white, round pill the size of his pinky finger nail.

“What does it do?” Izuku asked, not yet taking it.

“It’s going to make the pain in your legs go away.” Shouta said. Izuku took it hesitantly, placing it under his tongue like Shouta said to do. It started fizzing and dissolving under his tongue, which surprised Izuku a lot. “I-Is it supposed to do that?” He mumbled, trying not to drool out the medicine.

“Yeah. Do you not like it?” Shouta said with a smile.

Izuku made a disgusted face before shaking his head and looking up at Shouta. “No. No I don’t.”

Hizashi and Shouta both laughed, which made Izuku’s chest bloom with warmth. He swallowed the mix of his spit and medicine once it was fully dissolved and Shouta handed him the cup of water to wash out the taste. Izuku handed the empty cup back to Shouta, thanking him before laying his head on the back of the couch.

Hizashi picked up the duffle bag, looked through it, and slung it over his shoulder. “Izuku, do you want your stuff down here with you, or would you like me to go set it in your room?”

“My room?” Izuku was confused. He knew he was going to stay here for a little while but he assumed he would sleep on the floor or maybe on the couch. They're giving him his own room?

“Yeah, buddy. Would you like to come upstairs and see it?” Hizashi asked with a smile.

“Um,” Izuku turned his head to the stairs. His legs were finally feeling better but he knew they would start hurting again if he stood up again. He also knew that even one step he took stepping out of the grass and on to the deck outside, was incredibly exhausting. However, he was extremely curious to see the up-stairs and the room the pair wanted him to stay in. A part of him truly believed that if he pushed himself enough, he could make it up the stairs. He wanted to prove to Hizashi and Shouta that he wasn’t weak. He wanted to prove it to himself. “Y-Yeah, okay.”

“Do you want me to carry you up, or do you want to try to walk up?” Hizashi asked cautiously.

Izuku wiggled off the couch before shuffling to the edge of the step. “I can walk.” He said, half telling Hizashi, half trying to convince himself. He took the first step up before taking a deep breath and forcing his legs to push himself up onto the next step. He closed his eyes for a second before taking another deep breath and walking unsteadily to the staircase with Hizashi.

“Izuku, do not strain yourself. There’s nothing wrong with getting help when you need it.” Shouta warned gently. Both him and Hizashi could tell that he was already exhausted, and going up steps seemed to be really difficult for him.

“I can do it.” Izuku practically whispered, grabbing onto the handrail and using it to pull himself on to the first step of the stairs. He waited for the sharp pain in his knees to fade before taking another step, bringing the pain back and stronger than the last step.

Hizashi and Shouta followed closely behind him, absolutely terrified. Izuku was obviously hurting, and these steps were exhausting him. But they knew they had to let him do this. They were there to catch him if he fell and stop him before he hurt himself too much, but it was still scary. Izuku winced when he got to the 4th step. The pair moved their hands closer to him, ready to catched or lift him by the arm; whatever might be needed in case he fell. On his next step up, he let out a pained cry and that’s when Shouta decided that he was done for now.

“Izuku, sit and take a break.” He told him, gently yet stern. Izuku nodded and with the help of the pair behind him, he turned and sat on the 6th step.

“If walking up these stairs is too much for you, buddy, it’s okay. You’re still injured. Nobody expects you to be able to walk up all of these steps.” Hizashi said, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

“It’s not that bad. I’m not weak.” Izuku said while panting.

“No, you aren’t weak at all, and asking for help and knowing your limits doesn’t make you weak.” Hizashi replied. Izuku took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. His head rushed and his knees throbbed. He knew if he kept going, the pain would just get worse and worse with each step. “You’ll grow and get stronger, and eventually you’ll be running up and down these stairs like it’s nothing. But for now it’s important to know when you’re straining yourself.”

Izuku took one last deep breath before clumsily putting his glasses back on. He looked up at the pair and nodded. The next thing he knew he was in Shouta’s arms, his legs grateful to be relieved of his weight. Shouta made sure that he was fully secure before they continued upstairs. Once they got to the top, Shouta turned right and faced two closed doors. Izuku shifted as Shouta opened the door on the right, exposing the room behind it. There was a big, fluffy-looking bed on the wall on the left. On the right wall to the right, there was a dark oak desk with a few pens and a lamp on it. Hizashi made his way to the other side of the room before opening the curtains, allowing the sun to pour in and fill the room with light.

Izuku looked out the window from the doorway, and woah. The view showed the front yard, down the mountain that was covered in trees, and just after that he could almost see the entire city. Izuku pointed to the window, signaling to Shouta that’s where he wanted to go. Shouta took him there with a chuckle, grabbing Hizashi’s hand with his free one. Izuku adjusted his glasses before yawning and slumping a little into Shouta. “Getting sleepy, buddy?” He asked.

Izuku nodded, trying to hold in another yawn but not he wasn’t very successful. Shouta brushed his bright blonde and green curls out of his face before continuing, “How about you take a nap, we’ll wake you up when it’s time to take your meds, and then maybe we can finish exploring the house? Does that sound like a good plan, or do you want to change something?”

“Good plan.” Izuku agreed.

“I think so too.” Shouta said with a small smile. Something about Izuku absolutely melted his heart. He always thought of himself as tough. He wasn’t one to smile or cry often, and he was always skilled at keeping his emotions hidden. Throughout his whole life, people often told him he had a cold, serious personality. And he 100% agreed with him. But something about Izuku made his heart burst with pride and joy. He has seen and even worked on multiple disturbing cases, but Izuku’s filled him with so much anger and sadness he didn’t know how to handle it. Looking at him now, safe and comfortable in his arms, his chest burst with warmth and pride. So much so, a tear threatened to escape his eye. He brought Izuku over to the bed, giving him a tight but gentle squeeze before tucking him in.

Izuku was exhausted and was quite relieved that Shouta suggested a nap. He was also pleased with the tight hug he gave him before laying his blanket out of the bag over him. Hizashi handed him the stuffed turtle, which he tucked into his chest and curled his arms around. Izuku smiled as he felt himself literally sink into the bed, the multiple blankets and pillows completely surrounding him. He quickly rolled from his side to his back, wincing slightly at the impact but his smile quickly returned when looked at the pair looking back at him. They each leaned down, gave him a kiss on his hairline and forehead. “Do you need anything else, buddy?” Hizashi asked. He shook his head as his face warmed from all the positive attention.

“Alright, would you like us to close the curtains? It might be too bright to sleep.” Shouta asked, standing all the way up.

“Just a little bit?” Izuku asked shyly.

Shouta nodded as he walked over to the curtains and closed them halfway before turning back to the boy. After a couple more tries he got it where Izuku wanted it, with the sun shining though only enough to cover the foot of the bed, which Izuku couldn’t reach. He liked this bed a lot more than the one at his moms. It is almost twice as big, warm, clean, and soft. “Thank you.” He peeped out before yawning again and closing his eyes.

“You’re welcome. Sleep well, kid.” Shouta said.

“Sleep well, honey. We’ll wake you up in a little while.” Hizashi brushed the hair out of Izuku’s face before securing his blanket and smiling. Izuku turned on his side as the pair made their way over to the door. “Open or closed?”

“Open.” He said quickly, his eyes pleading.

“Open.” Hizashi confirmed, opening the door all the way before giving one more smile. Izuku closed his eyes as the pair walked away with smiles on their faces. He focused his attention on the pain that ran all over his body. It hurt, yeah, but he found a sort of comfort in the pain. It always kept him grounded. Eventually he fell asleep to the feeling of his knee softly throbbing rhythmically.

Hizashi and Shouta made their way downstairs, silently agreeing to safety-proof the house as much as they could for now. Shouta started with taking all of the food with peanuts out of the pantry, putting it in a large container, and setting it on the top shelf. Hizashi made sure to remove and properly store anything he deemed sharp, and then moved on to wrapping any unnecessary wires. After an hour and a half, they finally finished making everything safer for a kid to be living there and sat together in the living room before deciding to let Izuku sleep for another half an hour. Shouta eventually got up and took a very relaxing shower. He got dressed quickly before making his way back to Hizashi.

“Your hair is still wet.” Hizashi said, scrunching his eyebrows.

“Yeah.” He responded. “It’ll dry.”

“How are you feeling? With Izuku coming home and everything?”

“Honestly, better than I thought. It’s easier having him here, so far at least. I think he likes it better here too.” Shouta said, smiling slightly. “I do feel extremely under prepared though. He has one set of clothes, we don’t really have anything for him to do besides sleep, watch tv, and talk to us.” He rambled.

“That’s all fixable. Easily fixable even. Don’t stress too much about that.” Hizashi smiled and held Shouta’s hand. The pair got distracted from their conversation when they heard a phone ringing. Hizashi stood up with a small sigh and made his way to the kitchen to find Shouta’s phone. He read the caller ID before answering. “Hi, Nemuri.”

“Are the both of you okay?!” She asked worriedly.

“Yeah, we’re fine- Were you watching our locations?” He laughed while asking, and he could hear Shouta let out a laugh from the other room.

“Yes, I saw you were both at the hospital for a few days. I would have come to visit but Hitoshi came down with a cold. I waited until you guys were home to call and check in.” She explained. When they were in high school their friend, Oboro Shirakumo, was put in a life threatening condition after a battle with a villain during their work studies. He texted all three of them to come help back him up. But because he didn’t tell them where he was, they got there too late. Ever since they found out he was going to survive his injuries, Nemuri enforced the rule that they should all be sharing their locations with each other.

“Ah, I appreciate that. No, we are both healthy and unharmed. How’s Hitoshi now? Feeling better?” Hizashi asked while making his way back to sit beside Shouta. He put her on speaker so they could both talk to her.

“He still has a runny nose and a little fever, but he is feeling better than he did a few days ago. Wait, if you're both fine, then what were you doing at the hospital?” She questioned.

“I rescued a kid a few nights ago while I was on patrol. We stayed with him while he was getting treated.” Shouta answered. He’s purposely drawing out the fact that Izuku was staying with them. He knew Nemuri would have fun figuring it out.

“Is he still at the hospital or did they already find foster parents? Hold on, don't answer that yet.” The pair could hear her talking to Hitoshi, who was asking for a cup of water, so she handed him the phone and left.

“Hi, Hitoshi! How are you feeling?” Hizashi said.

“Hi! Sniffly, but I like being sick! Mom lets me stay inside all day.” He answered, his voice a little raspy from coughing. “But when I get all better, can I come over?” Hitoshi would usually come over at least once a week, when Nemuri would do their weekly shopping. He wasn’t a fan of being in public unless it was absolutely necessary. Or when he was going somewhere he actually wanted to go to. Hizashi and Shouta offered to watch him to give her a break.

“Hm, well as much as we would love to see you and have you over, we have someone staying with us for the time being. It might be a little while until you can come over again.” Hizashi told him. He felt bad, he knew that Hitoshi really looked forward to coming over, but he knew this was for the best for now. They need to let Izuku find comfort in their home, and bringing in random people without him being aware and okay with it didn’t seem like the move to make that happen.

“Who is it? Do I know them?” Hitoshi asked, letting his curiosity get the better of him.

“No, but you’ll get to meet him when he’s ready.” Shouta answered.

He let out a fake huff of annoyance before they could hear Nemuri coming back into the room. “Here, baby. Try not to spill it in your bed.” She gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Let me know if you need anything else, I’ll be downstairs.”

Hizashi waited to hear the door clicking closed before saying, “I can’t believe it’s already been two years since you adopted him.”

“I know, it feels like it was two weeks ago. But don’t you think you can change the subject. Tell me about this boy you rescued, Shouta! There was clearly something special about him if you were both there for days.” She pressed.

“Well, His name is Izuku Midoriya. He’s the same age as Hitoshi. Exactly two weeks younger, actually.” Shouta told her, vaguely.

“Did you purposely not answer my previous question?”

“Yes.” He put on a mischievous smile.

“Oh. My. God! You guys are fostering him?!” She asked excitedly. The pair laughed again while confirming her hypothesis. “That’s so exciting, you two! Do you guys need anything? Clothes, toys, books? Hitoshi and I just went through all of his stuff and we were going to donate everything he doesn’t use or that he out-grew.”

Hizashi gave Shouta a sly smile. “Easily. Fixable.” he whispered to him before answering Nemuri. “That would actually be really helpful. I can’t imagine he’d be up for going to the mall and picking out clothes for himself. Thank you so much!”

“Of course! I’ll bring it all by tomorrow, or do you guys need it sooner?” She offered.

“Tomorrow is just fine, Nemuri.” Shouta said. “Thank you, really.”

“Oh, of course! So where is he right now?”

“He’s sleeping upstairs. We gave him the room on the right of the stairs, the one with the windows that face the front yard.” Hizashi said. “Actually, we should wake him up soon. We have to get some food in his system.”

“Good luck, you guys. Call Oboro or I if you need any help! We’re always a call away.” She called out.

“Will do. We’ll talk to you later.” Shouta said, standing up.

“Bye guys!” She hung up before they could respond. They smiled at each other before Hizashi stood up, and together walked up the stairs. When they slowly made their way into Izuku’s room, a part of them didn’t want to wake him up. He looked so peaceful, his hands curled into his chest while holding his turtle. His basically white and green curls were going in every direction and the bottom half of his face tucked into his blanket.

Shouta gave Hizashi’s hand a squeeze before they woke up Izuku slowly. “Hey, buddy. It’s time to wake up.”

Izuku woke up startled, but after he realized where he was and who he was with, he relaxed a bit. Hizashi and Shouta gave him a few minutes to wake up before the three of them made their way to the kitchen. Hizashi started Izuku’s NG pump and gave him his medicine, while Shouta prepared a snack so he could still taste food. After his snack, the pair went with him as he explored the rest of the downstairs part of the house. His legs were pretty sore so he had no problem letting either of them carry him. They brought him back upstairs where he explored their room, the closet they dedicated purely to towels and blankets, the other bedroom, and the bathroom. Izuku got pretty tired after that, so the pair drew him a warm bubble bath and quickly washed his only set of clothes while he was in the bath. It stung when he first got it, but he quickly got used to it. In fact, the longer he was in the bath, the more he wanted to stay in it.

“Can you tilt your head back a little, buddy? I don’t want any soap in your eyes.” Shouta asked, using a cup to rinse out the soap from his curls. Izuku smiled when he realized he would now smell warm and coconutty just like Hizashi and Shouta did. He quite liked the smell. He found it relaxing. After a little while he got out and was immediately wrapped in a warm towel. The pair dried him off as much as they could without hurting him or making him uncomfortable. They helped him get dressed in the same shorts and shirt he was wearing earlier. They moved back downstairs, where Shouta started making dinner for the three of them. Izuku sat still on the couch as Hizashi dried his hair with another towel.

When Shouta looked out from the kitchen and into the living room, he admired the two who were watching whatever movie Hizashi put on for him. He couldn't help but smile when he saw how fixated Izuku was while watching the screen flash different pictures and colors. When Izuku laughed and giggled at the movie, it was like music to Hizashi and Shouta’s ears. They’ve heard him scream in terror, and cry until he was out of breath. His laugh was by far their favorite.

The three ate dinner, and the pair sat with Izuku as he ever-so slowly- finished his food. They put on another movie for him after dinner, but he ended up falling asleep about 20 minutes into it. They carried him upstairs and tucked him in, making sure to leave the lamp on the desk on and to keep the door open before taking their leave and getting ready for bed themselves.

Day one of having Izuku home, and Hizashi and Shouta could already feel themselves getting used to this new change in their routine. A change that they both welcomed with open arms and open hearts.

Chapter Text

Izuku shivered in discomfort. Tears threatened to escape his eyes as he begged and pleaded. Goosebumps ran over his entire body as he felt clammy fingers graze his exposed ribcage.

He had been hung by his arms a few times by his mom. Once she even left him hanging there for two days. This time, she left him up there for one of the men to come defile him. He screamed when the door opened and his mother wasn’t the one standing there. Izuku had tried to wriggle himself off the hook or at least out of the ropes that held him there.

“Does it just kill you? That you can’t do anything to stop this?” The man asked, taunting him.

“P-p-please, stop!” Izuku cried as the man's ceaseless fingers ran all over him. His skin itches everywhere the fingers trailed. He was absolutely disgusted with himself.

The man just laughed before he squeezed Izuku’s hip, tight and quick. Izuku cried at the overwhelming discomfort it brought him while he attempted to move away from the monster behind him. Pain exploded in his shoulders and wrist from him tugging on them. He let out a rasped sob as the man moved in front of him. Face to alcohol-reeking face. Izuku closed his eyes tight and turned his head down. “W-why are you doing this?” He whimpered out.

The man ignored his question as he scanned every inch of Izuku’s body. Every time someone came into his room they would do that, and everytime it happened, Izuku would feel so disgusted with himself he’d get nauseous. He managed all the strength he had to launch his foot into the man's thigh. He let out a deep groan while grabbing his leg and stumbling back a step.

“Oh, you little runt!” He yelled before he grabbed Izuku by the face and forced him to make eye contact. “Do you really want to know why I’m doing this? Because there is absolutely no one here to stop me. You’re too weak to do anything and your own mother told me to go wild with you.”

“N-no…” He denied. Izuku knew his mom still loved him, she just forgot how to right now. He knows if he just waits a little while longer, and tries to remind her what she loved so much about him before, she’d let him out and they could be a happy family again. He knows that there’s no way his mom would let someone do this to him. The man must have done something to her, which is why she gets so mad at him. That must be it.

“No? You don’t believe me? Your mother couldn’t care less about you. If she did, she wouldn’t sell your pathetic, weak body to anybody who fucking wants it. Admit it, kid, mommy doesn’t love you anymore and the only reason she keeps you alive is for the money.” The man laughed, grabbing Izuku’s exposed waist with his calloused hands.

Izuku knitted his eyebrows as he cringed in disgust and anger. The man had worked him up and suddenly he let his rage overcome him. He stared the man in the eye before launching spit at his face.

The man wiped his cheek and looked back up at him. Izuku’s skin spiked in goosebumps when their eyes met again. The man launched forward and grabbed Izuku by the throat, his palm crushing his windpipe. Izuku tried to wiggle free but it was pointless. He watched as the man raised his hand and swung down.

—

Izuku shot up, gasping and coughing. Blood rushed to his head, making his eyes throb. His discomfort level was through the roof and he couldn’t help but let out a strained sob as he tried to get his breathing under wraps. Izuku pressed his thumbs into his eyes, attempting to get the throbbing to lessen. Memories flashed behind his eyes and he let out another heaving cry. He swung his legs, sore and stiff as they are, over the edge of the bed and let his feet dangle far above the hardwood floor.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” He murmured to himself, trying to calm himself before someone realized he was awake. He pulled his hands away from his face and interlocked them before placing them in his lap. Tears flushed his eyes, making his blurry vision even blurrier. As the dark memories played in his mind and strong emotions surged through him, he allowed the tears to fall and kept his heaves silent. Izuku kept his eyes focused on the floor below him, the tears shifting around every time one fell. The way his white and green curls swayed in his peripheral vision was starting to soothe him.

There was a quiet knocking that took his attention from out of his head to the door on the right of him. His eyes met with Shouta’s, who stood in the hallway. He scooted himself back into bed and covered his head with his arms before he spoke. “I’m sorry. I’m done, I promise.”

“Are you okay, kid?” Shouta asked, brushing the hair that fell out of his hair tie behind his ear. Izuku nodded hesitantly before he uncovered his head and made eye contact with Shouta. “Is it alright if I come in?”

Izuku nodded while he pulled his feet closer to him and tucked his knees into his chest. Shouta slowly made his way into the room, sitting on the chair in front of the desk and turning to face the kid who looked away sniffling. “I’m sorry I woke you up.”

“Oh it’s okay, kid. I was already awake.” Shouta said.

“Are you okay?” Izuku asked, trying to move the attention off himself.

“I am, thank you for asking, that’s very nice of you. I’m more worried about you.”

“It was just a bad dream. I’m sorry.” Izuku whispered.

“You don't have to apologize, we all have bad dreams. Do you want to talk about it?” Shouta leaned back in the chair as he watched Izuku slowly turn to face him and let his feet dangle again. He held eye contact for barely a second before looking down and started speaking.

“Mmm, my mom. She used to, um, h-hang me? From my hands.” He raised his head quickly to make eye contact again. “I-It was because I hit her. I didn’t mean to, it just happened. S-so it was my fault, because hitting isn’t nice.”

Shouta didn’t know how to respond. He could have explained to him that regardless of what he did, his mother shouldn't have done that. Or he could tell him that he believes he didn’t hit her on purpose. He opted for an understanding nod, noting that Izuku still had something to say.

“Sometimes she would leave me there. To think about what I did, is what she said. But once she left me up and when the door opened it- it wasn’t her. I don’t know what his name is, but he’s one of the bad men. He made me feel super y-yucky. He told me something an-and it made me… mad?” Izuku took a deep breath and fidgeted with his fingers, bending them in ways that must have hurt. He looked up at Shouta quickly before looking at the foot of his new, deeply appreciated, bed. “I-I made a mistake, and then I couldn’t breathe and-... I-I just really, really wish I didn’t do that.” His voice faded into a whisper and his crying had started up again.

“Well,” Shouta started, but he took a pause to perfect his thought. “I’m sorry that happened. None of that should’ve happened, no matter what you did by accident or on purpose. Is that when you woke up?”

Izuku nodded, hoping Shouta wouldn't ask about what happened after. He wasn’t ready to talk about it. Not yet. He sniffled, shaking from anxiety and his limbs incredibly sore before he spoke. “I-I don’t like this topic.”

“Yeah, maybe it’s a little late for this talk. You can come talk to Hizashi or I whenever you're ready to talk.” Shouta said, letting Izuku nod in response before continuing. “Well, let’s get you your medicine while the both of us are awake. What do you think?”

“O-okay…” Izuku answered, obviously not wanting to but too scared to disagree with the idea.

“Would you like a cup of tea or water to take with it?” He asked.

“Tea?” Izuku tried really hard, but he doesn't remember what tea is. Or if he likes it. “I don’t…”

“I can make you a cup to see if you like it. How does that sound?” Shouta was going to make a cup for himself before he heard Izuku wake up, so he was more than happy to make a cup for the boy as well.

Shouta went downstairs after Izuku gave him a small nod. He flipped on the lights in the kitchen and stretched while taking a deep breath. He started the kettle on the stove while he looked through the countless bottles of Izuku’s medicine. After a couple minutes, he finally found everything Izuku needed for the night. He also realized that they were going to need a better system for organizing all of the kid’s medicine. He finished making two cups of chamomile tea, cooling Izuku’s with an ice cube before bringing it all back upstairs. Izuku was sitting up against the headboard of the bed, staring at the foot of the bed in deep thought.

“Hey, buddy. Everything okay?” Shouta asked, waiting for Izuku to see him before entering the room. He set all the medicine on the desk before facing Izuku who nodded and pulled himself out of his thoughts. “Good, good. Thirsty?”

“Y-yeah.” Izuku said quietly.

“Well, good thing we can fix that. Here, use two hands.” Shouta said, handing the mug to him carefully. Izuku took the cup in his hands, enjoying the way it warmed his palms and how the gentle smell wafted into his nose. He watched for Shouta to take a drink before he lifted his own cup to his face and let the heat rise to his face. He looked at Shouta once again, who gave him an encouraging nod, before he took a small sip. He let the liquid rest on his tongue, enjoying the warmth and mildly sweet taste.

“What do you think?” Shouta asked as he reclaimed his spot in the desk chair beside the bed.

“It’s… Yeah. I like it.” Izuku said, smiling as he looked down into the cup. He let the smell come into his nose again before looking at Shouta, who was smiling back at him.

“That’s great! That one is called chamomile tea, it’ll help you sleep.” Shouta said, take another drink before setting the cup on the desk behind him. He grabbed one of the many pill bottles and twisted off the cap before turning back around. He watched as Izuku’s face shifted from a small, happy smile to an uncomfortable, almost sad expression. “What's wrong, buddy?”

“I-I just don’t like those...” He whispered. Before Shouta had rescued him, Inko would often punish Izuku by shoving pills in his mouth and injecting him with mysterious syringes. The only time she ever said what they were, she had told him that they were behavioral pills. They made him feel dizzy, tired, and his mind felt like it was going to tear itself apart.

“That’s okay, thank you for communicating that. Do you think if we crush it up and you take it with your tea or maybe something to eat, would that help you feel a little more comfortable?” Shouta could tell there was something deeper than that but he’ll let Izuku tell him whenever he’s ready. He was just glad Izuku trusted him enough to communicate his discomfort in some way.

“Can you really do that?” He asked hopefully.

“Yeah, of course. Is that what you would like to do?” Shouta asked. Izuku nodded in response as he tried his hardest not to accidentally spill his tea on the bed. “Alright. Did you want to put in your tea or would you rather have something to eat it with?”

“Tea, please.” Izuku was still nauseous from the memory of his past, so he wasn’t up for trying to eat.

“Perfect, I’m going to grab something and I’ll be right back. Does that sound alright?” Shouta asked, and with a nod from the kid, he quickly made his way downstairs and into the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. After a short search, he grabbed the pill crusher and a spoon from the kitchen before going back upstairs. He handed Izuku the gadget as he sat down, letting him inspect it before showing him how it crushes pills into a powder. He took a spoon full of Izuku’s tea and knocked the powder into the tea, letting it dissolve before feeding it to Izuku. When Izuku gave Shouta the nod of approval, Shouta continued to repeat the steps one pill at a time. Eventually, they got through all the medicine and Izuku was getting pretty tired.

“All done, buddy. I’m so proud of you.” Shouta said. Izuku gave a small smile before yawning and slowly passed his half-full cup back over to Shouta. He set the mug on the desk behind him before asking. “Do you need anything else, kid? Water, another blanket?”

“No, but c-can you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep?” Izuku asked timidly.

“Of course. Let’s get you tucked back in.” Shouta said. He stood up as Izuku moved back down the bed and curled into himself; crossing his ankles while bringing his knees to his chest and his hands under his chin. Shouta placed his stuffed animal into Izuku’s hands and he took gratefully as Shouta draped his blanket over him. Izuku yawned as Shouta sat back down and moved the desk chair closer to the bed. At some point, he found himself combing through the boy’s hair and humming a song he knew.

After a while Izuku had completely fallen asleep, with his eyes still red and cheeks stained with tears. Shouta secured his blanket before leaving and making his way back to his and Hizashi’s room. He carefully made his way to his side of the bed before crawling in next to Hizashi. Staring at the dark ceiling, Shouta laid there thinking of how he could help the boy in the other room even more than he currently is. He let his mind spiral as he slowly fell asleep.

—-

Hizashi woke up to the phone ringing from Shouta's bed-side table. He leaned over his fiance, who was still fast asleep, and grabbed the phone that was ringing. He looked at the caller I.D before answering.

“Tsukauchi, you better have a good reason for calling my house at five in the morning.” He said with a fake attitude in his voice.

“Yamada, good morning! Is Aizawa available? It’s about the Midoriya case.” Tsukauchi was a work-aholic so Hizashi thought it was safe to assume that he had already waited a few hours to call.

Hizashi nudged Shouta awake before handing him the phone. “It’s your husband.” He joked.

“Hello?” Shouta said, half asleep and fully confused.

“Good morning, Aizawa. We could use some of your help down at the station regarding the Midoriya case. Do you think you can come by for a few?” Hizashi flopped back on the bed, his back facing Shouta while he tried to ignore the conversation.

“I sent you a copy of the field report, did you see it?” Shouta said quietly, trying to save himself from having to get out of bed.

“Yes, and as helpful as it was, the story goes deeper than that. I’m sure you’ve come to realize that. As the hero on site, this case is still yours to work until completion.” Tsukauchi said, convincing Shouta to come help. “There’s new information since the initial rescue. I’ve been needing you to come down here, but I called the hospital, Dr. Chiyo instructed not to contact either of you while you were there.”

“I’ll see you in thirty, tell me about it when I get there.” Shouta huffed out with a sigh before hanging up. He rubbed his eyes to help wake himself up. He looked to his side to find Hizashi, who was holding a pillow over his head with his back turned to Shouta. “Hi, good morning.” He said kindly.

“Good morning.” Hizashi mumbled with fake annoyance.

“I have to go down to the police station to help with Izuku’s case. I’m not sure how long I'll be there but I’ll keep you updated.” Shouta said while leaning down and kissing Hizashi’s shoulder.

“Do you know how much I love you?” Hizashi said as he shifted around to face Shouta with a loving smile on his face.

“How much?” Shouta responded with a smile of his own.

“Enough to not be mad that you and your phone woke me up at 5 in the morning.” He said as he leaned up to give Shouta a sweet peck on the lips.

“Yeah? Well I love you enough to not be mad that you just kissed me with that morning breath.” Shouta teased. The pair laughed as they shared another kiss before Shouta left to get ready. Hizashi had fallen asleep by the time Shouta was ready to leave, so he gave him one last kiss before leaving their room.

Shouta made his way to Izuku’s room, stopping at the door to see if he was asleep or not. When he saw Izuku peacefully sleeping, he made his way deeper into the room and softly woke the boy up.

“Hey, buddy. Sorry to wake you up.” He whispered. Izuku was still lying there with his eyes closed, but he let out a disapproving groan. Shouta let out a soft chuckle before continuing. “Don’t worry you can go right back to sleep. I just wanted to let you know that I have to go for a little bit. If you need to talk to me before I come back, tell Hizashi and I will call you. Do you think you’ll be okay for a little while without me?”

“Mmm, promise you're coming back?” Izuku whispered out in almost a sad way.

“I promise. I will come back.” Shouta said, reassuring him by combing his fingers through his curls.

“I’ll be okay.” He murmured out, relaxing at the feeling of having his hair combed through.

“Alright, I have to go now. Sleep well kid.” Shouta whispered. Izuku gave him a small nod before starting to fall back asleep. Shouta smiled before standing up and fixing the boy’s blanket. He made his way to the door before turning around to check on Izuku one more time. His heart filled with joy and warmth just seeing him so relaxed and happy.

Chapter Text

There was a cup of coffee waiting for Shouta on the front desk when he arrived at the police station. He greeted the receptionists before showing himself to Tsukauchi’s office. Knocking on the door, he waited for a response and opened the door. “Morning.”

“Good morning!” Tsukauchi looked up with a smile on his face. “Get here safe?”

“Yes.” Shouta took a seat in front of the desk. “Right, now let’s get into it. You said there’s new information since the rescue first happened? Izuku himself has told me some pretty horrendous things.”

“I’m sure. What exactly has he told you?” Tsukauchi was no longer smiling. He was completely re-focused on the case in front of them. Shouta shared everything Izuku told him. Everything he said his mom did or didn’t do. Even the small details of what the men who assaulted him did to him. He struggled not to let his emotions get the better of him but it was hard when he thought of everything he went through. It made his blood boil. Tsukauchi nodded when Shouta finished before sighing and looking at his computer.

“All of it checks out. Has he ever mentioned feeling like he was being watched?” Tsukauchi said as he raised his hand to the screen of the computer.

“No, not that I’m aware of.” Shouta said. He had a feeling he knew what Tsukauchi was going to say, but he really hoped he was wrong.

“Well, I’m not surprised. He never made eye contact with it and his room was too dark to see it. After you took him to the hospital, and Mrs. Midoriya was taken here for questioning, we had a team stay and investigate the apartment. They found a computer that was hidden away in the air vent. On it, there was… footage. Of the boy in his room.” Tsukauchi spoke confidently when he started talking, but he started trailing off at the end of his statement. It was clear that Shouta cared deeply for the kid, and this information isn't something you can take lightly.

“How much footage?” Shouta asked, calmly.

“Around 43,000 hours. We have someone combing through all of it again now but a lot of it is just him sleeping.”

“43,000 hours? That’s nearly five years. He told me he’d only been in that room since he was four. He’s only seven.” His heart sunk to the floor when he started to piece everything together. “Was the footage from the first two years just a safety measure they took?”

“I wish that were the case. The truth is, Izuku has been getting trafficked since the age of two. Both Inko and Hisashi Midoriya sold the videos to anonymous buyers on the black market. It started with only videos of Izuku playing or sleeping, some of him even throwing temper tantrums.”

He turned the screen to Shouta, revealing a paused high quality video showing a toddlers bedroom. From the angle, Shouta could tell the camera was placed right above the door, perfectly pointed toward the bed. Before Shouta could say anything, Tsukauchi unpaused the video and a soft giggling came from the computer. A younger version of Izuku, probably three, came running into the frame with a kindergarten uniform on and a little backpack on his back. He took off his hat, exposing his short green and black curls, and set it on his wardrobe.

“Home!” Izuku’s little voice yelled excitedly. Shouta had a hard time suppressing a smile when he saw the same Izuku who was currently almost too weak to walk and is so quiet Shouta almost had a hard time understanding him at times, yelling and running around and he went around and said his hellos to his toys. For a moment, the fact of what this video was created for almost slipped Shouta’s mind. It was almost just a sweet, wholesome video. Almost.

Tsukauchi paused the video when three year old Izuku was called out of frame. He tilted the screen back to its proper placement before clearing his throat. “After Mr. Midoriya left the family, and young Izuku was locked in the room, Mrs. Midoriya started selling the videos on other websites. It seems like no matter how many websites she was selling from wasn’t enough for her. After a little over a year of him being locked in, she started selling Izuku himself. She found a local pedofile ring through the black market, charged them 200,000 yen per hour, and stood back as she let them rape him. Footage of any form of child abuse is very popular on the black market, so she statred live streaming the videos in private chatrooms. She started to take paid requests, apparently she carved an X on his back for 10 million yen.”

Shouta felt a little sick. He knew exactly what Tsukauchi was referring to. Just yesterday he was dabbing antibacterial cream on it to aid the infection it accumulated. To think that his own mother did that to him for a cash grab. “Have you figured out how much money she’s made in total off of these videos yet?”

“We don't have an exact number, but we’ve estimated around 15 billion.” Tsukauchi said quietly.

Shouta’s eyebrows furrowed. “And what is she doing with all of this money?”

“That’s the weird thing; She’s not doing anything with it. The only thing she bought with the money was to rent out the apartment below them. She says the rest is in a hidden savings account.”

Shouta didn’t say anything for a while. He sat there and tried to collect his thoughts while taking a drink from his coffee. Eventually, he spoke up. “Do you have a recording of her integration?”

Tsukauchi nodded and pulled up the security recording of Inko Midoriya’s integration. He tilted the screen back towards Shouta and pressed play. Shouta spent the next three hours watching and analyzing Inko’s behavior. She tried lying at the start of the interrogation but once she realized Tsukauchi’s quirk picked up on any type of lie, she started admitting absolutely everything she did. From putting the cameras up when Izuku was two, to purposely overdosing him on opioids just to save him with Narcan, and every horrific detail of exactly she had put Izuku through. She attempted to justify her abuse by stating that it was Izuku’s fault everything had happened. That he wasn’t born quirkless then it never would have escalated into violence. She said that if he were born “normal”, they would only sell videos of him playing or sleeping so he would be unaware of the danger he is in. It made both Tsukauchi and Shouta’s blood boil, how she said all those things like there wasn’t a thing wrong with it.

The two were deeply concentrated on the case when the ringing of Shouta’s phone brought their attention back to their surroundings. Shouta checked the caller I.D before recusing himself and stepping into the hall on the other side of the door. He answered the phone as he brought it to his ear. “Hey.”

“Hey, Sho. How’s it going?” Hizashi asked on the other line.

“Um,” Shouta hesitated as he stared at the floor. He couldn’t tell Hizashi about all of the new information he’d learned over the past couple of hours. Hizashi wasn’t an on-site hero and has no clearance to the confidential information. Still, he had to say something. “On the good news, Inko Midoriya may just be sentenced to life after we bring all this evidence to a judge.”

Hizashi knew it must've been really bad if Shouta wouldn’t share any details. “I see. Let’s hope that’s exactly how that turns out.”

“How are things on your side?” Shouta asked. He could use a little distraction; it’s important to balance negatives with positives.

“Good. Izuku had some breakfast, toast and an egg, along with a feed like his nutritionist asked. He went back to sleep about two hours ago though. When he woke up, he told me he was still pretty tired and sore so I think we should just let him rest as much as he wants today.” Hizashi said.

“That’s probably a good idea. When you give him his medicine later, make sure to crush and dissolve it in some tea for him. He told me last night, he’s uncomfortable with taking pills.” A part of Shouta felt guilty about knowing everything that happened over the course of his time in the room. It was clear to him that there were things Izuku didn’t want them to know and things he was ashamed to talk about. Another part of him felt guilty he couldn’t tell Hizashi about what he’s learned. Not only would telling Hizashi break the confidentiality of the case, but it would also break Izuku’s trust and privacy.

“Okay, I can do that. How much longer do you think you’ll be there?” Hizashi asked.

“I don’t know, there’s still a lot to cover and work through over here.” Shouta sighed before continuing. “I’m sorry, I wish I could be there to help you but-”

“Shouta, don’t start that. I didn’t ask to rush you. I’m okay over here, Izuku’s sleeping and when he wakes up, I can handle it. You are exactly where we need you to be. Take your time to work this case. Help Izuku by protecting him from his mother in the future.” Hizashi knew exactly what to say to relax Shouta. Shouta nodded, more for himself than as a response. He took a quick breath, rubbing his hand over his eyes and up into his hair.

“Yeah, you’re right. Thank you, Hizashi. I think we’ll call it a day in a few hours.” Shouta said, already feeling a little more secure.

“Do whatever you need to do. Izuku sounds like he’s waking up, did you want to say hi before getting back to work?” Hizashi asked as he walked up the stairs. With Shouta in agreement, he turned to Izuku’s room. Izuku was lying on his side, wrapped up in his blanket. He and Hizashi made eye contact before Izuku’s demeanor changed from bored to happy. “Hey, honey. Did some more sleep help you feel a bit better?”

“Mmm, a bit.” Shouta could hear Izuku’s little voice through the phone and couldn’t help but smile a little. It made him feel a little better, just hearing his voice and confirming he’s safe at home.

“Yeah? That’s good! I know you just woke up but Shouta’s on the phone. Would you like to say hi before he has to go.” Hizashi asked, sitting in the same chair Shouta sat in just hours before. Izuku nodded before Hizashi handed him the phone, showing him how to hold it up to his face.

“Hey, buddy! Good morning. How did you sleep?” Shouta said, glad to be talking to him.

“Good!” Izuku beamed when he actually heard Shouta’s voice through the phone. “No more bad dreams!”

“Oh that’s awesome, kid!” Shouta was very relieved to hear that. He was worried when he left that Izuku would have another nightmare and he wouldn’t be there to help him. “What do you think you want to do today?”

“Sun?” He said, more asking rather than telling.

“That sounds like a good idea!” Shouta said. The image of Izuku laying in the sun yesterday in the backyard flashed into his mind, making him smile just a little more. “How about you and Hizashi practice with your quirk for a little bit? Does that sound fun?”

“Yeah, okay!” Izuku said, smiling while making eye contact with Hizashi, who smiled back.

Hizashi raked his fingers through Izuku's curls, brushing them out of his face.

“Alright,” Shouta said with a chuckle. “Well I hope you have a whole lot of fun and rest today, but I have to get back to work.”

“Oh,” Izuku’s voice dropped into a little disappointment, which almost made Shouta say goodbye to Tsukauchi and book it home to hug him. Izuku knitted his eyebrows before his smile returned to his face. “Y-you have fun too!”

“Aw, thank you, buddy!” Shouta said. His chest bloomed with happiness and pride when he heard choosing to be kind over acting on his disappointment. It gave him a tremendous amount of hope that, despite everything, Izuku still has a chance to become a good person. “I’ll see you in just a few hours, okay?”

“Okay! Just a few hours.”Izuku repeated as he handed the phone back to Hizashi, who whispered a good job to him.

“Alright, Sho. I love you. Keep working hard, I’ll see you later” Hizashi said. Once Shouta said his goodbye, Hizashi set his phone on the desk.

He helped Izuku sit up straight before the two planned out the rest of their day. He told him that Nemuri would be stopping by, and together they made a plan to keep Izuku as comfortable as possible. When he was prompted, Izuku chose to go lay on the couch while he rested. Hizashi let him pick a movie to watch while he worked on paper work at the dining room table. The two sat, happily co-existing with each other. Hizashi periodically would check on him, using Izuku’s body language rather than what he said as a better way to figure out what he needed. Izuku was slowly finishing his lunch at the table when a knock interrupted the comfortable silence. “Okay, kid, Nemuri is here. What are you thinking?”

“Um,” Izuku looked down at the remaining bit of his lunch, then towards the front door. His eyes then landed on the couch, where he left his blanket and stuffed turtle. His breath started picking up while he stuttered out, “I-I don’t…”

“Okay let’s stay calm, yeah? What's stressing you out?” Hizashi got out of his seat and moved around the table to squat in front of Izuku. He offered Izuku his hand, who took it gratefully.

“I-I’m scared to meet your friend. I don’t think I’m ready.” He whispered as he looked down to avoid eye contact.

“That’s okay, meeting new people can be pretty scary.” Hizashi comforted him. “ Would you like to wait in your roo-” He couldn’t even finish the sentence before Izuku was shaking his no.

“No, please.” Izuku’s eyes filled with fear and tears, begging Hizashi not to send him to his room.

“Okay, okay. You can stay down here.” There was another knock on the door and Izuku nearly jumped out of his chair. Hizashi carefully covered the boy's ears before turning his head and shouting at the door, “One second! I’ll be right there! Sorry, I didn’t want to be too loud.” He said as he gave his hand back for him to fidget with. He racked his brain to come up with a solution to keep Izuku as comfortable as possible. “Alright, how about you go sit on the couch, we’ll wrap you up in your blanket so she can’t see you, and when she leaves you can come back to finish your lunch?”

Izuku thought about it for a second before nodding slowly. Hizashi carried him over to the couch because his legs were too sore to walk. Izuku curled his blanket around himself and held his stuffed turtle in his arms. Hizashi made sure he was secure, ruffling his hair as he made his way to the front door. Izuku peeked around the back of the couch, the front door was just in his field of vision.

Hizashi opened the door to see one of his longest and best friends, her very presence made him smile as she wrapped her arms around him for a big hug. “Hey, sorry for the wait!” He said happily.

“Oh, no worries!” Nemuri said with a smile.

“Before you come in, Izuku is sitting on the couch but he isn’t ready to meet you yet. So please don’t say anything to, or even about, him. He doesn’t even want you to look at him.” He warned quietly before stepping to the side and letting Nemuri inside.

“Yeah, no problem. You remember how Hitoshi used to be before he warmed up to you guys. I totally understand.” She said while taking off her flip-flops and handing Hizashi a big trash bag filled with clothes and some books. When she looked deeper into the house, her eyes immediately fell upon two big, green eyes that were staring back at her. Once Izuku realized she saw him, he quickly moved back to hide himself behind the couch. “So, where’s Shouta?”

“Tsukauchi called him down to the station to work on the case. He won’t be home for a few more hours.” Hizashi said, leading her into the kitchen. He got her a glass of water because she’d just walked from her house in the summer heat. It was the least he could do.

“I see. Thank you.” She said, accepting the water Hizashi set in front of her.

Izuku silently observed as the two friends chatted in the kitchen, just long enough for Nemuri to finish her glass of water. When she started leaving, she said something to Hizashi about getting out of his hair, which confused Izuku. He didn’t see her touching his hair at all. He watched as Hizashi thanked her and the two exchanged goodbyes. When he heard the door finally close again, Izuku popped up to look from over the couch.

Hizashi turned to him with a great, big smile on his face. “How was that? Not too bad, eh?”

“Not too bad.” Izuku echoed. “W-what’s in that?”

Hizashi brought the bag over to the couch so Izuku could get a better look at the contents. “Do you remember how I told you she has a son your age? Well, those two went through all of his clothes and everything he doesn't wear or doesn't fit him, they gave to you. When Shouta comes home we can sort through everything and you can pick whatever you want to keep.”

“I don’t get it, w-why did they give it to me?” Izuku asked in a whisper.

“Because that’s what good friends do. They help out when their friends are in need.” That answer seemed to satisfy Izuku’s question. “There are some books in there we can check out right now, if you want.”

With a nod from Izuku, Hizashi opened the bag and pulled out two little books from the top. He remembers helping Hitoshi learn to read using these books. They were both classic fairy tales, The Three Little Pigs and Snow White. Hizashi let Izuku pick the first one they read, The Three Little Pigs, and together they sat on the couch as Hizashi read to him. Izuku examined each page carefully as he looked at the pictures, pointing out what part of the story the illustrations were displaying. After they finished the story, and three others, Izuku returned to the table to finish his lunch. Hizashi texted Shouta, letting him know that Nemuri had stopped by and how captivated Izuku was by the stories they read.

When Shouta read Hizashi’s text about Izuku liking the books that got read to him, he smiled softly to himself before silencing his phone and continuing to work on his case. If he couldn’t be at home to help Izuku, then he would do everything in his power to protect from anyone who’d want to hurt him. Even if it meant getting hurt. He had never been more determined to bust down a pedophile ring and throw a woman in jail for the rest of her years.

He’d do anything to protect his child.

Chapter Text

The sun was already setting when Shouta pulled into the driveway. A part of him felt guilty for being out all day, but the rest of him felt nothing but ready to be home already. He took a second to gather his thoughts after he parked before going inside. Closing the door quietly behind, Shouta took off his shoes and made his way deeper into the house. The TV was softly playing some kid’s cartoon that Shouta didn’t recognize. He turned into the kitchen to find Hizashi, who was putting together one of his infamous slap-together meals. “Hey, I'm home.”

Hizashi turned around with a huge smile on his face. He wrapped his arms around Shouta’s shoulders, careful not to touch him with his messy hands. He gave him a big, sweet kiss on the cheek before saying, “Welcome home! How was your day?”

“Better now.” Shouta said, returning the embrace and smiling into his shoulder. “And yours?”

“Good! Caught up with some paperwork and hung out with Izuku all day.” Hizashi said as he moved to wash his hands. “You got home just in time, dinner’s ready! Could you go wake him, please? He’s been waiting for you all day.”

Shouta made his way over to the couch to find Izuku passed out, curled up in his blanket, and his turtle under his head like a pillow. He noticed the boy’s curls were completely back to black and green. Moving the hair out of his eyes, Shouta whispered, “Hey, buddy. Hungry?”

Izuku opened his eyes slowly and stared at Shouta for a couple of seconds before his mind could register what was going on. When he realized that it was Shouta who was in front of him, his body started moving before his brain knew what he was doing. All of a sudden he had himself wrapped around Shouta, giving him a hug similar to the one he gave him when Shouta had first rescued him. Shouta returned the embrace, holding him close and cupping the back of his head. They stayed like that for a little while before Izuku pulled back and said, “I-I practiced my quirk today! Just like you told me to!”

“I see that! Great job, kid. I’m really proud of you.” Shouta said, watching Izuku’s face flush red with satisfaction and joy. He walked with Izuku to the table and together the three of them ate dinner while Izuku updated everything he did and saw during the day. After they finished eating, they sorted through the bag that Nemuri had brought over. It took a little while to help ease Izuku’s mind into accepting that he really was allowed to have anything in there, but eventually they got there. Shouta and Hizashi helped Izuku pick out the clothes he actually liked before helping him try them on to make sure they fit. Izuku had successfully picked out eight total outfits, and decided to keep all of the books and miscellaneous toys. Hizashi put everything Izuku wasn’t interested in back in the bag and set it in the garage until he could take it to donations. They continued to go through their new night-time routine; bath, medicine, stretching, and then bed.

“Good night, honey. Thanks for hanging out with me today.” Hizashi combed his fingers through Izuku’s hair as he sat next to him. Izuku smiled up at him and nodded softly, his medicine clearly kicking in already. Hizashi leaned down and pressed a kiss into his forehead while he cupped his cheek. He could feel the way Izuku smiled and how his face got a little warmer from all the positive attention. Hizashi smiled before whispering, “Sleep well.”

When Hizashi finished, he stood up and made his way to the door. Shouta moved next to Izuku, who let out a big yawn. “I’m glad you had a good day today, kid.”

“Are you going to be here tomorrow?” Izuku whispered, looking up at him from behind his blanket.

“All day long.” Shouta promised with a soft smile. Izuku yawned again before smiling sleepily. “Alright, sleepy head. I hope you have good dreams, and if you don’t, feel free to come wake us up.” He gave Izuku a kiss on the top of his head before whispering good night and joining Hizashi at the door. Izuku gave them a small wave before closing his eyes and squeezing his arms around his stuffed turtle, falling asleep almost immediately.

Over the next two weeks, the three adjusted and learned to live together. Izuku had started growing more comfortable around them a lot quicker than Hizashi and Shouta thought. Of course, he still had his fears and occasional anxiety attacks, but he was happy and content more often than he wasn’t. The pair considered that a win. Izuku started asking them just about every question that would come to his mind now, and he let physical affection come more naturally. It was like his child-like wonder had been let out of its cage. Izuku spent most of his time learning to read and write. He liked the books and stories Hizashi and Shouta would read to him, so he wanted to be able to read them himself. He also spent a lot of time practicing with his quirk, the journal that Dr. Nakano gave him was already almost halfway full. He enjoyed brainstorming new ideas to manipulate the energy and testing his limits. Izuku even started physically changing already; he had noticeably gained some more weight, and all the time he was spending in the sun started tanning his previously ghostly pale skin. His face and arms even began to freckle.

Izuku was organizing pebbles by color in the front yard when a quiet crunching from the road came into the driveway. He looked up to see a boy around his age, wearing blue jeans and a black tank top, sitting on his bike, and staring right back at him. The boy took off his helmet, revealing a purple mop of hair underneath. “Uh, hi?” The strange boy asked, looking as confused as Izuku felt.

“H-hello?” Izuku responded. A part of him wanted to run inside but he stayed sat in the grass.

“Um, are Shouta and Hizashi here?” The boy moved his gaze to the house, scanning the front door and opened windows.

“Inside.” Izuku answered. He watched as this strange boy nodded before he dismounted his bike, leaving it in the driveway, and walked in through the front door. Izuku tried to process what had just happened, but when none of the explanations he came up with made sense, he decided to just follow and see what would happen.

Hizashi was cleaning up lunch in the kitchen when Hitoshi suddenly appeared behind him. “Who’s that? In your front yard?”

“Hitoshi!” Hizashi nearly jumped out of his socks. He turned around to see Hitoshi standing in the doorway of the kitchen. “Bud, you can’t just come in like that.”

“The kid in your front yard told me you were in here. Who is he?” Hitoshi reiterated. Izuku could be heard coming inside and struggling to get his new shoes off before coming into the kitchen.

“Mr. Hizashi something weird-” Izuku paused dead in his tracks when he saw the boy casually sitting on the counter.

“Okay, okay. Izuku, this is Hitoshi. Hitoshi, meet Izuku.” Hizashi introduced them. He watched as the two scoped each other out before Hitoshi shyly said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

Izuku looked at Hizashi before repeating the same thing back to him. “Um, thank you. F-for the clothes?”

“Oh,” Hitoshi looked down only to see that Izuku was wearing the same clothes he had just given away. Jeans that his mom had to scrub the grass stains out, a plain red t-shirt he never cared for, and a black long sleeve compression shirt that didn’t actually compress against him. “Yeah, you’re welcome. Isn’t it too hot for long sleeves though?”

“It’s to slow down my quirk.” Izuku explained briefly. Hitoshi shot him a confused look so Izuku gave into the urge to clarify. “It’s called sunlight absorption, I can convert sunlight into energy that I can shoot out of my palms. The sleeves help mim- mi-... min-im-ize sun exposure. Too much at once makes me dizzy.”

Izuku had to learn that the hard way. A few days ago he decided to go outside in a tank top and shorts in the middle of the day. After just a few minutes, his head had started to rush and his eyes throb. Once Shouta helped him back inside and had him expel some of the energy he had stored up, he finally started feeling better. Izuku made Shouta help him write in his journal while he spent the rest of the day testing experiments on his quirks sun-absorption abilities. He used Shouta’s phone to keep track of the UV index, which he learned to do days prior when he learned to read the weather app, and timed how long it took for him to max out his energy capacity. When the UV index was at its highest for the day, level 10, it took only four minutes. However, when it was only at level 2, it took nearly twenty minutes. The day following, he tested if wearing sleeves would affect how long it would take for his energy storage to max out. It took 10 times longer. Izuku since then has opted for wearing long sleeves under his t-shirts.

“But you're still wearing two shirts? It’s 32º out today.” Hitoshi stated. How anyone could wear two shirts, one of them being a long sleeve, in this heat was a mystery to him.

Izuku just shrugged and looked down at the floor. “It doesn’t bother me.”

“Hitoshi, what are you doing over here? Is everything alright?” Hizashi interrupted. It was unlike Nemuri to send Hitoshi over here without letting either him or Shouta know beforehand.

“Mom sent me outside because Mr. Nedzu called.” Hitoshi said, like it explained anything.

“So your mom sent you outside for a few minutes, and you got on your bike and came here? Did you at least tell her you were leaving?” Hizashi asked. He pulled out his phone after Hitoshi paused before shaking his head slowly. He quickly sent a text to Nemuri explaining her son's whereabouts. She responded back quickly, apologizing and saying she’d come get him as soon as she was off the phone or they could just send him home. Hizashi opted to let Hitoshi stay for a little while longer since Izuku seemed less afraid of him than with pretty much every other person he’d met. “Alright, froggy, you can stay and hang out for a little bit until your mom comes to get you.”

Hitoshi’s face flushed red with embarrassment at the nickname, his eyes darting from Hizashi’s to Izuku and back. The only people who even knew about the nickname were his mom, Oboro, Hizashi, and Shouta, and he very much wanted to keep it that way.

“Froggy?” Izuku asked while he tried to suppress a smile.

“Hizashi!” Hitoshi whined out, his brows furrowed. He brought his knees up to his chest and hid his face.

“Oh, I’m sorry! It totally slipped my mind!” Hizashi apologized. He was so used to being able to call him froggy at home he didn't even stop to think twice about the name's secrecy. “Izuku, you have to keep that name a secret, alright? You can’t tell anyone.”

Izuku’s smile faded a bit when he saw how embarrassed Hitoshi was. He may not have had any personal connection to the boy sitting on his kitchen’s counter, but he knows how it feels to be called something you're ashamed of. “It’s okay. I get it. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.” He said, hesitantly holding out his pinky.

Hitoshi raised his head and stared at Izuku before wrapping his pinky around his, “Thanks.” He said with a small smile.

Hizashi couldn’t help but smile as he watched the very first spark of what could be a lifelong friendship. He believed with all his heart that those two could become good friends. Shortly after, he sent the two to the living room so he could finish cleaning up the kitchen before making his way to Shouta’s office. “Knock knock. How’s it going in here?” Hizashi asked after letting himself in.

“Pretty good, I just got a call from-” Shouta stopped when he turned around to see Hizashi by himself. “Where’s Izuku? Not outside by himself, right?”

“First of all, I wouldn’t have just let him out there if I couldn’t see him from the windows. Second, in case you forgot, we live in a gated, pro-hero access only neighborhood. Even if Izuku was outside by himself, he would be safe.”

“That’s not necessarily true. There’s all kinds of ways-” Hizashi cut Shouta off before he could finish his thought.

“Third of all! Izuku is currently on the couch talking about bikes with, get this, Hitoshi.” Hizashi smirked. He found joy in watching the gears in Shouta’s head. Before Shouta could even ask, Hizashi shared every detail of the exchange with him. It kind of reminds Shouta of high school when Hizashi would gossip about the other kids in their class. Except this time he actually cared.

“That’s a good sign, that they aren’t scared of each other. Hitoshi’s still having a hard time adjusting to the kids at his school.” Shouta noted.

“I’m sure he’s not excited for summer vacation to end in a couple days. Speaking of, you confirmed with Nedzu that you could take the second half of the year off, right? Izuku is in no shape to be left alone or to be coming with us to U.A.” Hizashi questioned. Shouta had said he was going to take care of it but that had been a few days ago and he hadn't brought it up since. They figured Shouta staying home with Izuku was the easiest solution. Shouta had expelled eighteen out of twenty of his students at the beginning of the year. Vlad King, the other first year hero course teacher, expelled only three. Since Shouta’s students trained with class 1-B more often than not, he hoped he could write specific lesson plans for his students but have Vlad teach them.

“Yeah, He just emailed me. I’ll be able to do all my paperwork from home and I’ll still be going to all the staff meetings, but other than that I’m basically on parental leave.” Shouta said as he stood up to stretch. “But I was just coming to tell you, Tsukauchi called. Inko Midoriya’s sentence hearing is on Friday.”

“This Friday?” Hizashi asked. “That’s only two days from now. I know Izuku said he wanted to be there, but I don’t think he was expecting it to be so soon.”

“That’s what I thought too.” Shouta sighed before continuing. “We can tell him today, let him process tonight and tomorrow, and, hopefully, he can tell us if he’s ready or not Friday morning.” He figured that was the only thing they could do. They could request a delay, but that would also delay Inko’s transition from a holding cell to prison. They also could wait until tomorrow or even Friday to tell Izuku but Shouta wanted to give him as much time as he could to collect his thoughts and mind.

Hizashi nodded and let out a huff. The pair smiled at each other, knowing that justice is coming for the boy they’ve started to see as their own. They enjoyed the moment before Hizashi opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the pair heard a big, heavy thud. They scrambled from out of the office and down the hall. Upon entering the living room, the first thing they noticed was the entire couch was flipped forward. The second was Hitoshi, who was standing where the back of the couch used to be, giving the pair a nervous smile. Izuku stood a few steps behind him, his eyes darting back and forth from the couch to Hizshi and Shouta.

“I told you!” Izuku whispered accusingly at Hitoshi. His tone did not match his absolutely terrified expression.

“Wh… what happened?” Hizashi asked calmly. The more he stared at the couch, it started to make less and less sense.

“I-Izuku said he’d never been in a fort!” Hitoshi said quickly. Izuku’s heart started racing when he heard his name. He was quickly starting to piece together that Hitoshi was NOT good at explaining anything under pressure. When Hitoshi didn’t explain any further, the pair's eyes moved to Izuku, who felt like he was just thrown under the bus.

“It wasn’t my fault! I promise!” Izuku panicked. He could see by looking at them that Hizashi and Shouta weren’t even the slightest bit mad. They were only confused, and deep down he knew that, but that didn’t make him any less defensive. “I-I told him it wasn’t a good idea!”

“Izuku, breathe.” Shouta said in a stern but gentle voice. “We just want to know what happened.”

Izuku nodded and started taking deep, controlled breaths before speaking up again. “H-he told me that his… mom, built a fort. When I said I have never been in one, he kept saying he was going to make me one, but he doesn’t know how.”

“Yes I do! It's right there, is it not?” Hitoshi defended, gesturing to the couch.

Izuku stared at him in disbelief before saying, “No! It’s not!”

“How would you even know that? You’ve never seen one!” Hitoshi reminded him. Izuku took a deep breath like he was about to say something before he paused, looking back at Hizashi and Shouta with a defeated look on his face.

“Okay, Hitoshi, you know better than to come over and knock the furniture over. And if you want to build a fort, alway come ask for help until you can do it yourself. The right way. On the other hand, that was very nice of you for wanting to build Izuku a fort. I know your heart was in the right place and that’s why we aren’t mad. But please don’t do this again, okay?” Shouta said, his voice stern enough to let him know he was serious but gentle enough to hopefully not make him feel like he’s getting yelled at.

“Both of you, go stand by the stairs while we move this back.” Hizashi said as he and Shouta moved to either side of the couch. Izuku turned on his heels and walked to the stairs, Hitoshi following close behind. They sat side by side on the steps, watching Hizashi and Shouta put their living room back together silently until Hitoshi finally spoke up.

“How long are you staying here for?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper and his eye’s staying put on the pair in front of them.

“I… don’t know.” Izuku answered quietly, trying to make eye contact.. It was a topic he tried not to worry about too much, but it was one of the many nagging thoughts that kept him at night.

“Well, I hope it’s for a long time.” Hitoshi turned to meet Izuku’s eyes, giving a a small, quick smile before turning his attention back to the living room.

Izuku took a second to think about it before smiling and looking at Hizashi and Shouta again. He brought his knees up and rested elbows on them, his chin on his forearms.

“Yeah, me too.” He whispered.

Chapter Text

Izuku stood in the doorway behind Shouta’s leg as they watched Hitoshi and Nemuri walk back home after she came to pick him up. The two boys made eye contact once more as they left the driveway, giving each other a quick wave goodbye. Hitoshi rode his bike slowly, making wide circles around his mom as she walked in the middle of the road. As they disappeared down the street, Hizashi, Shouta, and Izuku made their way back inside the house.

“Can he come back someday?” Izuku asked as he followed the pair into the freshly put back together living room.

“Yeah, of course. Come sit, there’s something we need to talk to you about.” Shouta said, trying to not make him feel like he’s in trouble. Izuku nodded hesitantly and sat in the middle of the couch. He sat up straight and tall, despite how nervous he felt, making eye contact with Shouta to let him know that he was listening.

“I-if it’s about the couch, I’m really sor-” Izuku started rambling but Hizashi sat next to him and held out his hand for him to take before interrupting.

“No, no. It’s not about the couch. We told you, we really aren’t mad about it.” He gave Izuku’s hand a slight squeeze to comfort him.

“Izuku, do you remember when Mr. Tsukauchi and I sat you down last week, and we talked about Inko?” Izuku thought about that talk everyday since it happened. Last Tuesday, Tsukauchi came over to the house right after lunch. He brought Izuku a bag of fruit flavored lollipops that came in a bunch of different shapes like flowers, leaves, cat faces, rubber ducks, etc. Izuku liked them a lot. Shouta had taken Tsukauchi, Hizashi, and Izuku into his office, letting Izuku sit at his desk. They stood in front of him, Hizashi staying by his side and holding his hand, and together they tried to explain to him what exactly his mom did. They told him about the 24 hour surveillance camera in his room, selling videos of him on the black market. All of it. Izuku sobbed and screamed. Letting out ear-piercing wails and nearly pulling his hair out while begging and demanding that no one will ever refer to her as his mother again. The small part of him that believed his mom didn’t mean it was flushed down the drain and was replaced with a burning hatred for the woman named Inko Midoriya. After he calmed down, he asked them just about every question he had. The two were able to answer most of his questions thanks to Inko’s five hour interrogation, four and a half of which was her explaining what she did, her thought process, and how she did it, in every gorey detail. The only question Inko had refused to answer was why she started the recording in the first place. The only thing she would say is she’d only answer the question one time, and only in Izuku’s presence. Tsukauchi and Shouta gave Izuku the opportunity to come to Inko’s trial even though neither Hizashi or Shouta wanted him to go. Inko’s lawyers, those poor souls, tried as hard as they could to change her mind, but Inko was dead set on making this a public case. There wasn’t a news channel in all of Japan that wouldn’t be covering the gruesome story. When Hizashi and Shouta first heard this, they wanted to keep Izuku’s name and face private, protect him from the public eye and any more danger he may face. They wanted him to have a chance to escape the trauma that followed him, and becominging a celebrity victim on top of simply being a victim, well that would just be rubbing salt in the wound. But they also knew they couldn’t deny him the right to be at the trail. Luckily, Izuku refused to go. He knew he wasn’t ready and he also didn’t want to be in the spotlight. The day of the trial, Hizashi stayed home with Izuku while Shouta went to watch in person. He did request to be at the sentencing hearing. He wanted the chance to tell her everything he’s been too afraid to say before.

Izuku took a deep breath. “Did he find something else?” He tried to speak as clearly as possible to disguise his anxieties. His fingers instinctively started picking at the cuticles on his thumbs.

“No, it’s not that either. He just called with the date for Inko’s sentencing hearing.” Shouta said. Izuku visibly relaxed, leaning back into the couch and closing his eyes while letting out a sigh. He hugged his knees and fell over on his side, his head hitting the pillow next him.

“When is it?” Izuku asked as he started fiddling with tassels on the corner of the blanket he napped with the day before.

“This Friday. At 3 o’clock.” Hizashi answered.

“After Thursday, before Saturday.” Izuku whispered to himself as he rubbed the tassels in between his finger and thumb.

“Izuku, do you still want to go? She is going to be there.” Hizashi reminded him, trying to bring his focus back to the conversation.

“How… How many days until then? In numbers?” He said as he tucked his arms back into his chest.

Shouta squatted down to look Izuku eye to eye with an amused look on his face before saying, “What? You know this, silly. Count it out.”

Izuku smiled while thinking, his eyebrows knitted and nose scrunched. He counted in his head before un-scrunching his face and sniffling. “Two.” He said shyly.

“Oh, good job! See, you did know it!” Shouta smiled as he cheered for him. Izuku giggled and squirmed, his face red-ing by the second. After a moment, he relaxed, resting his legs on Hizashis before finally answering.

“I still want to go.” He said quietly. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, and if you change your mind later, that’s okay too.” Hizashi said as he gave Izuku’s foot a slight squeeze. “Do you have any questions?”

Izuku didn’t answer at first. He had questions, a lot of them for a lot of different subjects, but he wasn’t sure where to even start. He wanted to know more about what’s going to happen in the courtroom. There were questions about his health status and how their daily schedule is going to change when school starts again. He wants to ask them when he could see Hitoshi again, but his biggest question is the same one Hitoshi asked him. Izuku’s eyes watered at the thought that he might not get to stay here for much longer. He knew it was a high possibility that when Inko’s sentencing happens he could get placed in a different home and adopted by a completely different family. Hizashi and Shouta never explicitly told him, but they didn’t have to. He could tell by their avoidance of the subject. Izuku tried not to let the tears fall from his eyes but the more he tried not to think about it, the more he did. He really liked living here so far, and there was so much he was looking forward to. He could feel the hot tears rolling down the sides of his face, pooling in his ears.

“Izuku? Why the tears, kid?” Shouta asked.

“It’s just… Hitoshi asked me something and I-I don’t have the answer.” Izuku sniveled, staring at the ceiling to avoid eye contact. He’d been holding back asking, but with the sentencing hearing coming up, he needed answers and he’d rather have them sooner rather than later.

“It’s okay, what was the question? Maybe we can help you.” Hizashi said, trying to cheer him up.

“How long do I get to stay here for?” Izuku spat out. He figured if he was going to ask, he might as well blurt it out. His heart is racing as he watches Hizashi and Shouta just stare at each other. He knows better now that they won't hit him, but his anxiety was through the roof waiting for an answer.

“Sit up.” Shouta said softly as he sat on the other side of Izuku. He and Hizashi talked about the very subject last night after Izuku fell asleep. Together they weighed the pros and cons of adopting him. On one hand, there was nobody in the world that Izuku trusted more than them. But, on the other hand, he deserves a family that is more stable than theirs. Both Hizashi and Shouta being full time teachers and pro heroes, meant that they were constantly busy. Izuku deserves somebody who can care for him throughout the entire day. They also considered the fact that they were still in their early twenties. They had no idea how to raise a kid, especially a kid that continuously needs care and support. Hell, they were just kids themselves! Then again, they’ve been doing pretty well so far, haven’t they? Izuku’s learning new things constantly and his overall health and happiness are increasing everyday. Also factoring the fact that if they let the foster care system place him, there was a sadly high chance he could end up in the exact same situation he came from. Or worse. As hard as the pair tried to keep their emotions out of their decisions, neither Hizashi or Shouta could imagine going back to their old lives. They had a nice, serene life together before Izuku came into the picture. But in the two and a half weeks that he has been there, it’s like their world flipped. Everything seemed brighter and more colorful. There was almost always noise in the house whether it be the television, the radio, Izuku practicing his reading out loud, laughing, crying, snoring, or screaming. They couldn’t even fathom the idea of the house returning to its old, dull state. Whether they meant to or not, Hizashi and Shouta fell in love with having Izuku around. But they know it doesn’t matter how much they loved him, they needed to set him up to be as successful as possible in every single aspect of his life. The three of them sat silently as they tried to figure out how to start the conversation. Hizashi and Shouta both opened their mouths to speak before Izuku interpreted.

“Can I say something first?” He asked quietly while he stared at his hands that tangled around each other.

“Yeah, go ahead.” Hizashi answered with a nervous smile.

Izuku took a deep breath as he finished organizing his thoughts. He rubbed his hands together nervously before speaking up. “I-I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want to leave. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I really want to stay here. I-I thought maybe it was because you guys were the first people I met, but it’s not! I know better now! I really like everything here like your house and your yard. Mr. Shouta, you make super yummy food, a-and Mr. Hizashi, you’re the funniest person I’ve ever met! I know th-this is super selfish, and I’m really sorry for even asking, but p…please? I’ll never ask for anything else and I-I promise I can be helpful, or- or I can stay out of your way! Y-You won’t even notice me, I promise!”

“Izuku, Izuku. Take a deep breath.” Shouta said. Izuku had started rambling and speaking so fast he was out of breath. Shouta would be lying if he said he wasn’t touched by Izuku’s little speech. He could tell that he had put a lot of thought and his whole heart into it, which made his decision even easier to make. Izuku took some deep breaths before looking up at Shouta with tears in his eyes. Shouta slowly raised his hands and wiped Izuku’s face with his thumbs. “I’m so glad you’re happy here, we both are, and we are just as happy with you here. We’ve talked about this just last night, and we decided that if this is truly what you want, we would be very happy to adopt you. I can’t promise we’ll be perfect, but we’ll do our best to keep you happy, healthy, and safe.” There was more he wanted to say, but he couldn’t find the right words. Luckily, it seemed like what he said was good enough for both Hizashi and Izuku based on their reactions.

Izuku couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. Tears stained his cheeks, rolling down to his chin and dripping onto the couch. Hizashi rubbed his back softly as he hiccuped and sobbed. He quickly turned to Hizashi and buried his face into his chest as he hugged him tight. Hizashi started crying too, hugging him back while holding the back of his head with one hand and patting his back with the other. Shouta wrapped his arms around the two, the three of them fitting together perfectly while they celebrated the beginnings of their new family. After a few minutes passed, Izuku sniffled back his tears but his grip on Hizashi never wavered.

“P-Please,” He whispered. “This is where I want to be.”

“You’re here, honey.” Hizashi said, placing a kiss on his hairline. “You’re home.”

At some point Izuku shifted from hugging Hizashi to snuggling into Shouta’s side. The three sat together for about twenty more minutes before they started slowly working their way back into their usual daily activities. Shouta and Izuku read together while Hizashi fine tuned his lesson plans for school. Throughout the rest of the day, Izuku clung to the sides of Hizashi and Shouta, following them closely around the house. He sat on the kitchen floor, tracing the cuff of his sock as Shouta made dinner, which Shouta knew wasn’t very safe so he was moving around very carefully.

“Izuku, do you want to go get Hizashi for dinner?” Shouta asked as he finished plating the food. He was used to Izuku responding silently, but he looked like he didn’t even hear him. “Izuku?”

No response.

“Izuku,” He tried again, waving his hand in Izuku’s line of sight. Izuku blinked slowly a few times before making eye contact. His glasses nearly falling off the tip of his nose. “Are you okay?”

“My head hurts.” Izuku said groggily.

“Yeah? You look a bit flushed.” He said as he slowly raised the back of his hand to the boy’s cheek. “You're a little warm.”

“I’m tired.” Izuku yawned as his head slumped back, knocking his glasses back on.

“You had a long day. Let’s eat dinner, take a bath, and go to sleep.” Shouta took the bowls of food to the table as Izuku slowly stood up, trudging his way to the table. “Ah, just because you aren’t feeling too well, doesn’t mean you don’t have to wash your hands.”

Izuku huffed as Shouta redirected him by his shoulders to the sink. Shouta left to get Hizashi who was working on personalized lesson plans for his students in his study group. When the pair came back to the table, Izuku was sitting at the table, bobbing his head as he tried to keep himself from falling asleep.

“Izuku, you okay bud?” Hizashi asked, unaware of his fever.

Izuku just groaned and finally let his head hit the table in front of him, effectively knocking off his glasses onto the floor. And then he immediately regretted it, whining out a fake cry as he rubbed his forehead with his hand. Shouta chuckled silently before answering for him. “His head hurts and he has a small fever.”

Hizashi nodded understandingly. “Have you taken anything for it yet, honey?” He asked as he cupped the back of his head while checking his forehead for an injury. It was a little red but it didn’t look like anything to worry about so Hizashi just placed a gentle kiss on the boy's head. Izuku looked up at the doting man with a sleepy smile. He shook his head when Hizashi finally let his face go after checking his fever for himself. Shouta went to get the liquid painkillers that Chiyo had given them to help aid Izuku’s discomfort with pills. The pair gave him a spoon full of the medicine before they ate dinner in a comfortable silence. They sat with him as he slowly finished eating, grumbling and whining that he was tired and that his head hurt. Izuku took his bath immediately after he finished eating, begging Shouta to wash his hair because it was way too thick and way too long for him to even want to attempt to do it himself at the moment. Shouta was more than willing to help him.

Izuku was getting more tired and irritable by the minute. He had to hold back tears when he had to get out of the bath he didn’t even want to get in in the first place. Hizashi was drying his hair while he drank his mix of tea and medicine Shouta made for him. As he sat there, he thought about just how lucky he felt to be there. All the horrid memories and uncomfortable thoughts in his head were pushed aside because how could he feel anything but loved and cared for. Hizashi and Shouta doted on him and even when he whined and cried, they never got mad at him. Shouta put socks on his feet and a blanket on his lap for him when he cried that he was cold. Hizashi did his best to dry and comb through Izuku’s hair, even when he whined that he could just go to sleep with his hair wet. They softly denied that request because last time they let him go to sleep with wet hair, it kept him up all night. They just comforted him and promised they would get him tucked in soon.

When Hizashi finally finished, Izuku was struggling not to cry. But the more he tried to hold it back, the more it hurt his head, and the more it made him want to cry. The pair sympathized with him as they finally carried him upstairs and tucked him into bed.

“Good night, honey. I hope you feel better by the morning.” Hizashi whispered as he placed his stuffed turtle in his hands.

“Good night, Mr. Hizashi.” Izuku mumbled while Hizashi pressed a kiss into his feverish forehead before moving to let Shouta say good night.

“Sleep well, kiddo. Remember if you can’t sleep, or if you start feeling worse, come wake us up.” Shouta reminded him as he kissed the top of his head. No matter how they worded, or how many times they told him, Izuku never came to wake them. He wouldn’t even step out of his room without Hizashi or Shouta’s verbal permission. But regardless, the pair would tell him every single night, hoping that they might break through to him one night.

Izuku nodded anyway, appreciative of the offer. He yawned, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Hizashi turned on the lamp on his desk while Shouta turned off the big light. Izuku took one last look at the door where the pair- his parents. Where his parents stood, smiling and blowing sweet, innocent kisses at him. Whether he was ready to accept it or not, they were his parents, and that will never change.

“Good night.” Izuku called out once more, with a smile on his face before closing his eyes and finally falling asleep. He was able to do so easily, knowing now that this is exactly where he belonged.

Chapter Text

“Izuku! Go! Leave already!”

Katsuki Bakugo. Four months ago, while he was playing tag at the park with his dad, Masaru, he felt a strange, oily substance lingering on his palms. He tried wiping them off on the grass, his shorts, his shirt, his dad’s shirt; but no matter what he did, he couldn’t escape it. Anger and frustration took over the unaware 3 year old. He let a frustrated growl and tried to fling the substance off his hands by flicking them harshly toward the ground. Suddenly there was a loud crackling noise and a little bit of smoke coming from his now very warm hands. Once Masaru realized that his son, his absolute pride and joy, had just used his quirk for the first time, he started cheering and swept him up into a big hug. It's the first small flicker of great potential, and he got to witness it with his very own eyes. That day the Bakugo family celebrated with their closest family friends, the Midoriya’s. They had a big dinner that contained all of Katsuki’s favorite foods, while everyone at the table praised him for developing such a “heroic” quirk. Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki’s best (and whether he’ll admit it or not, favorite) friend, sat right next to him the whole meal. Together they made big plans, promising each other that they’ll be the next greatest heroes the world will ever see. Right next to All Might, obviously.

Now he was jumping up and down as Izuku struggled to get his shoes on, urging him to hurry up. Because they were in the same pre-k class, Katsuki’s mom, Mitsuki, would pick the boys up and they would spend the time it took for Inko to get off work, playing and planning away their heroic futures together. Usually the young boys would try to pull some sort of trick to let Izuku stay over longer, but today they both wanted him to leave as soon as they got there. Izuku was the last person in their class to get their quirk. His 4th birthday had passed just over two weeks ago, and there was still no sign of one. So Inko scheduled an appointment with a quirk specialist, and he got to go as soon as his mom came to pick him up today.

Izuku finally got his shoe on, all ready to run out to his mom’s car. Mitsuki gave him a big hug, “For good luck.” She said kindly.

“Come back when you get your quirk! We still have to create our hero costumes!” Katsuki shouted as his friend trotted his way to his mom’s car.

“Bye, Kacchan!” Izuku shouted back with that ridiculously bright smile of his, waving as he got into the car.

Immediately after Izuku left, Katsuki ran inside and used his oddly-good-for-a-four-year-old art skills to create all different hero costumes for him and his best friend. He planned on saving the drawings to show Izuku at school tomorrow. But as the hours passed, and there was no word from Inko or Hisashi about how the appointment went. Suddenly it was Katuski’s bedtime, and he was not happy about it.

“No! I’m staying up until Izuku calls!” He yelled at his parents.

“You have school in the morning, mister! Get your little butt in that bed!” Mitsuki was starting to get frustrated. That damn kid of hers, he’s truly the most stubborn person she’d ever met. And he’d only been alive for four years. He was undeniably her kid, alright.

“Okay, both of you please, relax. Mitsuki, honey, he just gets more riled up when you start getting frustrated. He likes to argue, it will only make him want to stay up more.” Masaru was a perfect mediator for those two. He always knew exactly how to give them both a reasonable compromise on literally anything they would argue about. “Baby, I promise that when Auntie Inko or Uncle Hisashi calls with the news, we’ll wake you up and tell you right away. They’re probably just savoring this happy moment as a family.”

Katsuki opened his mouth to argue, but it honestly seemed like the most fair solution, so he just let out a huff and crossed his arms. His way of declaring surrender on the subject. “Okay, fine. But I’m still not tired!”

And on to the next thing. It’s like Katsuki finds excuses to argue with, saves them in his back pocket, and just when you think he’s finally out, he’s yelling about something else. His parents finally got him to go to bed after another twenty minutes, using the argument “The faster you fall asleep, the faster tomorrow will get here so you can show Izuku your drawings.”, which got him to lay down and close his eyes almost immediately after it was said. Mitsuki and Masaru tucked him in and kissed their son good night, and before they knew it he was already asleep.

The next day Katsuki kept his eyes locked on the door of his classroom. It wasn’t unusual for Izuku to show up after he did, but it was unusual for him to not show up at all. With each passing hour, Katsuki’s disappointment and sadness grew. Izuku was supposed to come to school, look at his drawings, and trade parts of their lunches together. But Katsuki sat by himself the entire day, disregarding all of his other friends, and waited on the off chance that maybe he was just going to come late. His teachers tried to comfort him at first, suggesting that he could’ve gotten sick, took the day off to celebrate, or maybe his mom’s car broke down and they couldn’t have gotten him anywhere. Katsuki didn’t care. He didn’t care WHY Izuku hadn’t shown up. His heart and head were too full of disappointment to think about anything else besides the fact he just simply wasn't there. His teachers received two back-to-back phone calls that day, after which they stopped trying to cheer him up by telling him he’d see Izuku again soon. When the final bell of the school day rang, Katsuki slowly gathered all of his belongings, neatly organizing them into his backpack. He quietly thanked his teachers with a small bow, before walking slowly to his mom’s car.

“Um, Izuku didn’t come to school today.” He said quietly, informing his mom that it was just going to be him today while strapping himself into his car seat.

“I-... Let’s go home, bub. Dad and I need to have a talk with you.” She said, giving him a small forced smile. It was clear to him that his mom had been crying, but he refrained from asking about it until they got home

When they got home, there was no more avoiding it. His parent’s sat him on his bed, and tried to explain to their four year old that he would likely never get to see his best friend again. They tried their best to explain how Izuku was never going to develop a quirk, and because of that it was much too dangerous for him to live here. Trying to explain to a little kid who had a very bad day at school, that if his best friend stayed in Japan, he would likely be killed at a young age, is NOT for the weak. Mitsuki couldn’t bear to see her son so devastated, so she quickly explained how Izuku was moving to the states with his dad to attend a school created to protect the quirkless before leaving the room to hide her pain from her son.

Katsuki was unbelievably… calm? He cried and sniffled, nodding along as his parents broke the news to him. He didn’t scream or act out like his parents thought he would, but he was still angry. For a split second, he was angry that Izuku was born quirkless. He thought if he wasn’t, then they would still get to be best friends in the same country. His thinking rapidly changed and his anger shifted to absolutely everyone else. He was angry at people who hated quirkless people so much they caused them harm. He was angry at the cops and pro heroes in Japan who let those people roam the streets freely. He was angry at Inko and Hisashi Midoriya for taking Izuku all the way across the world. He was angry at his own parents for not pulling him out of school early to tell him, letting him get his hopes up the entire day just to tear them down at the end. Angry at his teachers for not telling him after he put together that it was Inko who had called them during school. Angry at Japan for not having stricter rules to protect the quirkless. Angry at the United States of America for being the country Hisashi and Izuku left for. Angry at himself for pushing Izuku out the door the day before, even if he didn’t know that it was the last he’d ever see him. He was just… angry.

Katsuki decided right then and there; He was going to make Japan safer for those who were born without the ability to protect themselves.

He’ll make it safe enough for Izuku to come back.

—

Three years exactly had passed since the day Izuku had left. A few days beforehand, his mother and father kept him up the entire night with their crying and screaming. It was hard to understand what was fully going on, but he could tell they were screaming at what they were watching on the T.V. downstairs. His mother wailed and cursed at the television, letting out sobs of “You monster!”, “How could you?!”, and “I trusted you!”. His father simply cried as he stared in utter disbelief. When Katsuki finally convinced himself to go see what all the ruckus was about, he inched his way down the stairs slowly.

“Mom? Dad? What’s going on?” He asked calmly.

His parents whipped their heads to look at him, so overwhelmed by the news they forgot they had just tucked him in for bed. He tried to look at the T.V. to see what could possibly be upsetting his head-strong parents. Before his eyes could register what was being shown, Masaru stood up quickly and blocked his line of sight. Mitsuki followed the act by grabbing the remote and turning the television off completely.

“Katsuki, please go back upstairs! Please!” Mitsuki sobbed out a choked plea. Katuki didn’t know what had happened, but he was still scared. He had never, ever, seen his mom act like this. He hated the way her eyes were puffy, how her makeup ran down cheeks, and her gut wrenching sobs. Katsuki looked up to his mom. She was the toughest, smartest, kindest, and most confident person he knew. And to see her completely distressed like this, shook him to his core.

“Yes, ma’am.” He whispered as he turned around quickly and ran up the stairs and into his bedroom.

The days following, Katsukis confusion and curiosity only grew. Mitsuki would frequently stop whatever he was doing to hold him and tell him how precious he was. Anytime he asked about what had happened his parent’s would just say, “We’ll tell you when you're older, baby. You’re just… too young to handle all of that.” Mistuki was less harsh on him, too. Anytime they would start to argue, she would stop in the middle of her sentence, and smile sadly saying, “Whatever makes you happy, my little big boy.”

Mitsuki sat him down on Wednesday, the three year anniversary mark of Izuku’s… disappearance, and sighed heavily. “Kat, I’m sorry buddy, but I have to cancel our plans on Friday.”

“Why? Did a model use the wrong hair dye again or something?” He mumbled bitterly. He was excited to go out with his mom. They were going to get lunch, watch a movie at the theaters, and then go to the beach to watch the sunset with dad.

“No. You know I’d never blow off our special days for something stupid like that.” She said, nudging his arm with her elbow. “I have to go see Inko.”

“What? Can’t you see her today or tomorrow or literally any other day?” Now it really did feel like his mom was canceling their day for something stupid. Aunty Inko was always just a phone call and a ten minute walk away. Why did his plans have to get canceled for a conversation that can happen whenever. His mom just pulled him into a side hug, which he tried to fight at first but no matter how much stronger he was getting, he was still only 7. He sat there and endured the feeling of his mom rubbing her hand on his arm and giving him light squeezes.

“If I could, I would. Friday is the only chance I get to tell her-” Mitsuki caught herself before accidently slipping up. When he looked up at her, she returned the look. Taking this moment to appreciate her beautiful boy. He had her eyes, but she always thought his shined brighter. His hair was the same as hers too, just slightly warmer. Her favorite thing about him was his smile; it was exactly like Masaru’s. Her heart filled with so much pride and joy at the mere sight of him. How anybody could look at their child and feel anything other than that, she couldn’t even begin to comprehend it. Especially when that child is poor little Izuku. Overly kind, well-mannered, heart of gold, cute as a button Izuku. She should have known something was wrong. She should’ve done something to help him. She definitely should NOT have let Katsuki have a sleepover at Inko’s last month. She should've-

“Mom? You’re crying.” Katsuki rubbed her cheek dry with the back of his hand; he hated to see her upset like this. She took a moment to gather herself back up, putting on a brave face for her son.

“How about we move our day to Sunday? A fun last day of summer break?” She compromised.

“Make spicy noodles for dinner then.” He demanded with a huff. Other parents would’ve scolded him for the way he speaks to adults, but not his. They understood that he had a hard time communicating and being open with his feelings; especially after Izuku left. Mitsuki could have taken his tone to heart and let herself get upset, but this was just his way of agreeing to the change of plans. She found nothing wrong with him wanting to add a condition. So she smiled and gave him one last squeeze.

“For tonight or for Sunday?” She asked.

“Both!” He yelled like she should have already known.

“Oh, you’re right. How silly of me, what was I thinking?” She laughed as she stood up, preparing to go make her son his requested dinner.

“Make it on Friday, too!” Katsuki demanded, his tone a little more aggressive than he meant it.

“Don’t push your luck.” Mitsuki warned, leaving the room.

He just shrugged and went back to his desk where he was previously drawing. “It was worth a shot.” He mumbled as he picked up the green marker. Katsuki hesitated for a moment before turning to face the door and calling out, “Hey, mom?”

“Yeah?” She asked, poking her head back into the room.

“Just… love you.” He said quietly, turning back around and starting back up on his drawing.

“I love you too, Kat. Forever and always.”

Chapter Text

Thursday didn’t last long enough. Izuku spent nearly all day brainstorming what he was going to say at Inko’s sentencing. Shouta suggested writing some key points he wanted to make on a piece of paper so he wouldn’t forget, but there was just way too much he wanted to say. He had pent up every thought and feeling he ever had for the last three years, and he was more than ready to get them off his chest. A million and a half things to say, and none of the words to say them.

“Ugh!” Izuku let out a growl of frustration as he slammed his pen on the table. This was the 12th time re-writing his speech notes and it was still far from what he wanted it to say. 

“Maybe you should take a break? You’ve been working hard all day.” Hizashi suggested. He sat across the table from the boy while he replied to emails. Mostly just there to help Izuku whenever he needed it.

“Not hard enough.” He grumbled as he flipped to the next page of the notebook he was writing in. He started re-writing, but after a few words he stopped, switched his writing hand from his left to his right, and continued again. Hizashi had seen him switch between the two a couple times while he wrote in the short amount of time he’d been sitting there with him. It wasn’t very common for a kid to be born ambidextrous, a lot of people trained themselves after becoming an adult. Typically, parents encourage their kids to pick one hand and stick with it, not wasting time on learning to use both hands to write. But because Izuku had been switching throughout the entire time he was learning to write, and he was really only writing things to simply practice the action, Hizashi and Shouta didn’t see a problem with letting him strengthen his skills with both hands. 

After a few more minutes of Izuku angrily writing in silence, he let out another groan and gently placed his forehead on the table. His hair splayed out in front of him, light brown and green curls covering his failed attempts at his notes. He moved his glasses that fell off his face over to the side.

“Okay, I’m calling it. Izuku, for the next thirty minutes, you aren’t allowed to work on your speech. No writing, no thinking about revisions; none of it.” Hizashi said as he closed his laptop. Izuku whipped his head up, his eyes demanding an explanation. 

“No! Please, I-I don’t have enough time!” Izuku protested. 

“That doesn’t mean you have to drive yourself crazy trying to get it all done at once. You’ve been sitting in that chair all day long. You barely ate breakfast or lunch. You haven't even stepped foot outside yet today.” Hizashi listed off. Izuku started rapidly tapping his pen on the table, just itching to keep writing. “Go stretch and take a deep breath. I’ll let you know when you can come back.”

Izuku looked back and forth between Hizashi and his notebook, before finally setting his pen down. He scooted his chair back before getting up and taking a few steps away from the table. Suddenly stopping, Izuku turned back around to face Hizashi but not making eye contact. “May I go out in the front yard, please?” He whispered politely.

“Yes, that’s fine. Please stay away from the road.” Hizashi answered with a smile.

“Yes, sir.” It was obvious he was trying to cover up that he was upset about having to walk away. He still politely bowed before calmly turning back around and walking to the front door to put his shoes on. Izuku took a deep breath after finally getting his shoes on, standing up and putting his hand on the doorknob before hesitating. Memories flooded his mind and sent shivers down his spine. Ugh, another thing he wanted to point out. He can’t even open a door without getting anxious. He just closed his eyes and shook his head, finally opening the front door and letting himself out. Izuku made his way to the grass, sitting down with a huff before stretching out his legs in front of him. Doing the bare minimum, he stretched his arms and legs before just laying down to fully soak in the setting sun. He figured if he wasn’t allowed to work on his speech, he should actually attempt to relax. 

After a few minutes, he heard a similar soft crunching coming into the driveway next to him. “Your hair looks different.” 

Izuku sat up enough to prop himself up on his elbows. Is that really how he greets people? “Hello to you too. It’s a side effect from my quirk.”

“I figured.” Hitoshi said as he pushed out his kick stand on his bike and took off his helmet. He had a black backpack today and he was wearing a brown T-shirt, black cargo shorts, and the same beat up white and purple shoes he wore the day before. 

“Does your mom know you're here?”

“She knows I’m out riding my bike around the neighborhood.” Hitoshi responded with a bit of a smug smile. He already got lectured yesterday for leaving without telling his mom; he didn’t need to hear it again. Izuku just hummed and laid back down. 

“Do you like being outside?” Izuku asked as he stared up at the sky and trees above him.

“No. I like riding my bike, but that’s it.” Hitoshi scratched his leg with the toe of his shoe awkwardly. “Do you?”

“Yes.” After a moment of silence and absolutely zero movements made by either boy, Izuku looked over at him. “You can come sit if you want.”

“You’re not wearing long sleeves today.” Hitoshi pointed out as joined him in the grass, lying right by his side. He set his backpack on the opposite side of him.

It was true. Izuku planned on working on his speech for the entire day, so he figured he didn’t need the extra layer. He was wearing the same gray shorts he got from the hospital and a black T-shirt; his shoes were white with red highlights. Actually, when Izuku looked closer, they were the exact same style as Hitoshi’s; just different colors. What he didn’t plan on, was Hizashi “banning” him from working on it, even if it was only for a little bit. “I wasn’t going to go outside today.”

“But then you did?”

“Mr. Hizashi told me I have to take a thirty minute break.” He said, obviously still a little bitter about it. 

“What were you doing?” Hitoshi asked, but almost immediately regretted it. He wasn’t trying to pry.

Izuku didn’t answer at first. He crossed his arms and rapidly tapped his finger on his collarbone, weighing the options he had in his head. He could tell Hitoshi that he was working on a speech to deliver at Inko’s sentence hearing, but that would reveal that his biological mother did something bad enough to land herself in that position. Assuming Hitoshi wasn’t… well, an idiot, he would probably figure out that she did something bad to him. And that would just make him think Izuku was weak. Some part of Izuku wanted Hitoshi to like him, and if he perceived him as weak, there was no way in Izuku’s mind that could happen.

He could also tell him a lie. Say he was working on a drawing or something like that. But Izuku hated lying. What if he asked to see it? 

No, lying wasn’t an option. He also knows that lying isn’t a good way to start a potential, hopefully, friendship. Again, assuming Hitoshi wasn’t an idiot, he has probably already figured out that something bad happened to him. If he heard about anything on the news, which is highly probable because apparently his mom is also a pro-hero, he most likely pieced together that Izuku was the kid to that horrible woman that's taken japan by storm already.

Every station that covered the story signed contracts to keep Izuku’s given name, photos, verbal descriptions, and video and audio from the camera footage, completely classified. Izuku was simply kept out of public while he was recovering, only ever leaving the house to go to the hospital for his appointments. Hitoshi was the only outsider to ever talk to him so far. The only people allowed to know his whereabouts were Hizashi and Shouta, his selected elite medical staff, Mr. Tsukauchi, and the U.A's legal team who fought in the trial for him.

Izuku blinked, and then it hit him that he’s been thinking for way too long and still hasn’t responded. He also realized that his collarbone was starting to bruise, ow! When did that happen?!

“You don’t have t-” Hitoshi started before Izuku interrupted him.

“I’m writing a speech for my biological ‘mother’’s sentence hearing tomorrow.”  He answered truthfully, trying to sound as casual as possible about it; even throwing up finger quotes around the word mother. 

“Oh,” Hitoshi said, a bit taken back about how bluntly he said it. He would have never said anything like that to someone he met only twice. Especially when his trauma was so fresh. Izuku’s confidence must have quickly rubbed off on him, because without even thinking about it he just blurted out, “I had to write one too, but for my ex-foster parents. I remember it was really stressful.”

“Yeah. It is.” Izuku agreed. If Hitoshi wasn’t going to make it a big deal, neither would he. The two just laid there in the grass, staring up at the sky side by side. For the first time ever, there was someone who they could relate to. Hitoshi didn’t make Izuku feel like all he was, was a victim. Izuku made Hitoshi feel seen and understood. “D-did you… get to say everything you wanted to?”

“Yeah. But I don’t think it matters.” Hitoshi answered with a shrug. 

“What do you mean?”

“Well, even if you do get to say everything you want, it doesn’t change anything. They know that what they did hurt. That’s why they did it, right? Telling them how upset it made you doesn't change the fact that they still did it. Whether or not you say everything, life moves on afterwards. Your speech is just a few minutes of one day, from your entire life.” Hitoshi said. 

Izuku thought about that for a moment and nodded. There was no way he could argue against that. “You’re smarter than you seem.”

“Thank- wait, what’s that supposed to mean?” Hitoshi asked, sitting up, and looking confused.

Izuku just laughed as he switched the topic. Hizashi told him he wasn’t allowed to think about revisions for his speech, and he was trying to honor that. After a few more minutes Hitoshi stood up, explaining how he should start heading home since his mom would be done making dinner about now. 

“Oh, before I go.” Hitoshi grabbed his backpack, opening it looking around at the contents. He brought out a black, plastic box and a thin cord. “Here.”

“What is it?” Izuku asked, not yet accepting it.

“Um, it’s a two-way radio. It’ll reach from my house to here, so we can talk to each other without having to leave our houses.” Hitoshi’s face was pink. What if Izuku didn’t want to talk to him? What if he had no interest in becoming friends with him, and now he's totally embarrassed himself? He knew this was a bad idea-

“Wait… did you bring this with you, just to give to me? How did you know I’d be out here?” Izuku pointed out. Hitoshi’s face flushed red. The only reason he was even outside was because he’s been waiting to see if Izuku would come outside all day. At least once every hour, he got on his bike to pass by the house, hoping to run into him again. 

“Did you come here just to give this to me? Have you been waiting for me to come outside?” Izuku asked with a wide smile on his face. His hair had gone from a light brown to a pale blonde in the few minutes they were laying in the sun.

“Shut up! Just take it, okay?!” Hitoshi said defensively and completely embarrassed. He looked away while shoving the toy at Izuku. He just giggled while accepting the device, and what he guessed was the charger for it. Hitoshi quickly zipped his bag back up before slinging it back over his shoulder and mounting his bike. 

“Thank you, Hitoshi.” Izuku said with a bow. 

“Don’t be so formal.” He responded as he put his helmet back on. “It should be on the right channel already, but if not, it’s channel seven. You switch the channels with the knob on the top.” 

Izuku nodded as he examined it. Hitoshi finished explaining how to use it before saying his goodbyes. Izuku gave him a smile and a wave as he started pedaling away.

“Talk whenever! Good luck tomorrow!” Hitoshi called out, making one wide circle before heading back to his house. 

Izuku went back inside, taking off his shoes which he seemed to like even more now. He fiddled with the small channel knob of the radio Hitoshi shoved in his hand as he looked for either Hizashi or Shouta. Hizashi was missing from the dining table, but luckily Shouta was in the kitchen making dinner. “Hey, buddy.” Shouta greeted him as he walked over to him. 

Izuku placed the toy on the counter before taking a step back. He crossed his feet, held his hands behind his back, and stared down at the ground. He wasn’t quite sure what the procedure was. Hizashi and Shouta said that he was allowed to have anything they gave him, but they never clarified the rules on getting stuff from other people. 

In his room at Inko’s apartment, he wasn’t allowed to have anything regardless of who gave it to him. The only expedition was food and water occasionally. Sometimes the men who came to visit him would bring him small toys after they left. Toy cars or some other cheap gadget you could get at a convenience store. Maybe it was their way of feeling sorry for the boy. They all knew there was nothing else in that room besides a mattress and camera, so they gave him toys to keep him occupied. The first toy Izuku got, a tiny T-Rex figurine, he tried hiding under the mattress from his mother. It only took a few hours for her to realize he had it. She had dislocated each of his fingers in order while yelling at him for keeping secrets from her, before setting them each back in place to keep him from complaining about it later. He only tried hiding the toys two more times before he learned he’d get a lot less harsh of a beating if he turned the toy into her as soon as she came into the room. 

Izuku figured if he gave it to the pair right after Hitoshi gave it to him, they would be less mad if he wasn’t allowed to have it. Shouta only gave the toy a slight glance before looking back at the meal he was in the middle of making. He didn’t recognize it out of the few toys Izuku currently had. “What did you find?” 

“It’s a… two-way radio? I-I didn’t find it. Hitoshi was riding his bike, and he gave it to me. I didn’t know if I was allowed to take it, b-but he shoved it in my hand and I didn’t want to be rude.” Izuku explained, trailing off into a whisper. He was about to walk away, assuming Shouta wasn’t going to let him keep it, but Shouta spoke up.

“Oh, that was nice of him. Did he tell you what channel to use?” Shouta said, making sure to keep his tone as light and casual as possible.

“Um, channel seven.” Izuku answered, he wasn’t expecting to answer a follow-up question. 

“Alright, well I hope you have fun with it.” Shouta walked over to him and kissed the top of the boy's head. Izuku looked up at him with his big green eyes, his head tilted a little to the side like a confused puppy. 

“A-am I allowed to keep it?” He asked hopefully.

“As long as you promise you two won’t keep eachother up all night talking. I have no issue with it.” Izuku gave him a sudden hug, tight and full of gratitude. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Izuku said muffled as he smiled, pressing his face into Shouta’s stomach as he hugged him. “Thank you for absolutely everything!” 

Shouta just wrapped his arms around him, hugging him back firmly. He started swaying left and right dramatically, making Izuku laugh at the feeling. After a moment Shouta let go, grabbing the toy off the counter and placing it back in the boy’s hands. Izuku wouldn’t have grabbed it for himself, so he just said thank you while wandering off to the living room so Shouta could finish cooking. Hizashi reappeared as he walked downstairs, surprised to find Izuku sitting at the coffee table in the living room. “Hey, honey. Your thirty minutes are up. Feeling any better?”

“Yes! Thank you for making me take a break. I-it helped a lot.” Izuku looked up at him with a smile. Quickly, he lifted up the device to show Hizashi. “Hitoshi gave this to me. Mr. Shouta said it was okay that I had it.” 

“Oh yeah? Did he teach you how to use it?” Hizashi said cheerfully. 

“Mhm!” Izuku hummed before showing him how to use it too. Before he knew it, dinner was ready and then suddenly it was bath time. And then he found himself doing his nightly stretches while drinking his tea. Time just kept slipping by him. 

“Hey, kiddo. Bedtime in one five minutes, okay?” Shouta said as he knocked on Izuku’s door jam. Izuku's face flushed pink. He was sitting at the desk in his room, working on his speech again now that his head was clearer. 

“Fifteen.” Izuku corrected quietly with an embarrassed smile on his face.

“Oh, is that not what I said?” Shouta teased. 

“I-I… guess it is.” Izuku shook his head defeatedly.

Shouta just chuckled before walking away, letting him spend the last few minutes of his free time however he wanted. Izuku just set his pencil down and stared down at the radio Hitoshi gave him. He turned the knob and hit the power button just like he showed him to. He’d been wanting to use it since Hitoshi gave it to him but he had no idea what to even talk about. Izuku hummed as he tried to think of what to say.

—

“What if he didn’t want to take it, and he just didn’t want to be rude?” Hitoshi was driving himself crazy wondering why all he’s gotten was literal radio silence in the past couple of hours. He slumped up against the cabinets as his mom cleaned up dinner. 

“What if you bring me the dirty dishes from the table?” Nemuri asked. She was used to her son second guessing himself, but he never cared about someone else's opinion of him as much as he cared about Izukus. She figured that if he could sit there and worry, he could help her clean up and worry.

“Mom, I’m serious.” Hitoshi looked up at her like he couldn’t believe she could be so worried about something like dishes at a time like this.

“Froggy, so am I.” She said as she raised her eyebrows at him.  

Hitoshi just huffed as he stood up. “I don’t think you’re actually listening.” He said as he followed his mom’s request; even cleaning the table entirely so he could help his mom be done faster. 

“Baby, I am listening. I’ve been listening to you all day long. I’ve listened to everysing report you gave after you came back from riding your bike, I don’t think you’ve ever voluntarily spent as much time outside as you did today. Your idea was a great one, just give it some time.” She said as she dried off her hands, giving her son her undivided attention. “Plus, who wouldn’t want to be your friend? You’re funny, smart, and you care about the people around you. Oh, and you're cute as a button!”

“You have to say that. That’s the whole point of your ‘mom’ title.” He mumbled, trying to pretend like his moms compliment didn’t bring a smile to his face anyway.

“If he didn’t want to be your friend, he wouldn’t have taken your radio.” She skipped straight to the point. It was clear Hitoshi was worked up and stuck inside his own head. 

“Then why hasn’t he used it yet?” He whined out. 

“You two just talked, maybe he doesn’t have anything else to say. And didn’t you say he had been busy all day?” She pointed out.

“Well… yeah. And he'll be busy tomorrow too.” Hitoshi muttered. 

“Just give him time. Remember, he’s still healing. He’ll reach out when he’s ready.” Hitoshi hated when she was right. It made it harder to complain. “Maybe you can put some of this energy into being friends with the kids at school?” She suggested softly.

“They don’t like me. I tried and they turned me down.” He whispered. When his mom enrolled him in school after adopting him, she enrolled him in a private school. All the other kids in his class have been going to school with each other their entire school career, most even going to the same daycare before that. Hitoshi joined their class half way through the year, and at first his classmates just ignored him. Every conversation he had was forced by their teacher, and that just made it even more awkward. He doesn’t know why, but all of the kids in his class started making him the butt of all their jokes and made unnecessarily rude comments to him. The harder he tried to be their friend, the harsher they treated him; so he stopped trying. Hitoshi was a complete hermit at school, and it started affecting his behavior at home. While school is in session, he’s much more quiet and reserved than he is on break. 

Hitoshi was getting lost in thought, nervous about summer break ending in just a couple more days. His mom tried to comfort him, feeling guilty for bringing it up, pressing kisses into the top of his head and rubbing circles into his shoulder. He took a deep breath, getting ready to let out a big sigh, but suddenly a soft staticy sound filled the kitchen. 

*H-... Hello?*

It was Izuku’s voice. Which meant Izuku was actually using the radio Hioshi gave him. Which meant Izuku actually wanted to talk to him! Hitoshi looked up at his mom in surprise. As much as he wanted it to happen, he didn’t actually expect Izuku to try to talk to him. Not on the same day anyways. The more he thought about it, the happier he got. This must have been what Izuku felt like when he gave him the radio, that huge smile on his face while he pointed out that Hitoshi had to have been waiting for him. 

*Hitoshi…?*

“Ah! He did it again!” Hitoshi shook his fisted as he celebrated. Hitoshi genuinely didn’t recognize this feeling. He felt like he was buzzing, he was so excited but at the same time he couldn't move. A tear slipped from his eye, dripping down his cheek. “Mom, I’m so excited!”

“I’m so happy for you, baby! You might want to respond though.” Nemuri gave him one last hug before he grabbed his radio off the counter and ran off to his room. This was the first time she ever saw him get excited to talk to someone, especially someone his age. She thought making a friend would be good for him; but making one that lived so close to him might be even better for him than she thought. He’d been through so much, and she just wanted her son to be happy.

Hitoshi ran into his room and jumped into the bean bag chair in the corner, grabbing the blanket he left on the floor earlier and hid under it. Hitoshi took a deep breath before responding, trying to disguise how excited he actually was. He turned up the volume and let his index finger hit the microphone button.“I’m here, sorry.” He said calmly. 

*Oh, h-hi! Are you busy?*

“No, I was just helping my mom.” He answered truthfully. 

*Oh, okay. Um, I just wanted to say thank you for your advice. It helped a lot.*

Hitoshi didn’t know any other kid that was as polite and well mannered as Izuku. Not on their own, like Izuku anyways. He really only reached out to say thank you, for something he already said thank you for? Not that Hitoshi was complaining, he just found it weird. “You’re welcome. Did you finish your speech?”

*No, but I’m a lot closer than I was earlier.*

“Are you going to stay up to finish it? You’d probably want to be well rested if you have to give it tomorrow.”

*No, I have to go to bed soon. Do you have to as well?*

“Yeah. Usually mom lets me stay up as late as I want during break, but school starts again on Monday so she said I have to ‘get back in the habit’.” Hitoshi really didn’t want the subject of their conversation to be about school, so he tried to switch the topic back before Izuku could ask him about it. “So you're going to finish it tomorrow? Will you have enough time?” 

*Mmm, I should. If I wake up at seven, I’ll have seven hours to work on it.* 

“I think your speech might be too long if it’s going to take seven hours, on top of working on it all day today.”

*Yeah, well, who asked you?*

“Uh-” Hitoshi stared at the radio in his hand and started laughing loudly. It was the last thing he was expecting Izuku to say so it caught him completely off guard. “You’re a riot, kid!” He said while laughing. 

*...*

When Izuku didn’t say anything, just tapped his pen rapidly and took a quick breath in before turning his microphone back off, Hitoshi’s heart sank. Did he say the wrong thing? Was Izuku genuinely taking a dig at him? Izuku probably thought he looked stupid for laughing at an insult like that. His face got red with embarrassment. A part of him wanted to turn his radio off and climb into his mom’s bed. He should’ve said something else. Literally who says that?-

*Hitoshi… are we friends?*

Hitoshi hesitated. As sincere as Izuku sounded, Hitoshi’s anxiety nagged at him that the question was a set up. If he said yes when he was supposed to say no, Izuku would just laugh at him. If he said no when he was supposed to say yes, he’d probably hurt Izuku’s feelings and then he’d hate him and then he’d never want to be friends. “Why do you ask?”

*It… It’s for my speech? Is that… not a good way to ask that? Sorry.* Izuku answered. His voice, even through the static, held the same tone of anxiety that Hitoshi felt.

“N-no, it’s okay. Yes, We’re friends.” Hitoshi confirmed, his face turning red while he excitedly kicked his chair. Only after he turned his microphone back off; he didn’t need Izuku to hear that two seconds after their friendship officially started. 

*...Cool.* The smile on Izuku’s face was evident.

“Cool.”

*Um-... yes, sir!* Shouta’s voice could be heard in the background before Izuku responded happily to him. *I-I have to go to sleep now.* 

Nemuri walked in at the same time Shouta came into Izuku’s room, but she just flicked Hitoshi’s lights on and off to silently get his attention. He kicked his blanket off of himself quickly as he beamed up at his mom. “Me too… good night. Over and out.”

*Over and out?*

“Yeah, you’re supposed to say over after each message so the other person knows when you're done talking; but that gets annoying quickly. Out means that the conversion is done and that you're turning off your radio.” Hitoshi explained.

*That makes sense. Thanks again and good night! O-over and out.*

His mom barely waited for Hitoshi to turn off his radio before she ran to his side and gave him a tight hug. He excitedly rambled on about how his and Izuku’s conversation went. As if Nemuri wasn’t listening outside his bedroom door. She let him talk anyway, just happy to see her son happy. Eventually Hitoshi got all of his energy and excitement out and finally let his mom tuck him in for bed. She kissed his head while pulling his blanket over him and brushed his messy hair out of his eyes. 

“Good night, froggy. I love you so, so, so much!” She said as she squished his face in between her hands, placing one last kiss on his nose.

“I love you too, mom.” Hitoshi smiled at her. “Good night.”

Chapter Text

“Izuku, it’s time to go!” Hizashi called out from the opposite side of the hall, seconds away from walking into the boys room. 

Izuku heard him perfectly clear, but he couldn’t force himself to move. He stood there in the corner of his room as tears fell from his eyes. Wiping his eyes and nose with the sleeve of the zip up jacket he was wearing, he tried to pull his thoughts together before Hizashi walked in. 

“Hey- hey, what’s bothering you, honey?” Hizashi asked, stopping in the doorway. Izuku had been anxious and would get upset easily all day. Izuku just shot him a quick look before turning his attention back to his room, his bottom lip quivering. 

“Wh-what if this is the last time I get to be here?” He asked, whispering while another tear escaped his eye. He’d been standing there for a few minutes already, trying to memorize every single detail of his room. The wood desk he stored his books and journals on. The bed that Shouta made this morning, tucking the boy's stuffed turtle in while propped up on the pillows so it looked like it was sleeping; just how Izuku liked it. The light blue curtains that Hizashi switched to from the gray ones that hung up when Izuku first arrived. The chair that Hizashi and Shouta would sit in while they tucked him in for bed or comforted him after a nightmare. The closet he stored all of his clothes and his few miscellaneous toys. The lamp that they used as a temporary night-light. The dark wood floor that was always cold when he first stepped on it in the morning. The radio that Hitoshi gave him laid on the foot of the bed; right where he left it after talking to him earlier.  There wasn’t a part of this room he didn’t like, and he wanted to remember it as vividly as possible, for as long as possible. 

“No, we talked about this, remember? Shouta and I started your adoption process yesterday, we’re going to see your legal team today and they’ll help move the process along faster.” Hizashi comforted as he squatted down, getting on the same level as Izuku.

“I know, but what if they don’t let you adopt me because Mr. Shouta is the one who rescued me? Or because they just say no?” Izuku rambled, letting his anxiety get the better of him. 

“Izuku, look at me. The worst case scenario, you’ll get temporarily placed in a different foster home while the adoption process finalizes, but that's like a one in a million chance. But honey, I promise you’re coming back.” He said as Izuku slowly walked over to him and just plopped himself into Hizashi’s arms. 

“What if they decide that Inko didn’t do anything wrong, and I have to go back with her?” Izuku whispered while sniffling. 

Hizashi ran his hand over the boy's hair, trying to soothe the whirlwind of thoughts that consumed him. “That won’t happen. She broke a lot of laws and caused you a lot of harm. There is absolutely no way anybody would ever let her walk away without getting in trouble.” 

For each scary scenario Izuku’s brain could manifest, Hizashi and Shouta always had a perfectly reasonable counter that eased his mind; slowly but surely. After a bunch more questions followed by very helpful answers, a few more tears, and a compromise allowing Izuku to bring his stuffed turtle with them; they finally got Izuku in the car. 

The drive was short and quiet, besides the music that played softly in the background; even though none of them were listening to it. All three of them were nervous despite how hard Hizashi and Shouta tried to put on a brave face for Izuku. 

“Hey buddy, tell us what we’re going to do when we get there.” Shouta said, trying to ease his obviously restless mind even for a second. The three of them went over the plan all morning, when Izuku was too anxious to eat breakfast. After the pair gave clarity to all of his current questions, he was finally able to eat.

“We’re going to… go inside and wait for Mr. Tsukauchi?” He responded quietly, eyes focused on his turtle that covered his lap. “H-he’s going to tell us where to go, and then he’s going to leave… and then come back.”

“Mhm!” Hizashi hummed, awarding him with a smile. 

Izuku didn’t say anything else. He just stared at his toy, making it stare back. Letting his thoughts and ideas, regardless if they were good or bad, run through his mind as he stared into big, green, glittery, dopey plastic eyes. 

“What are you thinking about, kid?” Shouta asked, glancing at him through his rearview mirror.

“He doesn’t have a name.” Izuku mumbled sadly. His eyebrows scrunched as he thought harder.

“Well, you can give him one now. What comes to mind when you look at him?” Shouta advised, surprised to hear something so simple and innocent. A first for today. 

“Um,” He took a deep breath before shaking his head and looking up at the pair sitting in front of him. “The only thing I can think of is; twerp.” 

“Twerp? Why’s that?” Hizashi said, turning around to look at him with an amused and confused look on his face. 

“Mmm, just look at him.” Izuku turned the toy to face Hizashi, angled to where he could only really see its big silly eyes. 

“Yeah, I see your point.” Hizashi laughed as he turned back around. He looked over at Shouta who had a soft smile on his face while he focused on driving. He reached his hand over and gently placed it on Shouta’s leg. 

“As long as you don’t call anyone else that, I think that’s a great name.” Shouta said, instinctively grabbing Hizashi's hand. He clamped his hand around his, and slowly brought it up to his mouth. Without letting his eyes leave the road in front of him, Shouta placed a long and loving kiss on the back of his fiance’s hand, smiling into it before letting his arm back down. 

Izuku watched the two silently, and for a moment he imagined what would happen after this is all over. If the adoption goes through he’ll get to sit in this very seat for the rest of his life, watching as the pair showed each other this type of love that came so naturally to them; something Hisashi and Inko never really had. There was a warm buzzing feeling that pushed the negative thoughts down. 

Izuku moved his gaze upwards as he felt the car turn, letting his body sway with it. His eyes fell upon the court house, and the huge crowd of people who stood in front of it. Hundreds of people. They were all chanting and yelling; the commotion muffled by the rolled up windows. Many of them carried signs, many had cameras and microphones. “That’s a lot more than you said.” Izuku squeaked out. 

“It’s a lot more than we thought. Sorry, kid.” Shouta said as he glanced at the crowd. “But it’s no problem, right?” 

“No problem.” Izuku whispered as he echoed it back. “Secret door.” The pair both hummed in agreement while Shouta parked behind the building. Because of Izuku’s identity being kept from the public, they were given access to enter through a private back door; created for situations just like his.

As Shouta turned off the car, the three of them simultaneously took a deep breath, almost like it was planned. Hizashi and Shouta shot each other a quick look before turning back to face the back seat. Izuku had his eyes closed while he rubbed his knuckles up and down his legs. He did his best to control breathing while he gathered his final thoughts before opening his eyes. 

“We’ll leave wherever you’re ready, honey.” Hizashi said, trying to make it feel like they weren’t rushing him. Izuku hesitated before unbuckling his seat belt.

“I’m ready.” He whispered. 

“Alright,” Shouta said, a bit surprised that he was ready to get out so quickly, but Izuku was full of surprises so he went with it. “You want to bring, uh, Twerp with us?”

“Yes, please.” Izuku said but didn’t move. He waited for the pair to get out first and open his door before scooting out. Immediately, he clung to Hizashi’s back. Walking directly behind him while burying his face in his coat; keeping his toy close to his chest. Shouta led them into the court house, which was bustling inside. Izuku let out a quiet whine into Hizashi’s back, who just reached his hand back to rub the boy's back as well as he could. 

“Stay here, I’ll go find Tsukauchi.” Shouta said, ruffling Izuku’s hair and kissing Hizashi’s cheek quickly before walking away. Izuku peeked around Hizashi to watch where Shouta was going, but he hid again when someone he’d never seen before tried to smile at him. Hizashi turned around to collect Izuku’s jacket that he was trying to shove into his hand. He did his best to control his breathing until Shouta came back just a couple minutes later, with Tsukauchi right behind him.  

“Yamada! Good to see you here today!” Tsukauchi greeted as he shook his hand. He could just barely see the blonde and green curls that hid behind Hizashi. “Mido- Izuku, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Mhm.” Izuku hummed and nodded, but still not moving from his spot. 

The three adults chatted for a moment before Izuku was tugging on Hizashi’s coat, ready to leave the busy hallway they were standing in. Tsukauchi led them down the hall and into an empty waiting room. The room itself was kind of plain, there were two identical couches that faced each other, and a glass table in between them. There was a TV built into the wall across the door, but other than that the room was empty. Once the door finally closed Izuku let go of Hizashi, but still didn’t move from directly next to him. 

“This is where you guys are going to wait until it’s time for Izuku’s statement. There’s a remote for the TV under the table; it’ll play a live feed from the courtroom.” Tsukauchi explained. Izuku pulled on Hizashi’s sleeve before he bent to let the boy whisper in his ear.

“Is this going to be the same feed that’ll be played on the news?” Hizashi asked for Izuku, even though he already knew the answer.

“No. Due to the agreement made between our lawyers and Inko’s, there will only be one reporter allowed in the courtroom whose report will be personally edited and looked over by me to keep any information about Izuku confidential. As soon as he comes in, all cameras will be turned off and put away.” He said, then moving his attention directly to the boy. “Your speech will be recorded, but edited. So any revealing statements will be removed and the sound of your voice will be disguised.”

Izuku nodded softly, staring down at the ground. Tsukauchi excused himself after a few more questions, and left the three in the room alone. Izuku shuffled his way to one of the couches, hoisting himself up before lying down. 

“How are you feeling, kid?” Shouta asked as he sat next to him. Izuku shifted around so he could lay on his stomach and bury his face in his turtle. 

“Like I’m going to explode.” He mumbled, his heart was racing and his mind was spiraling.   

Shouta hummed understandingly, even if he didn’t exactly understand what that meant. He ran his hand over the boy's hair to help him relax. Minutes passed, and the hearing officially started. Izuku read his notes over and over while Hizashi and Shouta did nothing but just simply be there for him. About thirty minutes in, Tsukauchi knocked before cracking the door open. “May I come in?” 

“Yeah, you're good.” Shouta said after getting the nod of approval from Izuku. “Is it time already?” 

“No, and I’m sorry to interrupt, however there’s… a bystander outside. She’s been outside all day, demanding to speak with both Izuku and Inko.” Izuku’s head whipped up, confused. This wasn’t in the plan Hizashi and Shouta explained to him, and he wasn’t exactly feeling up for sudden changes. “We’ve been explaining to her that the inside of the room was closed to the public, but she’s been insisting that she’s ‘not a part of the general public when it comes to this’.”

“Okay…?” Hizashi said, unsure where he was going with this. 

“She asked if I would simply ask Izuku if she could at least speak to him, and because she knew his name, I said I would ask.” Tsukauchi said. Izuku was about to shake his head before Tsukauchi started speaking again. “Izuku, do you remember a woman by the name of Mitsuki Bakugo?”

Izuku hesitated. Over the years he had slowly been forgetting most of his memoires, and hearing that name brought back a huge wave of them. He remembers a tall, blonde woman and her son that looked a lot like her. He remembers the day before he was locked away, how the woman gave him a big hug and wished him good luck. Once she disinfected the scrape on his knee he got when he tripped. She even picked him up early from school when he was sick. Looking up at Tsukauchi, Izuku nodded softly. 

“Would you be comfortable if she came to talk to you after you make your statement?” Tsukauchi asked. Hizashi and Shouta were about to tell him that this was enough. He didn’t need to stress Izuku out even more than he currently is. But surprisingly, Izuku nodded, making eye contact with them both before moving his gaze back down at his feet that hung off the couch and above the rug below him.

“Yes, p-please.” He whispered.

“And do you give your consent for her to make an official statement in the hearing?” Tsukauchi asked after taking a moment to process. He wasn’t expecting Izuku to agree to see her. The boy was extremely reserved and based on what Shouta had told him while working together, Izuku wasn’t fond of changing his plans at the last minute.  

“Why…y-yeah. That’s fine.” Izuku said in a hushed tone, confused. He was so used to other people making decisions for him and doing things regardless of how he feels about it. The last few weeks, his input was always asked for, and genuinely taken into consideration before a decision was ever made. It’s not that he was upset about it, he just didn’t fully understand why they cared so much about how he felt.  

“Alright. Thank you for your time. I’ll leave you guys be until it’s time for Izuku’s statement.” Tsukauchi excused himself with a bow before exiting. Hizashi and Shouta looked at each other before they looked down at the boy who was tapping his ankles together. They knew he wouldn’t have agreed to talk to anyone unless he was ready, so this Mitsuki Bakugo person must have been someone important to him.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve asked before saying yes.” Izuku sniveled.

“We trust you to make the best decisions for yourself.” Shouta said with a slight smile as he gave the boy a side hug. “I’m proud of you for expressing your wants and being brave.” 

“I don’t feel very brave.” Izuku slumped into Shouta’s side who rubbed his shoulder to comfort him.

“Maybe not, but your actions are brave, and that’s very admirable.” Hizashi chimed in. Izuku's face dusted with pink at the comment. There was an involuntary tug at the corner of his mouth. The boy just curled up and focused on his breathing.  

After another forty five minutes of re-reading his paper, asking questions, and controlling his breathing, Tsukauchi came back and suddenly Izuku was following behind the three adults down a long hallway. He smoothed out his slightly wrinkled, white button down shirt as overly focused on the way his breathing sounds and how he was walking; taking each step meticulously. It felt like they were walking forever, like the hallway kept growing with each step they took. When Tsukauchi suddenly stopped, Izuku noticed a moment too late and completely ran into the two in front of him. He stumbled back before Shouta caught him by the arm and helped him get his balance back. They were waiting for Tsukauchi to let them into the courtroom, and he was waiting for the long list of Inko’s convicted crimes to be read out. 

“Lost in thought there?” Hizashi smiled nervously.

“Yes.” Izuku whispered back as he stared at the floor. Tears collected in his eyes and his knees started shaking. His gaze kept shifting from the floor to the door they stood behind.

“Kid, look at me.” Shouta said, kneeling down to get on his level and cupping both sides of his face. He did, his lips quivering as he tried to keep himself from frowning. Shouta gently rubbed his calloused thumbs on the sides of Izuku's face, making sure to take in every single little detail. 

“Mr. Shouta?” Izuku whispered, tilting his head to the side slightly. He started feeling more relaxed by the second.

Shouta never thought he could feel this way. Here he was kneeling in front of this kid who trusted him more than anyone else, and the only instinct he had was to hug and never let him go. Shouta noticed a freckle that wasn’t there the day before; just above the boy’s left eyebrow. A part of him felt an odd kind of pride knowing he could spot the slightest difference like that about him. He gave the boy’s cheek the slightest squeeze he could manage before speaking up. “No matter what happens in there, I want you to know you're not alone. Everyone in there is on your side and wants nothing but the absolute best for you.”

“Everyone?” Izuku cocked his eyebrow while giving him a slight smirk. “I think I could name someone who doesn’t.”

“Yeah, yeah okay smart guy.” Shouta stifled a laugh. He could tell Izuku was just deflecting how he was truly feeling with jokes, but it didn’t initially make it any less funny. “But everyone else. That’s for sure.” 

Before Izuku could respond, Tsukauchi cued them to follow him inside the courtroom. Shouta stood up just as the doors opened, revealing them to everyone inside, but his hands didn’t leave the boy’s face. “Now is the time to be brave.” He said before placing a gentle kiss on the new freckle before proudly walking through the doors. Izuku quickly grabbed onto his hand and followed behind him, burying his face in the middle of Shouta’s back while Hizashi and Tsukauchi walked behind him. 

Izuku could feel everyone’s eyes on him. He knows that everyone is just curious about him but that didn’t stop the uneasy feeling. It was impossible for him to hide away completely but he could at least hide his face. For a little bit, at least. He kept walking as Shouta did, until he suddenly stopped and whispered for Izuku to sit down. Izuku peeked around to find the chair in front of them before clenching his eyes shut and following the instruction, refusing to let go of Shouta’s hand while doing so. He could feel Twerp the turtle being placed in his lap, which he immediately grabbed with his left hand. Izuku wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew that at this very moment he was too afraid to open his eyes. The thought of having to meet the judgmental gazes of everyone else in the room shook him right to his core. 

The only thing he could think of to do was to completely focus on his hearing instead. There were murmurs coming from all around him, a piece of paper turning over, pens writing against tables making a slight tapping noise that Izuku found extremely satisfying. He could hear chairs creaking, the ticking of a clock, and some kind of metal clinking together slightly. Just as he started to feel a bit more secure about his current situation, an unforgettable voice spit out a familiar demand.

“Izuku, open your damn eyes.” Inko’s voice had complete control over Izuku. His eyes opened immediately, squeezing Shouta’s hand tightly as he stared at the ground. Izuku heard multiple people tell her to be silent but that didn’t stop the anxiety that took over him. Shouta could feel Izuku’s heartbeat through the tips of his fingers. He tried to reassure the boy, but Izuku didn’t seem to be paying attention. 

Now that his eyes were open, he noticed that Hizashi wasn’t sitting on the other side of him. He started looking around before Shouta gently tapped his shoulder and pointed behind them. Izuku whipped his head back, finding Hizashi sitting behind a wooden divider and smiling at him. He didn’t know how badly he needed Hizashi next to him until he realized he wasn’t. Izuku let out a quiet whine as he fought the urge to stand up and go to him. Hizashi just kept smiling as he whispered to him. “You’re okay, honey. I’m not going anywhere.” 

Izuku nodded slowly before turning back around and slumping down in his chair. He brought Shouta’s hand to his chest and squeezed it tight. The judge, or at least that’s who Izuku assumed was the judge based on context clues and common sense, banged his tiny hammer on his desk, demanding the attention of everyone in the room. Izuku flinched harshly before he felt Shouta’s thumb slide across the back of his hand. As the judge, Judge Moriyama he stated, started speaking, Izuku didn’t pay attention to anything he was saying. He just focused on the feeling of Shouta’s hand around his to distract himself from the way his chest ached. After a few moments, he gave the man's hand a slight tug, asking for his attention. Shouta leaned over but never took his eyes off the judge.

“Mr. Shouta, I think my heart is going to blow up.” Izuku leaned up to whisper in his ear. He slumped back down in his chair and looked up for his reaction. Shouta looked down at him, concerned but before he could say anything Izuku raised his left hand, shakily clenching it into a fist. He then raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes while mouthing the word “Boom” and opening his hand again like it exploded, before returning his hand back to the toy on his lap. 

“I’m sorry. Hang in there, kid. You don't have to do anything yet, so just try to relax.” Shouta whispered back, squeezing his hand slightly while turning his gaze back forward. Izuku let out a quiet sigh while nodding. He took a few shaky breaths as the judge ahead of him kept talking. He thought about trying to tune into him but he didn’t actually understand what he was talking about. It’s not like he was able to do much studying on legal terminology in the last three years. Still, Izuku faced forward to make it at least look like he was listening. 

Izuku tried to think of things to comfort himself since Hizashi and Shouta weren’t able to at the moment. They had to pay attention to what was actually happening while Izuku got to play the traumatized little kid card and zone out. Not that he wanted to use it or even have it, but he did. Just this once. He imagined what he would do when they were done here. What the car ride back home would look and sound like. Would he be less upset than he felt coming here? Would he be more upset? 

…

Izuku chose to imagine he’d feel better. He could visualize Shouta pulling into the driveway and even waiting for Hizashi to open his door for him. Maybe he’d take a bath and go to sleep for the night. Maybe he’ll watch a movie with the pair while he cuddles up in a soft blanket. Maybe Hizashi and Shouta will punish him if he doesn’t do good enough right now. Izuku shook his head gently as he closed his eyes again. “Focus.” He whispered to himself. Moving his focus off what would happen when they went home, and on his freshly started friendship with Hitoshi. 

Hitoshi had contacted him earlier in the day through their radios to wish Izuku good luck, which Izuku deeply appreciated. Together they talked about what they each had for breakfast and Hitoshi told him about the dream he had. Something about a lego dragon and flying around in the sky. It sounded fun. A lot more fun than Izuku’s dreams that’s for sure. Izuku thought about telling him about how this went, and that’s when he realized he was not being very brave right now. He realized that if he were to tell his new friend about how he’s been acting since he got here, he’d be extremely embarrassed. He was shaking with fear and flinching at every new, sudden sound. Quickly opening his eyes again, he tried taking a quick deep breath and shove all of his negative feelings down, deep inside himself. Izuku just needed to act brave enough to tell the story of this experience, and not have it be completely embarrassing. Like he was some weak little kid who couldn’t even look his mother in the eye one last time. Because he wasn’t a weak little kid. Because he wasn’t weak. He knew he wasn’t weak because if he was, he probably wouldn’t be here right now. If Izuku was weak, he would have died in that room. If not from the physical abuse, then from the medical abuse. And if not from that, than from the sexual abuse. If he really was weak, then he wouldn’t have been making as fast of a recovery as he was. If he was weak, Hizashi and Shouta wouldn’t want to adopt him. 

Izuku let out a small gasp as the thought uninvitingly forced itself into his head. Looking down at how his and Shouta’s wrapped around each other, he couldn’t help but notice that Shouta had stopped rubbing his thumb across the back of his hand. He was tired of having to comfort him all the time. Izuku unclasped his hand and placed it on his lap in a closed fist, letting go of Twerp and folding his two hands over one another. He just told himself that he needs to let Shouta focus, that he could simply comfort himself physically as well as mentally. This is what he was used to anyways. Sure, he comforted himself by pretending it was someone else, but that only made the throbbing tightness in his chest hurt a tiny bit more. It was still bearable. Izuku’s been through worse. He could handle this. 

“Hey, are you okay? You’re getting a little… intense, over there.” Shouta whispered while looking down at him with a look of genuine concern. His hand was still held out, awaiting Izuku’s whenever he needed it again. 

‘Yes, sir.” Izuku whispered so quietly he may as well mouthed it. He wasn’t going to have Shouta worry over him right now. Not when he was supposed to be listening to the judge; who was still talking? How long is he going to talk for? What was he talking about- No one likes someone who can’t even keep their thoughts organized. Stop getting distracted. He gave Shouta a small smile, hoping it would be convincing enough to come off as a nervous but not a complete wreck type of smile. It seemed to have been good enough for Shouta who pressed his lips into a forced smile as well before focusing his attention back in front of him. 

Izuku looked back down at the ground in front of him and the air in the room began to feel thick. It wasn’t really a lie, telling Shouta that he was okay. He was okay. This was the most “okay” he’d been in years. He hadn’t been hit, kicked, bit, molested, severely injured, drugged without his knowledge, or yelled at in over two whole weeks. For two weeks he’s been getting constant meals, showers, love, support, entertainment, and information. Why wouldn’t he be okay? Just because he’s sitting in the same room as his mother again? Because he can feel the eyes of everyone in the room? They were just curious about him. Izuku was and still is a complete mystery to most of these people. They didn’t know him. They didn’t know him and they were still staring at him. Just like the people who paid to watch the live streams of him in his room. Those people paid to watch him sleep, and shiver from the cold, his fear, and the soul crushing feeling of abandonment. They sat there and watched his mother ruthlessly beat him until he was unconscious and men use him as if he were nothing more than a doll. His breathing became shallow and uneven, making his heart beat heavy in a way that didn’t feel physically possible. Izuku clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth; the dryness became his main focus before shifting to how the light in here hurt his eyes. As he tried harder and harder to keep his composure, the more difficult it was getting. It was getting progressively more difficult to fend off the negative thoughts that overwhelmed him. He was going to simply sit in this scratchy chair and endure the overwhelming tightness in his chest until Shouta tells him it’s time. 

But when Shouta got out of his chair and kneeled in front of him not even thirty seconds later, Izuku’s breathing stopped completely. “I’m sorry, I’m getting it under control. I really am.” He whispered, not making eye contact. 

“Take big deep breaths.” He said softly. There was absolutely no hint of anger in his voice, only the most genuine of concern. He held out his hands for Izuku to hold if he needed, but had no expectations for him to actually do so. Izuku just looked up at him quickly before moving his gaze back down and following the instruction. As soon as he did, a tear slipped down the side of his face. As if his emotions were too strong to keep inside himself. Shouta took the next one with him, and the one after that. Izuku kept taking deep breaths until it was the only thing he could focus on before looking up and making eye contact with Shouta.

“I’m sorry, I-I’m not trying to be distracting.” Izuku whimpered out. 

Shouta only shook his head and leaned over, grabbing his briefcase and pulling out a water bottle with different sea animals all over it. Something Hizashi had bought for him just over a week ago, and something he liked quite a bit. Shouta popped open the straw before turning it to face Izuku and holding it out for him. 

“Take a drink.” He said, ignoring the eyes watching this uncharacteristic exchange. 

Izuku looked at it before nodding and taking a sip while Shouta continued to hold it for him. To his surprise, it wasn’t water. It was peach juice. Izuku’s favorite. And it was ice cold. Just how he liked it. Izuku quickly put together that Shouta had intentionally brought his favorite drink with them, so he'd have some kind of comfort that reminded of his new home. The thought that Shouta went out of his way to comfort him batted away the feelings of insecurity and fear of rejection that had overwhelmed him before. 

“Is that better?” Shouta asked, his eyes soft and eyebrows drawn together in pure parental concern. 

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Izuku murmured shyly. 

“Are you sure? Or are you just saying that?”

Izuku nodded as he slowly and cautiously took a hold of the man's hand that was still held out for him. “I-I’m sure.” 

“I want you to tell me when you’re feeling anxious like that. I will always be here to help you, but I can’t if you don’t communicate your feelings. Do you understand?” Shouta said as he set the water bottle on the ground next to Izuku’s chair and clasped both of his hands around the boy’s. 

“Yes, sir.” Izuku nodded again, his eyes darting away from Shouta’s. He could feel his face getting red as he shrunk into his shoulders, embarrassed. Just about every time his anxiety had gotten the best of him, Hizashi and Shouta told him to come to them when he needed that extra support from them. It’s not that he didn’t want to ask for their help, it was just really hard to actually put it into action. Even though Izuku’s putting in 110% percent effort into not letting his past control who he is now, or who he could sculpt himself into, there are still things he can’t immediately achieve. Like communicating when he needs support. Or communicating anything he needed. Or communicating in general. 

“Do you need anything else right now?” Shouta asked, never letting go of Izuku’s hand which was holding his right back. Izuku started to say no, but Shouta cut him off. “No, take a moment to evaluate each of your needs and then respond.” 

Izuku huffed as he closed his eyes and moved his focus to mark off a mental checklist of any sort of discomfort he may have and not even realize. He wasn’t feeling nearly as anxious or thirsty as he felt before. After a quick, full evaluation, he opened his eyes and looked at the man who was still crouched in front of him. “C-cold?” Izuku said more as a question than an answer. 

“You’re cold?” Shouta asked, getting a nod from the boy before continuing. “Thank you for letting me know. Hizashi has your jacket. Would you like me to get it or would you like to get it from him yourself?” 

Izuku perked up at that, almost immediately scooting off his chair and shyly walking up to the wooden barrier that separated him from Hizashi. Once Hizashi realized that Izuku was in fact headed in his direction, he slid off his own chair and kneeled in front of the divider to meet the boy face to face. Izuku’s face was a bit red and tear stained, but his expression showed nothing but pure relief and happiness when the two made eye contact. “Mr. Hizashi,” He quietly called out to the man as he took his final step and held his hands behind his back.

“Hey, honey. What’s up?” Hizashi smiled.

“Um, do you have m-my jacket?” Izuku asked, almost whispering. Hizashi answered with a nod before grabbing from the chair next to him and unfolding it. Izuku let him put it on him, just pushing his arms all the way through the sleeves and letting the man adjust it. 

“Zipped up or open?” Hizashi asked, already knowing the answer.

“Zipped up.” Izuku mouthed out. He watched as Hizashi’s hands zipped up his jacket, a star forming together on the front. 

“There you go. I have your glasses too, do you want those?” Hizashi offered.

“Yes sir, thank you.” Izuku said while Hizashi was already placing them on his nose. It was clear that Izuku was stalling for a little bit more time with Hizashi, looking around nervously while trying to think of something to say to keep him there for even a second longer. 

“Izuku,” Hizashi cooed, effectively regaining the boy’s full attention. “We’re almost done here, okay? Just hang in there a bit longer, and then we’ll go home and never have to worry about this again. How does that sound?”

Izuku nodded and flung his arms around Hizashi’s neck as well as he could before finally returning to his seat next to Shouta. Before he could sit though, Shouta got back out of his seat. “Kiddo, it’s time. Are you ready?”

“Already?” Izuku asked, surprised. It felt like they’d only been here for just a few seconds.

“Yeah, do you need some more time?” Shouta asked softly.

“This and then go home and never worry about this again.” Izuku echoed Hizashi’s words with a shake of the head. Shouta reached out to give the boy's hand a small squeeze as Tsukauchi stood up. Izuku followed Tsukauchi, who led him to the stand, without ever taking his eyes off Hizashi and Shouta. Tsukauchi instructed him where to sit as politely as he could before taking his seat back at the table on the other side of Shouta.

Izuku was officially alone. Not only could he feel everyone’s eyes on him, but he could see them too. It rattled him, so he moved his gaze down to his lap to try and keep himself as calm as he could. 

“Welcome, Young Midoriya. Before we get started, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” The judge who he was seated beside asked. Izuku tried to nod a response, but apparently there was an issue with that. “I’m sorry, but you’ll need to respond verbally.” 

“Yes, sir.” Izuku squeaked out.

“Is the woman in front of you Inko Midoriya, your mother?” He asked.

“Yes.” Izuku murmured shamefully. “But I don’t call her that anymore.” 

“What do you call her?”

“Inko.” Izuku spat out, giving an almost stink eye to Inko as she watched in silence. 

“I see. Can you tell me about what you remember the day she locked you inside of your bedroom?” Judge Moriyama asked bluntly. 

“Uh-” Izuku hesitated before furrowing his eyebrows and answering. “S-she took me to the q-quirk doctor after school, and He said I didn’t have one. A-a quirk, I mean. Um, so we went back home and everyone was sad.”

“Who do you mean by everyone?”

“Inko, Hisashi, m-my bio-logic-al father, and me.” 

“Okay, I apologize for interrupting. Continue, please.” The judge nodded.

“Oh, um, it’s okay.” Izuku responded, still trying to get used to adults treating him with respect. “Mh, but then we had dinner, and then I was supposed to go to bed. But they started fighting, and Hisashi said Inko had t-to pick. Uh, between him or me. And then he left. And I went to sleep.” Izuku looked up at Hizashi and Shouta, who nodded encouragingly at him. “Then I woke up, and I left my room to- um, to see if she was okay. I only remember her getting really m-mad and uh, started h-h-h- hitting and kicking and yelling. And then she took everything out, um, of my room. And then threw me in there, and then I-I didn’t get to leave after.” 

“You said you were diagnosed as quirkless?” Judge Moiryama asked, popping up his eyebrow. 

“I-I was, but it’s not true. I-I do have a quirk.” Izuku said defensively.

“Thank you. That was the only question I had for you. You may now personally address Ms. Midoriya if you have anything you’d like to say.” The judge said, shifting in his chair to listen to whatever Izuku had planned. 

Izuku closed his eyes to take a deep breath before looking for Hizashi and Shouta in front of them. They smiled and nodded to encourage him, and Izuku desperately wanted to go home. He thinks of the doting ways the two take care of him, how they always give him their undivided attention when he talks, and how they wait for him to fall asleep before walking away after a nightmare. Izuku just really wanted to go home. 

“I-I could talk about what I went through,” Izuku started shakily. “Or about how it all made me feel. B-but that wouldn’t change anything. My friend told me that. So instead, I want to tell you about everything you thought you took away from me.” He said, looking Inko directly in the eye. She was staring back, biting her tongue before they temporarily muzzled her.

“In the last two weeks, I have had a better life than I did in seven years living with you. I live in a nice, big house with a pool and everything. I get three fresh, homemade meals everyday. I get to go outside whenever I want. I get to train my quirk everyday. I have two… parents who take care of every single discomfort I ever have, even if I don’t realize somethings bothering me. They know all my favorite stuff, like what I like to drink, eat, and even how I like my bed made. They listen to me when I’m upset, or just want to talk to someone. They hug me after nightmares and wash my hair for me when I don't feel good. They teach me new things everyday and they don’t yell at me when I make mistakes. I made a friend. He’s funny and he gets me. We have matching shoes. The only problem I have is that you. Because even though I have all the great things now, I can’t enjoy them. I can’t leave my bedroom without permission, or eat without prioritizing each bite to keep me as full as possible for as long as possible. Or eat without getting uncomfortable about my mouth being too full. Or accept when people dont treat me like I'm the scum of the earth. I feel guilty every moment of every day. I’m scared of every new person I meet and of the thought of being alone. I-I’m not as evil as you, but I hope you sit in jail by yourself and never, ever, get to leave. You ruined everything for me, so I won’t be that person anymore. You killed Izuku Midoriya. And I, Izuku Aizawa-Yamada, will never forgive you.”

Hizashi and Shouta both covered their mouths with their hands and they processed Izuku’s speech. They watched as tears started to fall from Izuku’s eye’s. The judge excused him from the stand before he clumsily stumbled back to Shouta. Izuku lifted his arms up to him, which Shouta responded with by lifting the boy up and holding onto him tightly. The second his face was hidden in Shouta’s shoulder, Izuku stopped trying to hold his tears back. He let silent sobs out as Shouta rubbed his back and held onto him tightly. 

“Izuku, I’m so proud of you.” Shouta whispered. “You did so, so good, kid.”

“I-I’m ready to go home.” Izuku whimpered out.

“I know, we just have to let Inko respond and then we’re done.” Shouta said, feeling Izuku slump a little. “We’re almost done here kid, I promise.”

Chapter Text

“Mrs. Bakugo, can you explain how you know the Midoriya family?” 

From the moment that stubborn-ass detective let Mitsuki into the courtroom, rage consumed her at the mere sight of Inko Midoryia, her former best friend. With every passing second there was a tornado of anger and confusion whipping through her. When that blathering judge finally called her up to the stand, she was basically vibrating with her overwhelming emotions. “Inko and I met in our second year of high school. We were best friends through college. I was the person who Introduced her to her ex -husband Hisashi, who I met in a business class we were both in. Hisashi introduced me to my husband, Masaru. After we all graduated, we stayed in constant contact. My son was born about three months before Izuku was, and they were simply inseparable for the first four years of their lives.”

“I see. Was Ms. Midoriya ever known to be aggressive or violent?”

“No. In fact, I'd never even seen her get angry until years after we met. Even after Izuku was born. S-She may have seemed a little more uninterested in her son than I was- am, with mine, but I’d never see her be aggressive with him."

Mitsuki had never said that in front of Inko before. Or anyone. Besides Masaru, but that doesn’t count. But it was true. From the day Katsuki was born, Inko was infatuated with him. She loved to come see him, talk about all the baby milestones he’s passing, and took her title of “Aunty” very seriously despite being so late in her own pregnancy. Mitsuki assumed she was just overly excited to have a son of her own. But when Izuku was first born, Inko wouldn’t even hold him for the first month. She said it was a symptom of her postpartum depression, but as months turned into years she never seemed as interested in Izuku as she was with Katsuki. Oftentimes Mitsuki found her comparing the two boys, putting them in some pointless competition. 

“Uninterested?”

“She didn’t talk about him like most other mothers I know. Never really took pictures of him or did fun activities with him unless my son was involved.” 

“Do you feel your son was ever in danger around Ms. Midoriya?” 

“Not until after I saw the trial a few days ago. I used to trust Inko in absolutely every aspect. Now I can’t even look at her without wondering if she ever laid her hands or someone else’s eyes on my son as well. I know my son better than anyone else, and I’m sure he would have told me if anyone hurt him or made him uncomfortable, but you really never know.” Mitsuki had to take a deep breath to shake the longing feeling she was getting for her son. She accidentally made eye contact with Inko across the room, who had the audacity to look offended at what she was saying.

“I never hurt him! I never would!” Inko objected, slamming her cuffed together hands on the table in front of her. The lawyers by her side reacted quickly, trying to get her to sit back down pointlessly. 

“Ms. Midoriya ple-”

“Do you expect me to just take your word for it? Just like when you said you wanted nothing more than for Izuku to be safe? Or when you cried to me about how much you missed him?!” Mitsuki stood as well, completely staring Inko down now. “You did everything possible to create an unsafe world for your own son and lied directly to my face about it! I’m supposed to believe you after that ?!”

“Mrs. Bakugo, please don’t enga-”

“I’m not talking about him ! I’d never hurt Ka-”

“Don’t you dare even say his name!” 

“Order! Ms. Midoriya you have been warned already to keep your remarks to yourself and to not interrupt my court again! If I have to tell you again, we will use extreme force to keep your mouth shut. Mrs. Bakugo, you fought and argued all day for a chance to cut into the busy schedules of everyone here today. I strongly recommend you evaluate your actions before this privilege is revoked. Do I make myself understood?” Judge Moriyama spat out viciously, and effectively regained the peace that was disturbed. Both women sat back down, Mitsuki civilly apologizing and Inko scrunching her eyebrows with a slight grunt. “Mrs. Bakugo, tell me about the conversation you had with Ms. Midoriya following her son's imprisonment.”

“Hm. The day before I had picked both my son and hers from school like I did everyday, and when Inko came to pick Izuku up for his appointment with a quirk specialist, she was supposed to call us with an update that night. She didn’t call until about one in the afternoon? She was crying and sounded really distressed. She told my husband and I that Izuku was diagnosed as quirkless, and that Hisashi would be taking him to a private school in America. A school that only accepted quirkless children; taught them how to defend themselves without a quirk and strengthened skills that could help them find good careers as adults in this biased world. S-She sent me the fucking link to the schools website. After that day she fell back into that odd, obsession? With my son. She was at my house every weekend to see him. Even had my son sleepover at her apartment a few times throughout the years.” 

“Ms. Midoriya invited your son to her apartment?”

“We’d all been there. She kept us out of Izuku’s room by saying it was locked to keep it preserved for Izuku when he came back home.” Mitsuki choked at the end. The idea of being so close to Izuku, who was hurting and tortured and in need of someone, anyone , to save him from that place; and not even knowing. A part of her felt like she should’ve done something more. Like she should’ve known better. 

Judge Moriyama scribbled something down on the notepad in front of him before nodding and thanking Mitsuki for answering his questions. He then opened the floor for Mitsuki to make a final statement to the court.

“If you had asked me last month to come make a statement about the woman in front of me, I would have told you nothing but good things. I would have told you about the volunteer work at animal shelters we did together, the way she studied harder than anyone I ever met to become a nurse because she wanted to help people. I would've told you about the brave sacrifice she made to protect her only son. But now I can’t say any of that. I can only say that she is a liar who is not afraid to harm anyone as long as it keeps her safe. She is a deranged lunatic who doesn’t deserve the titles ‘mom’, ‘aunty’, or ‘friend’. Nobody in their right mind would ever do what she did to that little boy. She thought of every terrible thing you could ever do to a person, and inflicted that onto her own child. I believe she deserves to be shown no mercy in her sentencing today, just how she showed no mercy to Izuku.” 

With that, Mitsuki was excused from the witness stand and returned to the spectators area, where she was going to be allowed to watch the rest of the hearing. Shortly after, the detective that had been arguing with her all day silently left while Judge Moriyama read off the long, long list of Inko’s convicted crimes, which made Mitsuki sick her to her stomach when it seemingly never stopped. Eventually it did, and the french doors in the back of the room cracked open. When she turned around, her heart softened and eyes filled with tears as Izuku came into her line of sight. An Izuku she almost didn’t recognize, given his blonde and green curls that reached his shoulder blades. The hero, whose name she could not remember for the life of her, who had rescued him was standing in front of him, gently holding the sides of his face with both hands, looking at him with the same parental love she saw when Masaru looked at Katsuki. 

For the past few days she was sickly worried about Izuku, more-so than the last three years. When she and Masaru watched the trial on the news, they gave absolutely no update on Izuku’s condition at all. They never mentioned him by name or described what he looked like. The only thing they said about his post rescue condition was that he was getting the constant medical treatment he needed. They never specified if he was okay, or if he was even going to survive his injuries. Only that he was, in fact, getting medical attention. But now seeing him standing just meters away, she understood why they never specified. Compared to how he used to look, Izuku looked like was on the brink of death. He was scarily skinny, and the way his cheeks were slightly caved in twisted Mitsuki’s heart painfully. She watched as the hero placed a kiss on his forehead and the way Izuku buried his face into his back as they walked down the path that divided the benches in the spectators area. Behind Izuku followed a blonde man Mitsuki could easily recognize as pro hero Present Mic, thanks to her son’s hero obsession, and the detective she had begged to earlier. Present Mic had seated himself in the spectators area, right behind the table that the lawyers, detective, hero, and Izuku sat at. Izuku was holding the hero's hand, eyes closed tightly as he sat, and gripped the arm of a plush turtle that sat in his lap with the other hand. That was nice. Izuku always had a fondness for sea animals. 

Mitsuki genuinely couldn’t pull her eye’s off of Izuku. Even when Inko spit out the most uncharacteristic, threatening demand at him. Mitsuki couldn’t miss the way he jumped and followed the command unwillingly. She watched Izuku scan the room hurriedly, his eyes skipping right over her incidentally before the hero next to him tapped his shoulder and pointed to Present Mic. Izuku looked at him nervously, but when the voice hero whispered something she couldn’t hear he noticeably relaxed and nodded before sitting forward again. Watched as Izuku whispered into the hero’s ear and then made a hand motion that replicated an explosion. Mitsuki noticed the way Present Mic smiled fondly at the interaction in front of him. He had a familiar look of parental pride and concern on his face. After a few minutes, she noticed the way Izuku pulled his hand away from the hero next to him and how his shoulder rose and fell at a quickening rate. Both hero’s who seemed to be tasked with watching him didn’t seem to notice for what felt like hours of watching this poor, sweet little boy panic in such a heartbreakingly mature way. 

The longer Mitsuki watched, the more she had to fight the urge to comfort him herself. Just as she was convincing herself that the repercussions of her interrupting the court to comfort the kid she’s only ever seen as her nephew, the hero beside him swiftly kneeled in front of him. Izuku started calming down almost instantly after, taking deep breaths that mimicked the man in front of him. He pulled a blue, kids water bottle out of his briefcase and held up for Izuku to take a drink out of. The same way she would hold Katsuki’s cup for him when he was sick. Even though she couldn’t hear the conversation between the two, she could tell the black haired hero was saying all the right things. She was a little surprised to see Izuku pop up from his chair and practically run to the hero that sat behind the rail. Present Mic reached down to grab something before dotingly putting a jacket on Izuku, zipping it up for him and everything. 

When Izuku sat in the same seat she had just minutes ago, and started talking about the start of the horrible treatment he endured, she couldn’t help the tears that managed to escape her eyes. He squeaked out his answers, murmuring out his story. A habit he had since he learned to talk. It was nice to see that at least some things stayed the same. Luckily, for both her and Izuku, Judge Moriyama only asked about the one incident before he started his statement. He listed off about the basic level of human decency he’d been receiving since his rescue, as if it was they were the highest privileges. Mitsuki’s heart sank as he shared what must be only a small amount of trauma he struggled with in his day to day life before announcing that Izuku Midoriya was no longer.

Izuku Aizawa-Yamada. That was now the name of the little boy who sat in front of the court. Mitsuki liked it. Izuku was too good, too kind, to be associated with Inko and Hisashi. They didn’t deserve to share a last name with him. Izuku had tears running down his face by the time he was making his way back to his hero. His dad. His real dad. A man that would clearly not abandon him in his time of need for love and support like Hisashi did. Mitsuki watched as this dad comforted his son, giving him another drink from the water bottle as Inko’s lawyers whispered to her before she stood up.

“Oh god, here it goes.” Mitsuki whispered to herself.

—

“Inko Midoriya, if you wish to address the victim and the court at this time you may. Please consider if you pass on this opportunity, you will not be getting another one. This is your only chance to address your actions.” Judge Moriyama stated. 

Inko whipped her hair over her shoulder before sarcastically thanking the judge. “Thank you for this opportunity .” She wanted to be mad. She wanted to look at Izuku, and be fueled by the same rage she always had. She wanted to be so mad she couldn’t even hear herself think. Because that would be a lot of a better feeling than she had right now. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t watched those two pro heroes dote on him every second he’d been in here already. And she’d be lying if she said at this exact moment, she felt guilty about everything she had done for the first time ever . For the very first time, she thought maybe, what she did all those years ago, was the wrong choice. Inko took a discrete deep breath before staring Izuku in the eye. 

“I want you to know the truth. I know you’re strong, so I know you’ll be able to handle it, so listen close because I won't be repeating myself.” Inko started strongly. She waited until Izuku nodded softly, still sitting on the hero's lap while he held onto him tightly. “I have never, and I mean ever, loved you. I never wanted to be a mom. The only reason you were born was because right after I found out I was pregnant, Mitsuki told me she was already over four months pregnant as well. She fantasized how much fun it would be if we both had kids and made it seem like a fantastic idea. So your father and I decided we would carry the pregnancy out, and if in the first few months we couldn’t make it as good months we were going to put you up for adoption. I wanted you to be a girl, especially after Mitsuki found out she was having a boy. I thought if I had to be a mom, I’d rather be a girl-mom. After Katsuki-”

“Please remove his name from the report. She may say what she wants about me, but my son will not be involved in this.” Mitsuki said, with a tear threatening to fall from her eyes as she interrupted. Izuku’s head whipped back before the two made eye contact for the first time since Izuku was four. His eyes were red and puffy, tears still falling down his cheeks as he tried his hardest to suppress his frown. 

“Request granted, his name will be stricken from the report with every use. Please though, no more interruptions from you.” Judge Moriyama agreed before sighing the last part tiredly. 

“Yes, thank you.” Mitsuki said, not daring to break eye contact with Izuku.

“Ms. Midoriya, please continue.” Izuku finally broke off the staring contest he was basically having with Mitsuki, his eyes glued back into Inko.

“Hmph. After Katsuki was born, everything he did was beyond exceptional. He hardly ever cried, started speaking early and would never say a word unless he could say it perfectly. He was ahead of every milestone set. He was the perfect baby, and it made me excited to have a child of my own. And then you were born. I tried to like you, I really did at first, but you never stopped crying and throwing up and screaming. You were everything I hated about babies and I was ready to give you up just a few days after you were born. Your father and I had a perfect life before you were born, and after it changed everything between us. I decided to go back to work earlier than most people, and your father and I agreed that he would take some time off to watch you since my job paid more. I looked at adoption agencies for weeks, but with every agency there were gruesome horror stories from people who were in them as kids. I never wanted you to get hurt, which is why I decided I would just keep you. Maybe if I pretended well enough, you would’ve actually believed I loved you. Because although I didn’t, I had no plans on ever hurting you. I thought maybe as you got older, you’d grow out of all the crying and whining and maybe you’d be bearable to me. But you never stopped crying. Your whole life you cried at every. Little. Thing. Whether whatever it was made you happy or sad, you were crying. As you and Katsuki got older, he remained to excel at whatever it was he did. You tried to keep up but you are simply just not as impressive as him. You never have been, in anything you did. When you were two, Your father and I took you to the mall with us and while we were there we were approached by a man. He told us how cute he thought you were, even though I didn’t see why, and suggested a business opportunity for us. He told us about a website, where we could set up a live video feed of your room and make money off it. He said there was a high demand for young boys on this particular site, and that you had the most sought after features.” 

Izuku gagged. He let out a choked sob as he flung himself on to the floor, hurting his left knee in the process. Lying his forearms flat down on the ground and resting his head on top of them, Izuku bit into his right arm harshly before dry heaving again. He repeated the action three more times before balling up his fist and clenching his eyes shut. Suddenly he stood up as quickly as he could, shed his jacket off of him and tossed it on the ground. Blood covered teeth bared at Inko, as Izuku took shaky, twitchy breaths and stared so harshly into her eyes, she was genuinely afraid of him at this moment. He held his white knuckled fists out from his sides as blood began to soak the right sleeve of his previously white shirt. “Keep. Talking.” He growled out aggressively.

Shouta stood up quickly. He was in complete shock at the scene in front of him, he didn’t even know what to think. It all happened so fast but yet it feels like time stopped completely. “Izuku, we have to treat your ar-”

“No!” Izuku quickly gave Shouta an angry glance before looking back at Inko even quicker. Like if he had taken his eyes off her, even for the slightest moment, she’d escape and he’d never get to know the whole truth. Blood dripped down his arm and off his knuckles as he reiterated. “Keep talking!” He demanded loudly.

No one dared to move or speak. Izuku has commanded the fear of the eighteen adults in the room, and did so in mere seconds. Inko was genuinely speechless. The reaction was so unlike any other Izuku has had to whatever harsh thing she tells him. She watched as the blood stain grew larger and darker by the second. His tiny fist had multiple streaks of blood running off it, making a small puddle below him.

“I-I knew it was wrong, but your father was just laid off from his job and we were struggling with making ends meet. He was completely against the idea, n-no matter how hard I tried to convince him. I figured that if it was just innocent videos of you playing or sleeping, it wouldn’t have been that bad. I-Izuku, you should really let them fix up your arm really quick-”

“It’s a little late for you to start caring,” Izuku said through gritted teeth before narrowing his eyebrows a bit more. “But if thats how you want to treat me now, you can start by finishing the fucking story!”

A month ago, if Izuku ever said something like that, Inko would’ve killed him. She would genuinely end Izuku’s life for making such a bold demand like that. Now as they stood in this courtroom, with seventeen witnesses, six of which were lawyers, four armed security guards, two pro heroes, a ex-lifelong friend, a detective, a judge, a reporter, and a records keeper, Inko was the one who was scared for her life. Izuku was staring at her like if she didn’t finish the story, he himself would return every beating she ever gave him in one session. Izuku was staring at her like he was feral. Like he was going to kill her.

“Within the first two weeks after putting up the camera, your father got a new, better job. I debated taking the camera down, but I figured that the extra money could be helpful. As you got older, you became more tolerable. Your constant rambling finally started to make sense, and you stopped crying over everything you came in contact with. You still weren’t likable as Katsuki was. Is . Or anywhere near his advanced skills. And then he got his quirk, and boy is that kid going to be a great hero one day. His quirk is powerful and flashy; important elements in a quirk for heroes. And then you turned four, and still had no sign of a quirk at all. After we took you to the quirk specialist, and you were diagnosed as quirkless, your father was pushed over the edge. He was raised by a quirkist family, and the fact that his own son didn’t have even a basic quirk, was something he couldn’t live with. So he left. I blame you for his leaving, you know this. I still do. He was the love of my life, and our lives together were absolutely perfect before you came along. So I took it all out on you. And after I got it all out of my system, I kept you in your room anyways. I see you as nothing less than a stress reliever now. My plan was to keep you in there for as long as I possibly could before getting caught, or before you died. But nothing I tried seemed to kill you, and I ended up getting caught before I could get something to work. That’s the truth. I never wanted you, I never loved you, and I have always seen you as less than anyone else because you really meant that little to me.”

Izuku stared as his shaky breathes through gritted teeth finally slowed down. His eyes never broke contact with Inko, but his jaw unclenched and his fists loosened. He stared as he finished processing everything he was just told, before hesitantly shuffling back to Shouta. Izuku lifted his forearm and allowed Shouta to roll up the sleeve to inspect his wound. He looked at it for a quick moment before pulling his sleeve back down and grabbed Izuku’s arm to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. 

“Judge Moriyama, please excuse us. This needs immediate attention.” Shouta said, bowing politely before gathering Izuku’s jacket and water bottle.

“Go left down the hall, four doors down on the right side. We have a certified medic here at all times.” Judge Moriyama instructed, allowing the two to leave. Izuku bowed as well, but his angry scowl didn’t leave his face. He let Shouta lead him out of the room, his expression staying harsh as his face involuntarily twitched. Once he heard the door behind them click closed, Izuku let all of his walls fall down along with the tears he had been unknowingly holding back. He let out raspy sobs he struggled to follow behind Shouta. 

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to yell at you!” Izuku cried when Shouta stopped in the middle of the hallway to face him. The man’s tightening grip on his arm was sending him into a frantic state.“I-I- I’m so, so s-sorry! Please!”

“Izuku, I’m not upset that you yelled at me. I’m not upset with you whatsoever.” Shouta said calmly after managing to maintain eye contact with him. Izuku’s eyes darted back and forth from Shouta’s eyes to his hand that was firmly clenched around his forearm. Shouta didn’t even realize how tight his grip was until he looked down just in time to watch Izuku try to jerk his arm back. The tip of Izuku’s fingers were turning purple and his own knuckles were white. Quickly, Shouta let go of the poor boy's arm, his eyes darting back to his face with a small gasp. “I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to hurt you, kid. I-I-... I’m sorry, Izuku.”

“W-Why did you do that?” Izuku whimpered out, his expression was undeniably one of betrayal. 

“I was putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding before you faint. I promise, I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I was only trying to help.” Shouta said as he tried to push down the feeling of heartache that was consuming him. He let his rage from listening to Inko get the best of him, and without realizing it he was taking out on Izuku. Physically. Shouta genuinely felt sick with himself. The longer knelt in front of Izuku, the longer Izuku looked at him with those big teary eyes, the worse he felt about it. A tear escaped from his eye before he sniffled. “Izuku, I am so, so sorry I hurt you.”

Izuku didn’t know what to do. On one hand, he was scared and hurt and feeling betrayed. This entire day has been nothing if not the most intense emotional rollercoaster with twists and turns and backwards loops and seemingly no way to get off it. His arm was throbbing, both from the plethora of tooth puncture wounds and from Shouta grabbing him too hard. But then there was the fact that Shouta was crying out apologies to him for something as simple as grabbing his arm too tight. It’s not like he hit him or anything as serious as he’s faced before. Izuku sniffled while wiping his tears away with his left sleeve before reaching out and wiping Shouta’s away too. When Shouta only stared in surprise back, Izuku grabbed onto his hand and started walking down the hallway. “W-We have to keep going. My arm’s not going to get any better standing out here.” 

“Izu…” Shouta started but his voice faded out as he let Izuku lead him down the hallway.

“I-I’m not upset with you whatsoever.” Izuku echoed Shouta’s words. He was whispering as he counted each of the doors they passed before getting to the fourth door and stopping in front of it.

“Izuku,” Shouta said softly, successfully getting his attention this time. “You are, undoubtedly, the strongest person I have ever met.”

—

When the ruling was officially over, Hizashi quickly found his way to the court's medical room. He knocked before opening the door to find Izuku sitting on an exam table getting stitches in his right arm, which was bright red and irritated, and holding on to Shouta’s pointer finger with his left hand. The tension in the room was somehow thicker than it was when Izuku inflicted his wound and screamed demands at the woman who held every bit of power she had over his head. “Hey, guys. How’s the arm?” Hizashi asked to interrupt the deafening silence in the room.

“It’s fine.” Izuku whispered after a long pause, staring at Shouta from the corner of his eye who just took an ever-so shaky breath in return. The nurse that sat on Izuku’s right side tied the stitch closed before placing a gauze pad on top and wrapping rolled gauze around his arm to keep it in place.

“You can take him to see his primary doctor in about two weeks to remove the stitches. Leave the gauze on until tomorrow morning, after which you can leave the wound uncovered until you have them removed.” The nurse said, her eyes darting back and forth between Hizashi and Shouta. Then she faced Izuku. “Make sure to wash the arm at least twice a day and avoid any activities or sports that will put stress on the stitches.”

Shouta and Izuku only nodded silently, so Hizashi verbally acknowledged the instruction and thanked her sincerely before she took her leave. 

“Is it over?” Izuku asked, staring at his feet that hung below him. 

“It is.” Hizashi confirmed.

“H-... How long?” He asked in a heavy, anxious tone. 

“Three life sentences with no possibility of parole.” That got both Shouta and Izuku to look up at him. Izuku looked at him like he couldn’t believe it.

“A-And that’s forever?” He whispered hopefully.

“It’s forever, and then forever again, and then again.”

“And it’s really over?”

“It’s really over, Izuku.” Hizashi smiled gently. Izuku’s mouth fell open slightly as his eyes darted between Hizashi and Shouta. He sat there for what felt like hours before a small smile crept its way onto his face. Suddenly, tears started falling from his eyes and smile only grew wider. 

“I-It’s over!” He celebrated, jumping off the exam table and clumsily making his way into Hizashi’s arms. He ended up dragging Shouta along behind him, refusing to let go of his hand. Hizashi held him close to his chest while Shouta wrapped his arms around the two of them. Well, one arm around Hizashi and one hand gently placed on Izuku’s back. The three of them stood in each other's brace before Izuku finally broke the silence. “I-I’m ready to go home now.”

“Me too, honey.” Hizashi said, swiftly picking Izuku up who let him do so easily and placed his head on his shoulder with a small yawn. 

“Me too.” Shouta said, speaking for the first time since Hizashi entered the room. He carried his briefcase and Izuku’s jacket and water bottle while Hizashi carried Izuku out of the room. They made their way to the back parking lot, only steps away from the car before someone called out to them.

“Excuse me! Please, just a moment!” A blonde woman called out, hesitantly walking towards the three of them. Hizashi recognized her from inside the courtroom, she was the only other person sitting in the spectators area with him. She was the one who seemingly had no problem interrupting Inko mid- sentence. She was most likely the woman named Mitsuki Bakugo. Izuku leaned up at the sound of her voice, shifting around in Hizashi’s arms to face her. Hizashi and Shouta turned to face her before exchanging names with each other. “I’m sorry, I’m sure you guys are ready to get out of here, hell I know I am. It’s just, um… a-are you two Izuku’s foster parents?” 

“Adoptive, but yes. Is there something we can do for you?” Shouta answered, sounding slightly prouder than he usually does at the first word.

“Oh, that’s even better.” She answered, opening her purse and pulling out a stuffed, closed envelope. “I wanted to give you guys these.”

She handed the envelope to Hizashi, who skillfully opened it with one hand while holding Izuku with the other. Inside were two thick stacks of printed pictures. Taking one out, Hizashi, Shouta, and Izuku examined it carefully. It was a picture of Izuku when he was about two years old. He was standing in front of an All Might cardboard cut out, flexing his arms in the same pose. His face was absolutely beaming; his hair was much shorter than it is now, making dark curls stick out at all odd angles. Hizashi flipped over the photo to find a brief backstory that read, “Izuku, age 2. 5/18. Izuku and Katsuki attend their first All Might event at the Library! ” Hizashi picked another picture out at random. This one Izuku was a little bit older, holding up a frog to the camera and smiling nervously. “ Izuku, age 4. 2/27. Izuku caught his first frog with no help! Good job, Izuku!” 

“That’s just about every picture there is of him. There’s a lot with my son, Katsuki,” Izuku perked up at the name, so Mitsuki switched her attention to him directly. “But I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“Thank you, truly. This means a lot to us.” Hizashi responded while still looking at the two pictures in his hand. 

“I’m sorry if this comes across rude, but I need you to promise me you’re going to take care of him. I need to know he’s going to be safe.” Mitsuki said, changing the light tone in her voice to a more strict one. “Izuku was like a second son to me, and I won’t allow anyone else to cause him harm. If you aren’t serious about raising him-”

“Mrs. Bakugo, I promise you. We care very deeply about Izuku, and we want nothing but the absolute best for him.” Shouta answered almost defensively. Mitsuki pressed her lips together with a slight smile. She nodded understandingly before speaking again.

“I believe you. I’m sorry, I guess I’m a little emotional about…everything. Please, please let me know if you need anything o-or if you need someone to watch him. My phone number is written on the inside of the envelope, just reach out whenever.” Mitsuki said a little tearfully. Hizashi and Shouta thanked her again, which she took as her cue to leave. Just as she was about to turn away, Izuku called out.

“A-Aunty Mitsuki?” He squeaked out. Mitsuki’s heart squeezed when she heard it, previously completely oblivious to how badly she needed to hear him called her that again.

“Yeah?” She turned back around, smiling to keep herself from crying.

“Is Kacchan… Is Kacchan okay?”

“He misses you, but he’s made a few new friends. He still plans on becoming a pro hero too and he says the first thing he’s going to do is make a law that makes quirk discrimination illegal. He says he wants to make it safe enough for you to come back. Him and his friends even volunteer at different charities and soup kitchens most weekends.” Mitsuki all but bragged. She was proud of the person her son was becoming. Maybe he was a little brash and those who only just met him could think he was too aggressive, but she knew better. Izuku smiled at that, quickly looking at Hizashi before yawning and laying his head back down on the man's shoulder. 

“I’m proud of him.” Izuku said shyly. 

“Yeah, I am too.” Mitsuki smiled.

“We better get him home, his neck tends to be sore after falling asleep in the car.” Hizashi nudged Izuku’s head a little, making him giggle softly. They all said their final goodbyes before Hizashi strapped Izuku into his seat. Hizashi and Shouta climbed in the car immediately after, and turned to look Izuku in the eye.

“Let’s go home now, kid.” Shouta said gently.“Let’s go home.” He echoed, happy that the seemingly endless nightmare he was living in for the last three years, was finally over .

Chapter Text

The next two days were upsettingly silent.

Izuku spent the entirety of Saturday in his bed. In one singular position; curled up on his left side, with his bandaged arm in front of him. The only movement he made was when he let Hizashi pull his arm far enough off the bed to wash his stitches with a warm, soapy rag and warm water to rinse it with. They both had their jaws clenched, unable to tear their eyes from the dark purple bruise that completely wrapped around his forearm. He then left that arm outside of his blanket for the rest of the day. Somewhat out of fear of his blanket somehow hurting his arm more, but mostly to force Hizashi and Shouta to look at it. To force himself to look at it. 

Hizashi and Shouta were sick with worry. Izuku was refusing to eat; not even glancing at whatever they put in front of him. They tried multiple times to get him up and out of bed or at least to sit up, but it was like Izuku couldn’t even hear them. They tried sitting with him, reading him his favorite stories. Hizashi even suggested talking to Hitoshi who coincidentally tried to contact him at the same time. But Izuku just laid there silently, eyes flickering from his arm in front of him and the wall he faced. He never cried or even made a sound besides the occasional sigh.

Sunday was better, but still not ideal. Izuku still didn’t leave his bed, but he was at least sitting up and responding to the pair, albeit non verbally or in single word responses. He tried to say he wasn’t hungry, but Hizashi and Shouta still brought him food that he at least picked at. 

“Hizashi, I don’t know about this.” Shouta sighed as he slumped onto the corner of their bed. Hizashi was standing in their bathroom as he finished washing his face. “Maybe Nedzu will give you this first week off? What if Izuku has a nightmare o-or he lashes out again or… I can call Nedzu right now-”

“Do not. Put your phone back down.” Hizashi quickly interrupted. “It’s going to be fine. If and when Izuku needs support, you will be here to provide that. He doesn’t trust anyone more than you.”

“That was before I hurt him.” Shouta murmured. “He’s upset about it. You know it, I know it. He could barely take his eyes off it yesterday. And you know, what if it happens again? If I try to comfort him and I’m unknowingly hurting him, again , then what? He has no one else to go to if you’re gone.” 

Hizashi turned off the light of their bathroom and sat next to his fiancé, rubbing small circles into his shoulder blade. “He’s upset, yes. And you are too. He knows you didn’t mean to hurt him, but it’s not surprising he’s pushing himself away right now. His trust is just wavering; but it’s not gone.”

“Hizashi, I-I’m scared to be alone with him. I’m scared I’m going to hurt him again.”

Just then, there was an ever-so slight knock on their door. Hizashi gently called out an invitation to come in. The door creaked open slowly before Izuku let out a small sniffle, finally pushing the door open enough to reveal himself. He stood there nervously with his toy turtle dangling by its arm from his left hand. His eyes darted from his bed room to the one in front of him, and he let out a conflicted whine before taking one shaky step forward. 

“Honey, are you okay?” Hizashi asked, his eyebrows drawn together. 

Izuku’s eyes pricked with tears as his mouth tensed; trying to hold his crying back like he’s been doing successfully for the past two days. “Um, n-no.” 

“Is there something we can do to help?” 

“I-I don’t think so.” He whispered

“Do you want to talk about it?” Izuku was shaking his head before Shouta could even finish the sentence.

“No.” He whimpered as his tears started over flowing in his eyes and streaming down his cheeks. His knees started shaking from how stiff and heavy they felt after not standing in two days. Just as the two started to stand and make their way to him, Izuku looked up from the ground and directly into Shouta’s eyes, like he was trying to beg him for the help and attention his voice couldn’t communicate.  

“Come here, kid.” Shouta whispered. Izuku finally let his guard down completely, tears dripping from his eyes more and more with each uneasy step he took forward. He wiped at his eyes pointlessly with his palms and wrists, causing Twerp the turtle to fall on to his shell on the ground, while strands of pale blonde and green curls curtained his face. A hand cupped the back of his head gently before he found himself pressed into Shouta’s chest, his arms wrapped around him securely. 

“I-I just d-on’t…” Izuku hiccuped in between sobs before weakly grabbing handfuls of Shouta’s shirt and pulling himself closer into the protective embrace. Shouta ran his hand over his hair and hugged the slightest bit tighter, whispering comforting sentiments into his hairline followed by small kisses on the top of his head. 

Hizashi smiled softly as he watched Shouta’s new found parental instinct take over, saying and doing everything like he’s been doing this for Izuku’s whole life. Shouta took a few minutes to realize Hizashi was waiting to make eye contact with him, but he was more than willing to wait to let the two have their moment. He gave Shouta a small smile while he continued to rub his shoulder in small circles before mouthing silently, “There is nobody he trusts more than you.”

Izuku stays in Shouta’s embrace as he finally lets out everything he’s been penting up for the past few days. After what feels like an eternity of crying, his nose feels simultaneously runny and stuffy and his head is pounding. And incredibly exhausted. He looked up at Shouta for the first time since entering the room before looking at Hizashi who was in the midst of a yawn.

 “I’m s-sorry for bothering you.” He whispered almost inaudibly. 

“You aren’t bothering us. You never have; you never will.” Shouta promised quietly. He mimicked Hizashi’s hand movements on his shoulder onto Izuku’s. Izuku let out a whine like he didn’t believe what Shouta was saying but he didn’t argue against it, just pressing his head into the man's chest. Tears pricked his eyes again as he yawned. “Are you feeling up to talking now, or do you need some more time?”

“Time.” Izuku murmured. 

“Take as much time as you need. We’ll always be here when you’re ready.” Shouta said as he ever-so-slightly gently pushed the boy back enough to see his face, as red and puffy as it was. He wiped his tear stained cheeks with his thumbs while Izuku nodded softly. 

“Izuku,” Hizashi called out gently, effectively gaining his attention. “Do you want to sleep in here tonight?”

Izuku nodded almost instantly. He was sick of lying alone in his bed. Sick of his own mind continuously making him re-live Inko’s dreadful monologue and her harsh treatment he had no choice but to endure. His mind felt like it was tearing itself apart. His rational thoughts appeared like a smoke flare on a windy day; a slight signal of hope that quickly bled into nothingness. He was tired of staring down at his arm while he argued with himself over what actually happened. Tired of not being able to do anything to stop the depressing loop of sleep and overthinking. He was just sick and tired. 

“Go get Twerp then, I’ll go get your blanket okay?” Hizashi said with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. Izuku looked around his feet slowly before Shouta redirected him to look behind himself. He took a few wobbly steps and picked up the previously forgotten about toy by the arm. Giving it a quick examination, Izuku turned on his heels and slowly went back to the pair waiting for him. 

“Did I hurt him? W-When I dropped him?” He asked sadly. 

“No, no. He’s okay. See how he’s still smiling?” Hizashi pointed out as he stood up. Izuku nodded unsurely before hesitantly hoisting himself up onto the bed. Hizashi gently patted his head before walking out of the room, only to poke his head back in a moment later. “Do you want me to bring anything else from your room? Your pillow, or another toy?” 

“Pillow and, um, radio? P-Please?” Izuku asked timidly.

“The radio Froggy gave you?” Hiashi asked, which Izuku nodded in response to. “Okay. I’ll bring it, but it’s too late to talk to him right now. He’s already sleeping because he has school tomorrow morning.”

“C-Can I use it in the morning? Before he leaves?” He tried not to sound too disappointed. He knew it was late. Hizashi and Shouta already said good night to him before he got up and came in here. But still, it was hard not to feel embarrassed.

“That’s a great idea, honey! I’m sure he’d love that.” Hizashi smiled before going back down the hall to the boy’s room. It only took maybe a minute at most to collect his blanket, pillow, and radio before turning his desk lamp and going back to his and Shouta’s room. Somehow in the minute he was gone, Izuku was already curled up in the middle of the bed with Twerp in his arms and fast asleep. Shouta just shrugged like he didn’t know how it happened either. With a little rearranging, they set up the pillow and blanket for Izuku to sleep for the rest of the night on Shouta's side of the bed. The pair had no issue sharing the other half with each other. It was still more than enough room seeing as their bed was unnecessarily huge. Shouta gently lifted Izuku from the middle of the bed and placed his head carefully on his pillow as Hizashi covered him with his blanket. They left his radio next to his pillow and each placed a small kiss on the top of his head before going to sleep themselves. 

—

Izuku woke up slowly, taking everything in one sense at a time. He was laying on his stomach with his nose pressed into the mattress as he took in a deep breath to fully take in the smell; the familiar scent of coconut, vanilla, and coffee wafting in his nose. It smelt like Shouta. He smiled. He ran his fingertips over the sheets below him until he found his blanket, which he took a handful of and rubbed his thumb over. When he finally opened his eyes, his sights immediately fell onto the nightstand next to the bed. The lamp on it was still on like it was last night with a pair of reading glasses he’d seen Shouta wearing a few times while he was working leaning up against it. There was also a picture of him. It wasn’t one Mitsuki gave them days before, it was taken pretty recently. Actually, Izuku remembers when Hizashi took it. Shouta and him were sitting on the couch together, curled up in a big knitted blanket, while Shouta read to him one of the books his students were assigned to read, even though he had to stop every few minutes to help clarify the story. Izuku liked the story, but he was mostly just happy to have someone read to him. Hizashi had them both smile before taking it, and Izuku felt a little awkward smiling for the camera, but he looked as happy as ever. Shouta was smirking while barely looking up from the book. That was a good day.

He was so lost in thought over the memory, Izuku barely heard Shouta coming in. He just appeared, squatting in front of him to face him with a smile. He said good morning and something about breakfast, which Izuku nodded to happily and reached his arms out. Shouta carried him down stairs in a tight hug as Izuku held on to Twerp with his left hand and his radio with his right while swinging his feet. 

Hizashi was standing in the kitchen, wearing his full Present Mic costume for the first time in front of Izuku, who had a mixed reaction. 

“What? Ya don’t dig it?” He asked in his full hero persona.

“How do you get your hair to do that?” Izuku asked, purposefully ignoring the question so he wouldn’t have to decide between lying or hurting his feelings. 

“A horrid amount of hair spray and hair gel.” Shouta answered for him as he set Izuku’s breakfast in front of him and tied his hair back for him so he could eat without it getting in the way.

“Aw c’mon, Sho! You know you love it!” Hizashi defended. 

“Oh, yeah. I love spending more money on hair products than on food each month.” Shouta said with a playful tone. Izuku watched as the two lovingly bickered back and forth, appreciating the cozy environment as he calculated each of his bites. After a few minutes they settled the conversation with a kiss before Hizashi looked down at his watch. 

“Hey, if you wanted to talk to Hitoshi before he goes to school, you should go now.” He nodded to the radio next to Izuku. He looked up right after taking another bite before grabbing the radio quickly and getting up. Chewing as fast as he could, he took a sip from his water cup to wash it down.

“May I go in the backyard? Just really quick?” Izuku was holding himself back from running to the door.

“Yeah, kid. Tell him we say good luck!” Shouta said.

Izuku bowed quickly before shuffling to the door. Turning on the radio as he closed the door behind him, Izuku picked a chair that sat around the fireplace and pushed the button. “Hello?”

…

“H-Hitoshi?”

*Good morning.*

“Good morning! Y-You have school today right?” Izuku asked like he didn’t already know.

*Oh… yeah. I do.*

“I wanted to say, have a good day at school! And Mr. Shouta and Mr. Hizashi says good luck.”

*Thanks. I wish you could come with me.*

Izuku smiled and wiggled his toes. “Me too. But you can still play with your friends there, right?” 

*...Right.*

“Do you have a lot?”

*Y-Yeah, a bunch.*

“That makes sense! W-Well, I hope you have a lot of fun today!”

*You too. Watch a good movie for me.*

“Okay! Say hi to your friends for me!”

*Mhm. My mom’s calling me, I got to go. Talk later?*

“Yeah! Bye! Over and out!”

*Over and out.*

Izuku smiled as he tiptoed back to the door and let himself in. Hizashi and Shouta were standing in the same spot in the kitchen, sipping from their mugs and talking quietly. They smiled at his return before joining him at the table so he could finish his breakfast. “Hitoshi said he wishes I could go with him.”

Hizashi and Shouta gave each other quick glances before turning back to him. “Oh yeah?”

“But I can’t go, so he’s going to play with his friends there. He says he has a bunch!” Izuku said, a bit sad at first but his tone cheered up towards the end. 

“He said that?” Shouta asked with his brows knitted together, but Izuku missed that. He was too busy pushing his food around to find his next bite. Still, he nodded happily and the three left the conversation at that. 

It was shaping out to be a pretty good day, a much needed good day. Until Hizashi took the last drink of his coffee and stood up.

“Alright, guys. I should start headin’ out.” He said with a stretch. Izuku’s smile dropped immediately, his mouth twitching downwards. 

“Already?” He asked sadly, his shoulders caving in a little. Hizashi started to walk to the kitchen to wash his cup, but Shouta stood quickly and took it for him so he could talk to Izuku. He thanked him silently before taking a seat next to the boy. 

“Yeah, honey.” Hizashi gave a soft smile as Izuku pushed his plate away from himself. He didn’t say anything, just looked Hizashi in the eye and felt himself frown. “I wish I could stay too, but I won’t be gone for too long.”

“Back for bedtime?” Izuku mumbled quietly. 

“Of course! I’ll be back before dinner, I promise.” Hizashi gently placed his hand on top of his untamed curls. Izuku let him keep his hand there, but his frown never left. “How about I call you and Shouta later? Around lunch time?”

Izuku still didn’t fully respond. He just nodded slowly after a moment. He follows Hizashi when he goes to put his shoes on, Shouta following them moments later.

“Drive safe, Hizashi. I need you home in one piece tonight.” Shouta whispered the second part in his ear, disguising it as a kiss on the cheek. 

“You worry too much, my love.” Hizashi murmured, nodding in agreement anyways. 

“You give me too much to worry about, my love .” Shouta mocked. Hizashi only laughed in response, placing a smiling kiss onto his lips and wrapping his arms around his waist. 

Izuku watched the interaction silently. It was safe to say he adored the two's relationship. He could hardly ever pull his eyes away from them when they interacted with each other, in love with the way they so easily showed their affection for each other. To him, this is exactly what true love looks like. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever fall in love, or even if he wants to, but in the back of his mind he desperately hopes it would look like this. His train of thought broke when he realized Hizashi was squatting in front of him, trying to gain his attention.

“I’ll see you when I come back, okay?” He smiled softly. Izuku opened his mouth to talk but his words got caught in his throat, resulting in a slight cough. He then opted for a small nod as an embarrassed blush dusted his cheeks. Hizashi gave a quick peck on the cheek and ruffled his hair as he stood up. And before he knew it, Hizashi was already outside, closing the door behind him. Izuku looked up at Shouta, who was standing at the edge of the genkan next to him. 

“Alright, kiddo, just me and you now. Do you want to go finish breakfast?” Shouta asked as he smiled down at him. Izuku shook his head slowly and stared down at his feet. “Alright, what do you want to do?” 

Izuku still wasn’t responding verbally, only shrugging and continuing to look anywhere but Shouta’s eyes. 

“Are you okay, kid? You seem awfully quiet.” Shouta asked as he crouched down to the kids level. Izuku, again, was silent. This time he didn't give as much as a nod or a shrug. “Izuku?”

“Do you really like Mr. Hizashi? Like a whole lot?” Izuku finally whispers after a few silent moments. 

“Uh, yeah.” Shouta answered a bit confused, but ultimately just glad that Izuku was at least talking to him. “I more than like him, I love him. Why do you ask?” 

Izuku just took a deep breath and fiddled with his fingers. “I-If he doesn’t come back, what…” He trailed off, far too nervous to finish the question. Too nervous to even think about it. 

It finally clicked for Shouta what he was getting at. It explained his hesitancy to let Hizashi leave, the lack of fight he put up for it, and his self-concealing silence. He shifted from squatting, which was honestly starting to hurt his knees a bit, to simply sitting on the floor and inviting Izuku to do the same. “ If Hizashi ever decides that he doesn’t want to come back, that’s his decision. I’d be really, really upset but that wouldn’t change anything here. I would still be a teacher and a hero; and you would still be just as free to do what you want. Unless you were in school in this hypothetical, then you’d still have to go to school.”

“Hypo-thet-ical?” Izuku cocked his head to the side a bit, sitting with his back up against the wall opposite from the one Shouta was leaning against. 

“Like ‘what if’ questions. Ideas and scenarios that aren’t real, but we think and talk about them like they were for a little bit.” Izuku nodded slowly, still not looking Shouta in the eye.

“When do I get to go to school?” He switched the topic, unwilling to even attempt to continue with the previous one. 

“Well, do you understand why you can’t go right now?”

“Because I get too scared.” Izuku said so matter-of-factly. Like it was the only possible reason and that fact bothered him deeply.

“No. You can’t go to school yet, mainly, because it’s not safe. We got Inko, and we put her in jail, but there are still other people we have to keep you safe from.” Shouta said calmly. The truth is he and Tsukauchi had been looking for the pedophile ring Inko had connections with, but they were damn near untraceable. He had been staying up late almost every night after tucking Izuku into bed to review the very little evidence of the group they actually have. And, honestly? They are nowhere closer to finding them than they were a week ago. So for the time being Izuku was kept at home to stay out of the public eye, and the eyes of those who want to hurt him. 

“But they aren’t at school.” Izuku said quietly. 

“We don’t know that, kiddo. We don’t know where they are or how many of them there are. But they can’t hide forever. Tsukauchi, Hizashi and I will find them and make sure they don't get away with what they did.” Izuku thought for a moment before a tear dripped down one side of his face and he slowly crawled his way over next to Shouta. He wiped the boy's face with his thumb lightly and gave his cheek a slight squeeze. “We’ll get ‘em, kid. I promise.” 

Izuku sniffed and nodded, tracing his finger over Shouta’s hand before shyly grabbing hold of it. Shouta smiled and enjoyed the next few minutes of silence of the two of them sitting together.

“Hey, want to help me with something fun later?”

Izuku nodded and gave a small but genuine smile. “Yeah.”

Chapter Text

Hitoshi tried to have a good day. Really, he did. By trying to get out of going to school. He tried a fake cough, keeping his hands over his face for a faux fever, he even claimed a headache that didn’t actually exist. But sadly, his mom knew him just too well to befooled. She called his bluff much quicker than he thought and laid his school uniform on his bed, leaving him to dress himself while she made breakfast. 

“Psh, yeah right.” He mumbled after she closed the door, rolling onto his side and covering his head with his blanket. Minutes pass and he's on the verge of falling back asleep when Nemuri knocks on his door. 

“Hey, all ready?” She asked while opening the door slightly. Hitoshi didn’t respond. Didn’t dare to move either. He hoped maybe if he just stayed in that spot she’d forget he was there and she’d leave him at home while she went to work. Seemed like a flawless plan to him. “Hitoshi, I didn’t forget you're here. Sit up, please.”

Damn, so close.

Hitoshi sighed heavily and sat up reluctantly. Nemuri was still standing in the doorway with her arms crossed and a mix of disapproval and concern on her face. She moved across the room and sat next to him. “What’s going on, froggy? You knew this was coming today.” 

“I-I’m having a lot of bad memories?” Hitoshi lied. Honestly he doesn’t even remember a whole lot about what exactly he went through before his mom adopted him. He remembers the big scary stuff his ex-foster parents put him through, but he was so young when it happened and it felt like so long ago, the memories and bad days weren’t as frequent. 

“If you don’t want to go to school, I understand. That doesn’t mean you can lie about having a hard time like that. I’m going to ask you if you’re lying to me, and if you tell me the truth right now I won’t be mad.” Nemuri said after a sigh. She loves him, and he knows that. He loves her too. Which is why he started to feel guilty about lying about his trauma bothering him. “Hitoshi, are you lying about having bad memories to get out of school?”

“...Yes.” Hitoshi said, pulling his blanket over his shoulders. “Mom, I really don’t want to go.”

Nemuri pulled him into a side hug and pressed a kiss into the side of his head. She hated this; watching her son do everything in his power to avoid going to school. Well, to avoid the other kids he goes to school with. The actual school part was something he actually enjoyed. Reading, math, history; he loved it. Mostly science. The private school he was enrolled in was one of the top elementary schools around them. Too bad the kids there are stuck-up privileged little assholes. “I know, baby. But there’s nothing we can do just yet. I promise I’m looking for other schools for you but you have to finish the year here. Next year will be different; new school, new teachers, new kids.”

“I could just stay home for the rest of the year!” Hitoshi tried desperately. 

“You know you can’t. Come on, froggy, it’s only a little bit longer. Do you think you can hold out? For me?” Nemuri pleaded. She wishes she could let him come with her to U.A, but Nedzu said there’s not enough probable cause to allow him that privilege. Coincidentally, that’s also what Hitoshi’s school said when she requested to transfer him out in the middle of the year. Apparently, being ignored by everybody in his grade and having “a few light jokes” made about him wasn’t considered bullying in their eyes. And because it’s some snobby private school, they know exactly what to say to parents who are thinking about taking their children out. Less students means less unnecessarily high school tuitions are coming in; so there’s no way they’d let parents leave without putting up a fight. 

Hitoshi turned his back to his mom a bit to grab hold of her arm that wrapped around him. He wanted to say no. Every part of him wanted to scream and cry and throw a tantrum in the slightest chance she’d let him stay home. Or at least not make him go there . But there was also the urge to just stick it out for the rest of the year and make his mom proud. So with the deal that he could choose anywhere he wanted to get takeout from for dinner tonight, he let his mom give him one last squeeze before helping him get dressed for school. He went through the routine of eating breakfast, brushing his teeth and whatever miscellaneous things he needed to complete to get ready for school. He was in the middle of making sure his backpack was ready with everything he’d need for the day when he heard his radio go off.

*Hello?* 

Hitoshi hesitated before deciding it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Izuku today. He’s been wanting to for the last two days, but when he tired on Saturday, Shouta answered instead and said Izuku was feeling “a bit out of it” and would reach out when he was ready. Honestly, Hitoshi wasn’t really expecting him to ever contact him again. Maybe he was just too much of a pessimist.

*H-Hitoshi?*

Hitoshi grabbed his radio off his bedside table and took a quick deep breath before pressing the button. “Good morning.” 

*Good morning! Y-You have school today right?*

“Oh…” Hitoshi said, trying not to sound disappointed. He wanted to talk to him, but not about school. “Yeah. I do.”

*I wanted to say, have a good day at school! And Mr. Shouta and Mr. Hizashi says good luck.*

“Thanks. I wish you could come with me.” He said before he could think. That was only half true. If Izuku could go to school with him, then he wouldn’t have to be alone all the time. He could finally have a friend at school and maybe the other kids would at least stop making jokes about him. On the other hand, Izuku would see how much of a loser he is. How every other kid in his class walks all over him and he doesn’t do anything about it. He doesn’t need his only friend knowing he was a friendless loner at school. Izuku didn’t even know any other kids and if he did, Hitoshi probably wouldn’t be his first choice for a friend. 

*Me too. But you can still play with your friends there, right?* 

Shit. Now what? Hitoshi tapped his foot rapidly before his mouth opened. “...Right.”

*Do you have a lot?*

“Y-Yeah, a bunch.” He lied straight through his teeth. Nemuri called him downstairs but Izuku was still talking. 

*That makes sense! W-Well, I hope you have a lot of fun today!*

“You too. Watch a good movie for me.” He said, hoping to live vicariously through him. 

*Okay! Say hi to your friends for me!*

“Mhm.” Another lie. Even if he did have someone to talk about Izuku with, his mom specifically told him last night that he couldn’t bring him up at all. Because no one else knows him, so they don’t know he’s the kid they keep talking about on the news. Just then, Nemuri called his name again. “My mom’s calling me, I got to go. Talk later?”

*Yeah! Bye! Over and out!*

“Over and out.” Hitoshi said before tossing the radio on the foot of his bed and grabbing his backpack with a sigh.

He apologized to his mom while he walked down the stairs, which she stood at the bottom of with his jacket in hand. Together, they put their shoes on before heading to the car. Hitoshi buckled himself in and tried to ignore the already growing feeling of dread taking over him. He told her briefly about the conversation he had with Izuku, conveniently not mentioning the lies he told him. Nemuri chippered happily the rest of the car ride, which he really did try to pay attention to but the closer they got to his school the more his thoughts took control of his mind. Just as the school building came into view, Hitoshi shrunk into his seat. 

“Can’t I just go with you?” Hitoshi tried as a last-ditch attempt. 

“I wish you could, froggy. But I have to work and you have to go to school and learn… something.” Nemuri glanced up at him through the rearview mirror. 

“I already know everything they teach us! I read all the books they gave us, so why do I have to keep going just because no one else knows how to read in their free time?” He argued. 

“Because you weren’t really supposed to read ahead, brainiac.” She retorted as she pulled into the school's drop off area. Hitoshi let out a shaky sigh. “Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think today.” 

Hitoshi grumbled under his breath as he watched the sidewalk passing by slower and slower before the car came to a full stop. “C-Can you pick me up early today?”

“No, Hitoshi. You need to go to school, and I can’t leave work to come get you. I don’t want you calling Shouta either. He’s staying home to take care of Izuku; not to be your chauffeur.” She said gently. Hizashi, Shouta, and Oboro were all listed as Hitoshi’s emergency contacts who he could call to come pick him up without his moms express permission. That was a privilege he abused more often then he should. Oboro was usually his first choice to call because he always came to get him, no questions asked. But Oboro was out of the country on a mission for the past month, so he wasn’t an option right now. Neither was Hizashi, since he worked at U.A with his mom. Basically, he was shit out of luck. 

Hitoshi sighed before unbuckling his seat belt. “Bye, mom. See ya later.” 

“Good bye, froggy. I love you lots and I hope you have a good day.” She turned around so she was actually facing him. Hitoshi mumbled back an “I love you too” while avoiding eye contact. He placed his hand on the door handle but didn’t do anything, just taking a few deep breaths. “Hey.” She said to get his attention.

“Hm?” He looked back softly. 

“You have a friend waiting for you to come back home. Focus on that.” Nemuri smiled. Hitoshi smiled slightly too, before nodding gently and finally opening the door.

Hitoshi climbed out of the car carefully, grabbing his backpack out and slinging over his shoulder before closing the door. Taking a few steps away, he fully turned around to face his mom in the car to give her one last sad look in hopes she’ll tell him to get back in the car and take him home. Instead she blew him a kiss and waved goodbye, to which he shrunk into his shoulders a bit and hoped that the slight embarrassed blush that appeared on his cheeks would disappear before he walked through the school building. Hitoshi turned back around and slowly started making his way to the entrance. He quickly wiped the tear that escaped his eye when he heard his mom pull away from the curb and kept his head down until he walked through the front doors. Quietly, he found his locker and switched his shoes before walking down the halls close to the walls and to his classroom. 

Unsurprisingly, he was the first person there. 

Hitoshi moved to his desk and placed his backpack on the back of his chair. He sat down, keeping his arms crossed under his head and his face down until the bell rings. He heard his teacher, Mr. Odaka, come in shortly after, not saying a word to him. Other kids came in, who ignored Hitoshi but all greeted each other. Eventually the bell rang and everyone was sitting in their respective seats as Mr. Odaka started class with a roll call. He asked a few of the class personalities how their summer breaks went, which just made Hitoshi depressingly aware of how boring his was. After a few agonizing minutes of that, Mr. Osaka started his lecture on multiplication. Something Hitoshi had already figured out, so he sat silently and zoned out until a worksheet was placed in front of him. He watched as his classmates moved around him and partnered up with their friends until he was the last one sitting by himself. The teacher shot him a look, silently asking if he should try to find a pair that would take him in as a third partner but Hitoshi quickly yet subtly shook his head. It was embarrassing enough that he was the only person without a partner, he really didn’t need attention brought to it. Or worse, having nobody “volunteer” to let him join their group. Or have someone do it out of pity. He didn’t need that right now. Hitoshi finished his worksheet quickly and sat with his head down again while he waited for the recess bell to ring. 

After a while it does, and while each of his classmates leave the room to play outside, Hitoshi reaches inside his backpack and pulls out a single sheet of paper. He meticulously folded it until it took the shape of a frog, and then colored it in different shades of green, yellow, and blue. Once he was done, he gave it a quick examination and placed it back on his desk and began pressing the back side of it down to launch it in the air, before landing back on the desk. Hitoshi did this for the rest of recess until the bell rang again and his classmates started to pile back into the room. The rest of the day was pretty much the same. No one talked to him and he didn’t try to talk to anyone in return. He stayed under a tree in a small patch of grass during lunch, watching from a slight distance as his entire class and a few kids from the other class in his grade played a game they called “Extreme Tag”. He wondered if Izuku would like that game. When the bell rang he made sure he was the third to last person to sit down so he wouldn’t stand out.

Mr. Odaka had them write a short story about something they did over the summer, and as easy as it sounded, Hitoshi was stumped. He stayed inside for the whole five weeks of summer and was bedridden for a week and a half of it. He left the house about four times total, not including when he went to Hizashi and Shouta’s house. Sure he played games with his mom and watched movies; things he found fun, but on paper it wasn’t much. After a few more minutes of silently staring down at his paper, he wrote about some partially made up story about playing hide n seek with his mom at a park. It’s not like Mr. Odaka was going to fact check any of these. Once he was done, Hitoshi meekly walked his paper to his teachers desk and checked the time. Just one more hour until the school day is over and he can go home. He tiptoed his way back to his desk and spent his free time reading a book he brought from home while waiting for his classmates to finish their assignment. Time passed and he heard his teacher's chair scoot backwards as he was standing up. Hitoshi didn’t think much of it until he noticed the stack of turned in papers in his hand. 

“These were all great you guys! I can tell you all kept up with your studies over the summer.” Mr. Odaka smiled as he leaned against his desk. “I wanted to show you all one that was done perfectly. His grammar, punctuation, and spelling were all correct as well as even conveying a mundane situation to be something much more exciting. Hitoshi Shinso, would you please stand up?” 

No. No! NO! NO! This can’t be happening right now! His entire plan of going through the day unnoticed, ruined. All because he wrote his story too well? Damn it!

Hitoshi took a silent deep breath before timidly standing up. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, which made his face and ears burn hot. He was expecting his teacher to simply praise his writing quickly so he could sit back down, but instead he started reading his paper out loud for everyone to hear. The longer he stood there looking down at his feet so he wouldn’t have to look anybody in the eye, the worse his embarrassment got. It went on for what felt like eternity until his teacher finally finished reading, before he allowed Hitoshi to sit down again. Just when he thought his humiliation couldn’t get any worse, somebody's hand shot up. Not just somebody, Takeshi Ara. The only one who was brave enough to subtly bully Hitoshi; and the only one clever enough to find a way to get away with it. 

“Ara?” Mr. Odaka permitted him to speak. 

“I just have a question about Shinso’s story.” He said before turning to meet Hitoshi’s eyes directly. “Your mom wasn’t too busy saving people to play hide n seek? Since she’s a hero and all?” 

His words cut Hitoshi deep. He wasn’t sure why, but none of his classmates truly believed his mom was the Pro Hero: Midnight. They didn’t share the same family name, because Hitoshi wanted to keep his birth parents’ to honor them. Apparently they all asked their parents if Midnight ever had kids, and because they were all around her age they claimed she was never pregnant. As if that was the only way somebody could have a kid. But perhaps critical thinking has gone out of style. If anyone were to simply look up Hitoshi's name on the internet, there would be paparazzi pictures of him along with one public interview and even online columns of predictions for his possible future in heroics. Most children who had hero parents had caught the attention of the press. Some were more in the spotlight. Most more than him. Others were completely concealed from the press. Hitoshi was allowed to choose which he wanted, but the paparazzi got pictures of him and his mom in public together and he was the talk of Japan for a week. 

“No. Just because she’s a hero doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a life outside of it. She’s a person, just like everyone else.” Hitoshi answered timidly, not looking Takeshi in the eye. 

“There’s no need to get defensive; it was just a question. Not everyone is raised by heroes after all.” Takeshi said smugly. 

“I wasn’t being defensive, I was just answering your question.” Hitoshi whispered to himself. 

“Alright then! Shinso, thank you for your insight.” Mr. Odaka said with an oblivious smile. This guy may be book smart, but he couldn’t read the social cues of his students for the life of him. He looked down at his watch before looking back at the class. “It’s time for recess, so let's pick our class helpers and the rest of you can head out to the playground.”

Hitoshi sighed quietly while he waited for whatever unlucky two would have to spend their last recess cleaning the classroom instead of enjoying their free time to get picked. He watched as his teacher picked up a cup of popsicle sticks that had each kid's name on it. The first name he drew was Takeshi’s. That made Hitoshi smirk to himself for a moment. But when his name was called next, his smile immediately faded. He sat there in a mix of shock and despair as the rest of his classmates shuffled outside. Mr. Odaka only sat with them while they began cleaning for five minutes before leaving the two boys alone to make copies of tomorrow's assignments. Hitoshi had his back to Takeshi while he cleaned the chalkboard and the other swept. The silence was deafening and the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Hitoshi was more than willing to let the silence drag on, but nothing else was going his way today, so why would this. 

“Can I give you some advice?” Takeshi said a bit harshly. It didn’t matter how Hitoshi responded. He was going to say it regardless. 

‘What?” Hitoshi didn’t take his eyes off the blackboard.

“People would probably like you more if you didn’t lie so much.” Takeshi had stopped sweeping completely, sitting on top of somebody else's desk while staring through the back of Hitoshi’s head. When Hitoshi turned around he was met with Takeshi’s icy cold stare. 

“What?” He asked again.

“There’s nothing wrong with being raised by normal people. You lied about your mom when you got here so you could make yourself feel special, but we see through it.” Takeshi said it like it was plainly obvious. Hitoshi didn’t know what to do to get them to believe him. He told them to look it up, he’s shown pictures of his mom and him together but nothing he did seemed to convince them. 

“Why would I lie about that? I’ve shown you all proof, it’s not my fault you don’t want to believe me.” Hitoshi said bitterly. “Can you keep cleaning? I don’t want to have to stay after school because of you.” 

“Midnight has never been pregnant, and you have to be pregnant to have a baby. My dad told me so.” Takeshi ignored his request and continued to bother Hitoshi on the subject.

“I was adopted when I was five.” Hitoshi said, trying to leave the conversation where it was and get back to cleaning. 

“I believe you were adopted, but not by a hero.”

“Why not?”

“Because no hero would adopt someone with a villain's quirk.”

There it was. It felt like a spear impaled him through his heart. Hitoshi struggled not to let his breath waver, but a single tear did make its way down his cheek.

“Well at least my mom wanted me. Yours got stuck with a selfish imbecile.” Hitoshi spat it out like poison. He subtly wiped his face before turning to face Takeshi directly. What he wasn’t expecting was Takeshi already angrily walking in his direction. 

“When I become a pro hero, the first thing I’m going to do is put you in jail.” Takeshi got directly into Hitoshi’s personal space and activated his quirk. His quirk, Armed, allowed him to change his right arm into any weapon he choses. Bats, guns, swords, knives; anything you could think of. Now, his arm turned into a long metal bat as he raised it threateningly. Hitoshi only had one choice. 

“What kind of future hero uses their quirk to scare their classmates?” Hitoshi asked with his brow raised.

“You-” Takeshi’s arm dropped limply and his once angry expression turned slack as he patiently awaited orders. 

“Go to the other side of the room.” Hitoshi instructed nervously. Takeshi obeyed unwillingly, slowly walking through the rows of desks until he arrived at the back wall. Hitoshi released his quirk just as Mr. Odaka came walking back in the room with a stack of papers in his hands, and he immediately regretted his actions. 

“M-Mr. Odaka! Shinso was using his quirk on me without my permission!” Takeshi played the victim. Mr. Odaka looked between the two boys on opposite sides of the room before finally landing his attention on Hitoshi.

“Shinso, is this true?”

“Yes, but-”

“There is absolutely no reason for you to use your quirk against another student. Please wait out in the hall so I can escort you to the front office where we will make a phone call to your mother. I’m highly disappointed in you, Shinso.” Mr. Odaka sighed heavily while placing the stack of papers on his desk.

“But, Mr. Odaka, Takeshi-” Hitoshi tried again before his teacher cut him off a second time. 

“Now, please. We can talk about it with your mother.” Mr. Odaka dismissed. 

Hitoshi set his cleaning rag down and shamefully walked through the door. He shot a look over to Takeshi, who was mockingly frowning at him. He huffed and pushed the door open. Once he was finally alone, tears started to slip down his face from frustration. He sat with his knees to his chest and his back to the wall while he waited for his teacher to come out. He did after a few minutes, holding all of Hitoshi's personal belongings before handing them to him. They walked down the hall silently until they reached the office, where Mr. Odaka led him into an empty room with a big round table, a couple of chairs, and a phone. Hitoshi slumped into one of the chairs while his teacher dialed his moms phone number. 

“Ms. Kayama? This is Yoshinobu Odaka, Hitoshi’s teacher.” He paused every once in a while, presumably while his mom responded. “Yes, yes, your son is safe and uninjured. I’m calling today about his behavior. Today he was picked, along with another student, to help clean the classroom during recess. While I was out of the room, your son non consensually used his quirk on another student. Well, no, but-”

He didn’t say anything else into the phone, but he handed it to Hitoshi after a few seconds.

“Hi, mom.” Hitoshi said sadly.

“Hi, froggy. Tell me what happened.”

The sound of his moms voice put him on the verge of crying again. He just wanted to go home and fall asleep in her bed while she sang to him. “Takeshi. He said that I was lying about you being a hero. Then he said that a hero could ‘never adopt someone wi-with a villain's quirk.’ and then activated his quirk and got in my personal space, so I used my quirk first.”

“How did you use your quirk?”

“I had him walk to the other side of the room because I was scared. That’s all, I promise.”

“I believe you, baby. I’m not mad at you for this whatsoever, understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Hitoshi answered with a relieved sigh. 

“I don’t want you going back to class today. Stay in the office until I come pick you up, I’ll be there within the hour.”

“Okay.” He nodded even though she couldn’t see him.

“Okay, I love you a whole lot and I’m sorry you had a bad day. We’ll talk about it more when we get home. Give the phone back to your teacher. I'd like a word with him.”

“Love you too. Bye, mom.” Hitoshi said before handing the phone back to Mr. Odaka. Who genuinely looked so scared he was about to shit his pants. Maybe this’ll teach him to listen to both sides of the story before trying to punish someone. Hitoshi watched for several minutes as his mom yelled at his teacher through the phone. Mr. Odaka had no other choice but to sit there and listen to the damn near verbal abuse of an angry, over protective mother. After a while his mom hung up, and his teacher politely left him alone to do whatever he pleases in the office.

After a while his mom appeared, wrapping him in a tight hug before walking him out to the car. The ride was filled with an uncomfortable conversation about what all went down during school, which Hitoshi was partially grateful for. By the time they got home he could put it behind him and try to salvage the rest of his day. He crawled out of the car and adjusted his backpack straps before hurriedly walking to the front door.  When he got there, he noticed a plastic container with a folded piece of purple construction taped to the lid. 

“Mom, there’s a box on the porch!” He yelled to the car where his mom was organizing her briefcase, making sure she had everything she needed before heading inside. 

“There is?” She sounded pleasantly surprised. “Take it inside, we’ll open it up together.”

Hitoshi nodded affirmatively before picking the plastic container up and unlocking the door with his thumbprint. Talk about cool perks from being adopted by a hero. Super cool, rich, fancy home. Hitoshi kicked off his shoes and brought the container to the table. Nemuri walked in shortly after, setting her bag on the seat next to him. She picked up the paper first, reading quickly with a smile on her face before handing it to Hitoshi. 

It read:

Dear Hitoshi and Nemuri,

We hope you had a go great day! We wanted to thank you for being such wonderful friends so we made you a small treat. I hope you like it! 

Love,

Shouta and Izuku!

P.S. Hitoshi, free to talk until 8:30!

The writing switched from Shouta’s and Izuku’s in red and blue marker. Hitoshi smiled at the note, rereading it until the smell of something familiar wafting from the now open container. Inside were cookies. Specifically peanut butter chip cookies. Hitoshi’s favorite. He grabbed for one immediately, now noticing some original chocolate chip cookies mixed in. Nemuri and Hitoshi toasted their cookies to each other before each taking a bite. The flavor alone almost made him forget how bad his day was. 

“Hey,” His mom nudged his shoulder gently. “Why don’t you go say thank you to your friend for making these for us.” 

Hitoshi nodded, quickly grabbing another cookie and giving his mom a mischievous smile before running upstairs to his room. He set his unbitten cookie on his desk and took his now half eaten one to his bean bag chair. He grabbed his radio off his bed where he left it this morning and turned it on. 

“Izuku?”

… *Hitoshi! You’re home!*

“Yeah.” Hitoshi smiled. “Thanks for the cookies, they’re super good! Mom likes them too.”

*You’re welcome! Mr. Shouta said you liked the peanut butter ones so we gave you a bunch! And some normal ones that I made!*

“You didn’t make all of them?” Hitoshi asked, confused. 

*I helped make the dough but I’m not allowed to touch those ones.* Izuku answered unhelpfully. 

“Why not?”

*I’m super allergic to peanuts.*

“Oh. Yeah, that makes more sense. Thanks for them anyways.”

*How was school? What did you do?* 

Damn, just when Hitoshi was putting it past him. “Normal boring school stuff, I guess.” 

*Hm.* Izuku sounded a bit disappointed with his answer. *Did you play any fun games with your friends?*

“Uh, yeah.” Hitoshi lied. “We played this game called ‘Extreme Tag’.” 

Hitoshi never actually played the game. He watched his classmates play it together a hundred times, but was never invited to play.

*Cool! How do you play?*

“There’s two teams, one bigger than the other. The ‘not it’ team picks two players and the ‘it’ team picks one until everyone is assigned a team. Then the ‘it’ team tries to tag everyone on the other team until they're all out. The ‘not it’ team members can untag their teammates so they can keep trying to get to the flag that the ‘it’ team is trying to protect. So either the ‘it’ team can win by tagging everybody, and the ‘not it’ team can win by getting the flag and bringing it into their safe zone.” Hitoshi explained. It really did look like a fun game, and he very much would like to play it at least once. 

*Who gets to pick who goes on which team?* 

“The team leaders. They don’t hold any other power than getting to pick teams, but that’s the best part. I was a team leader today.” Hitoshi lied yet again. 

*Ooo! For what team?*

“The ‘not it’ team. Which means I got to pick even more people than the other team leader.”

*Who's your best friend there?*

Hitoshi panicked. He wasn’t close with anyone in his class. There wasn’t even one person who just sat aside and watched his subtle bullying. Everyone was in on it. But the only name that could even come to mind was, “Takeshi Ara.”

*What’s he li-*

“What did you do today?” Hitoshi cut him off and switched the subject. “Besides from making cookies, I mean.” 

*Oh, I watched a movie, called Mr. Hizashi during lunch, and then took a nap. Not as fun as your day.*

“I don’t know, I’d much rather do that.” Hitoshi said. “What di-”

*Mr. Shouta is calling for me, I’ll be back in a bit, okay?*

“O-Oh, yeah. Sure.”

*Over and out!*

“Over and out.” Hitoshi turned his radio off with a sigh. He knew he had to stop lying to Izuku, but he couldn’t help but dig himself further and further into a hole. But there was nothing to do about it now, so he got up and grabbed his second cookie and made his way to his moms side. At least here, curled up into her side as she reviewed some paperwork on the couch, there was nothing to lie about or protect himself from. At least here, he had a guaranteed friend who would like him no matter what. At least here, he was happy.

Chapter Text

Izuku sat in the backyard, enjoying the last few minutes of the sun as he talked to Hitoshi when Shouta called him back inside. He excused himself before tiptoeing back into the house. Shouta was walking into the living room from the office.

“Hey, I just got off the phone with Hizashi. He should-” Shouta started but was interrupted by Hizashi barging through the door, loudly announcing his presence. 

“I’m home!” He yelled out cheerfully as he took off his boots. Izuku let out a small giggle when Shouta rolled his eyes with a smile. Together they walked to Hizashi, who was already making his way to them. Izuku laughs as he picks him up and swings him around. “Oh, shortcake! Did you grow? You seem bigger!” 

“No,” Izuku laughed. “I’m the exact same as this morning!” 

“Are you sure? You aren’t fourteen already?” Hizashi questioned as he playfully poked at him. Izuku tried to block himself from the ticklish attack. Unable to keep his laughter back, he attempted to deny Hizashi's claim of mysterious rapid aging. “Good. Do me a favor and stay little for as long as possible.” 

“Okay.” Izuku agreed as he felt the cool floor meet the bottoms of his feet. Hizashi hugged Shouta next, placing a soft kiss on his cheek while he smiled. “I thought you were just leaving U.A?”

“Mmm, that was a lie.” Hizashi said with a big grin. “I wanted to surprise you guys.” 

“Mr. Hizashi! We made cookies!” Izuku shifted his weight from one foot to the other repeatedly. 

“You did? Is that why it smells so good in here?” Hizashi smiled down at him. When Izuku answered with a nod and affirmative hum, he grabbed ahold of his hand and walked with him to the kitchen to try one. He and Hizashi stayed in the kitchen as Shouta began to make dinner for them while Hizashi recalled his events from the day. It was a dynamic that all three of them really enjoyed. Shouta loves cooking; it’s a big stress reliever for him. Hizashi loves Shouta’s cooking and sharing about his day with him. Izuku also loves Shouta’s cooking, but more so the loving atmosphere. 

Izuku didn’t talk much during dinner, letting Shouta explain how their day went. Izuku helped Shouta clean his room and make his bed, watched a movie about a mammoth, sloth, and tiger traveling around together, practiced using his quirk, and searched the back yard for insects. After dinner, Hizashi sat outside the bathroom with the door open while Izuku took his bath per Izuku’s request. He talked to Hitoshi a bit more as Shouta dried his hair for him before doing his nightly stretches and drinking spoonfuls of medicine absorbed tea. The next thing he knew he was lying in his bed as Shouta layered another blanket on top of him. 

“Alright, how's that?” Shouta said, patting the top layer of the blanket down.

“One more?” Izuku asked as he hid his mouth under the mountain of blankets that already engulfed him. Shouta smiled and nodded as Hizashi draped the fourth blanket over him. That was finally enough to satisfy the chill that seeped into his bones. Izuku ran cold more often than not due to his lack of body fat to keep him warm, so this was becoming a normal part of his bedtime routine. Hizashi and Shouta each placed a kiss on his forehead and said their sugary-sweet goodnights before leaving to let him sleep. Izuku closed his eyes as he listened to the pair start descending down the stairs. Suddenly, his voice blurted out before he could even think.

“Mr. Hizashi?” He called out. There was a quiet exchange between Hizashi and Shouta before Hizashi reappeared in the door frame.

“What’s up, kid?” Hizashi asked, his eyebrows drawn together. 

“Uh, will you stay? Until I fall asleep?” Izuku rolled on to his other side to face him. Hizashi didn’t hesitate to sit by his side, gently grabbing ahold of his hand when it was extended out. Minutes passed in silence but Izuku was still awake, his eyes darting around aimlessly. Hizashi wasn’t going to say anything, willing to sit with him for however long he needed, but when Izuku started tugging a light brown and green curl that framed around his face unconsciously he knew he should say something. It was a telltale sign there was something on his mind. 

“What’re you thinking about, kiddo?” Hizashi made sure to keep his tone light and casual. Izuku gave out a hum, as if to say he was still thinking about it. A few moments passed before he finally made eye contact and pulled their hands closer to his face. 

“Is… Mr. Shouta upset because he has to stay here with me?” Izuku punctuated each word carefully, like the words he picked were specific. 

“Did he say or do something that would make you think that?” Hizashi’s eyebrows were drawn as he theorized what could’ve prompted the question. 

“Not really,” Izuku said timidly. “But you can feel one way and act another, right?” 

Hizashi nodded while slowly taking the tuft of hair wrapped around Izuku’s fingers into his own. “When Shouta and I talked about who would take time off from work to stay here with you, he practically begged me to let him stay. Then, when he talked to Nedzu about it, he tried to get an entire year off.”

Izuku pushed his head into Hizashi’s hand when he started gently scratching his scalp. “But doesn’t he like being a teacher?”

“He does. But I know he likes hanging out with you even more.” Hizashi said with a smile. Izuku’s eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“But, he said didn’t want to be alone with me.” He shrunk into himself.

“When did he say that?” Hizashi asked.

“Last night, before I came into your room.”

Hizashi hummed once he finally understood where he was at. He let himself compose the words he needed before finally responding. “Shouta wants to be here. I know because not only because he told me, but because of his actions. He argued with Nedzu and Oboro about taking time off, just so that he can stay here and be with you. Last night, he meant that he was just scared of another accident happening.” He pointed at the purple ring of bruising around Izuku’s forearm. “He wants the best for you in every aspect, and he’s nervous of messing up again. But he’s still happy to be with you.”

Izuku seemed to take this as an acceptable answer and finally let out a big yawn. The kind that pricked tears in his eyes, exposing that he really is tired. Hizashi still carded his fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp in a way he knew helped the boy relax. After multiple minutes of humming and sitting with him, Izuku finally fell asleep.

The next few days passed the same way, Izuku would talk to Hitoshi before and after school, Hizashi would call him everyday during lunch, and Shouta spent the day teaching him new things. Every night Hizashi stayed with him until he fell asleep and in the mornings he was met with sweet forehead kisses from Shouta. Friday was different though. Shouta woke him up the same way before going downstairs together to eat breakfast. Hizashi ate with them before kissing Izuku on the top of the head and Shouta on the cheek and leaving for U.A. Izuku stood in the doorway of the front door, waving Hizashi goodbye as he pulled out of the driveway before Shouta called him back inside. 

“Hey, you don't have to now, but I need you to start getting ready to go in about thirty minutes.” Shouta said from the kitchen where he washed the dishes that came from making breakfast. Izuku let out a small sigh as he made his way to the kitchen and slumped down to the floor next to Shouta’s feet. 

“You promise it’ll be quick today?” Izuku murmured. 

“I promise. Chiyo just wants to see how you’re adjusting to your meds and do a quick check up. But we have to make sure we go before she has to go back to U.A.” Shouta said, putting in extra effort to not splash him. Izuku nodded after a moment and stood up with a stretch. He went outside as Shouta finished cleaning up before joining him. Together, they stretched while letting the sun absorb into their faces and hands. Izuku searched around the backyard for small flowers, petals, leaves, blades of grass; whatever he found pretty to give back to Shouta while he quizzes him on addition and subtraction. By the time they went back inside, Shouta had a small handful of Izuku’s ‘gifts’. Izuku decided to take them all and line the stems onto the edge of a piece of tape before rolling it carefully, successfully turning the pile into a bouquet. Shouta kept it on top of the picture frame on his bedside table. Izuku got himself dressed in jeans, a red t-shirt, and a black long sleeve underneath; his favorite out of the few outfits he had. 

Shouta met him at the front door, tying his shoes for him even though he knew Izuku could do it himself. Izuku asked him to tie his hair up before heading out to the front yard while Shouta locked the front door. He walked over to the side of the yard opposite of where the car was parked and waited for Shouta to turn around. 

“Race?” Izuku challenged. 

“You’re on.” Shouta jogged over to him before lining up next to him. He let Izuku count down from three before they both ran to the car. Izuku won, and maybe Shouta let him, maybe he didn’t. He never would admit it. He was still getting used to running in general, and he couldn’t keep at it for very long. But short distances, like across the front yard to the car, he could clear pretty quickly. 

Izuku smiled as he got into the car while Shouta congratulated him. The ride was short but full of light conversation as Izuku watched the city passing by. The view of the city from the house was pretty, sure, but it was impossible to see all the little details up close. He wanted to walk on the sidewalk like everyone that they passed. He wanted to go into the stores instead of just passing by. But he understood the risk, the reason that he couldn’t. Yet. But Shouta promised that one day, soon, hopefully, he’d be able to see it all up close. Izuku could recognize the hospital parking lot when Shouta pulled in. He didn’t think much of it until Shouta said something. 

“Uh oh.” Shouta said, mostly to himself. Izuku hummed in curiosity. “I think there was an incident this morning and there were a few casualties. There’s nowhere to park over here.”

“So… do we have to go back?” Izuku asked, looking out the window to see that there were in fact cars in every spot. 

“No, we’ll just have to park somewhere else close by and walk. Does that sound alright to you?” Shouta asked, looking back at him quickly as he pulled out of the parking lot and back to the main street. 

“Yeah, that’s okay.” Izuku said a nod. He wiggled his toes excitedly in his shoes, feeling absolutely giddy about getting to actually walk around the city. Even if it wasn’t very far. He counted the store fronts they passed, a whopping nine, before Shouta finally parked on the side of the street. He opened Izuku’s door for him, making sure he got out safely. “Wait, am I allowed to be out here?” 

“Yeah, just stay close to me while we walk.” Shouta said as he scanned their surroundings. Izuku immediately placed his hand in Shouta’s, holding on tightly as they began to walk down the sidewalk.

“But if it’s okay, why can’t we go this way more often?” Izuku asked curiously.

“Because it’s alright in special scenarios, but not every time.” Shouta said.

“Until we can go every time?” Izuku said half as a question, half as a statement. Shouta let out an affirmative hum and that was good enough for Izuku. He started paying closer attention to everything they were passing. There was a clothing boutique, a couple of trees, some business offices, a street food vendor, but what really caught his eye was a pet store. He didn’t realize that he stopped walking to try to get a better look inside.

Shouta must have not noticed in time because he felt a slight tug on his hand. He looked down to see Izuku staring into the store for a few moments before blinking slowly and looking up at him.

“Sorry, I just wanted to see it better.” Izuku said softly before continuing to walk towards the hospital. Shouta hummed before speaking. 

“If you want, we can go inside and check it out after we see Chiyo.” He suggested. 

“Really?!” Izuku looked up in excitement. He gave Shouta a hug when he gave him a confirming nod. He was basically jumping with each step, making sure to be mindful of the people passing by them by walking in front of Shouta. He didn’t mind, it looked like Izuku was having fun walking down the sidewalk and that was more important than being cut off every few seconds. Shouta held his hand a bit tighter while they crossed the street, and before they knew it they walked through the hospital door. Izuku rocked on his feet as Shouta checked them in. Shortly after, a nurse led them down a hallway and told them to wait in a private exam room. 

Chiyo knocked as she walked into the room, making her presence known immediately. She greeted them happily, informing Shouta how his students seem to be adjusting to Vlad King’s class. They talked briefly about U.A. before she finally turned her attention to Izuku. Chiyo asked him questions as she drew his blood and took his vitals to keep him distracted from the obvious discomfort it caused. Izuku told her about the walk from the car and everything he saw on the way. And the promise Shouta made about taking him into the pet store. He was absolutely beaming while he told her about what he saw in the store front, all the bright colors and eclectic mix of items just in front display. Shouta told her about Izuku’s sleep schedule and his day to day diet while he was busy clenching his jaw and squeezing his eyes closed, his hand gripped around Shouta’s to cope with the pain of the flu shot Chiyo was giving him. When she examined the stitches on Izuku’s forearm, she let out a disapproving tsk. She was sure to be careful around the yellowish bruising, moving his arm around to fully look at it before looking up. “This happened… six days ago?”

“Yeah, the medic at the courthouse fixed it.” Izuku answered with an affirmative nod. 

“Hm, not very well.” She said, taking a moment to think before clicking her tongue. “Stay here, I want to ask Dr. Nakano to come in and try something.”

Before either Izuku or Shouta could object, she left the room, closing the door behind her. Izuku huffed and let his shoulders slump before looking at Shouta with an accusing look. “You said it would be just a check up.”

“If I could’ve stopped her, I would’ve.” Shouta sympathized. “I’m sorry, I’m sure it’ll be quick.”

Izuku huffed again and tapped the toes of his shoes together while he waited, feeling rather impatient. He sneezed into his elbow, causing small harmless sparks of light to shoot out of his palm and across the room just as Dr. Nakano, his quirk specialist, and Chiyo entered through the door. 

“Oh, how exciting! Does that happen every time you sneeze?” Dr. Nakano asked with a big smile on her face. Izuku isn’t sure what it is about her, but something about her freaks him out. He felt completely defensive every time they met, only ever complying with what she wanted him to do to please Hizashi and Shouta. Izuku didn’t answer her, just kept tapping his shoes together. 

“Yes, it does. It’s nice seeing you again, Dr. Nakano.” Shouta said, standing up to shake her hand. “Izuku, say hello.”

“Hello.” Izuku said with an unamused tone. 

“Hello, Izuku. It’s nice to see you today.” She returned with a tone much kinder than Izuku’s. “Tell me, how's your journal going?” 

“I’m almost done with it.” Izuku shrugged.

“Great! I can’t wait to see it next time I see you!” She clapped excitedly. “Alright, I know you like to get straight to the point, so I’ll make this quick. Recovery Girl had an idea on how you could use your quirk in a new way, so I’m here to try and help you accomplish it.” 

Izuku’s eyebrows were slightly drawn as he looked at Shouta. Something about the way she spoke to him like he was a little kid bothered him. Of course, he is a little kid. Hizashi and Shouta sometimes talked to him like that too, but it never bothered him when it was them. But he knew why she was there and what she does when she is. He knows that Chiyo had the idea. So in his eyes, she was basically wasting his time with one simple sentence. But honestly, no matter how Dr. Nakano spoke to him, Izuku would have a problem with it. 

“Alright, you know that the sun has a lot of properties that we already see manifested in your quirk, like heat and light. We were wondering if your quirk could replicate some type of healing energy similar to how the sun is believed to carry.”

Shouta nodded like he had a similar thought before. Izuku never stopped to think that his solar energy could do more than radiate heat and light. His mind started racing with all of the experiments he’d want to try at home. Nakano had him roll his sleeve bag up to show the bruise that wrapped around his forearm. Shouta tied up his light blonde and green curls to keep them out of his face. Izuku summoned the stored up energy into the palm of his left hand before Dr. Nakano guided him into a healing headspace, letting him do whatever feels natural. Izuku's hand was glowing in a way he hadn't seen before. His palm emitted a soft off white light, like the soft lighting of a candle. With his eyes closed, Izuku took a deep breath before placing his hand directly over his stitches. There were slight winces on his face as he moved his hand over the bruise. After a minute, he opened his eyes again as the glowing from his hand started to dissipate. When he looked down, the bruise that previously invaded most of his forearm and the plethora of bite mark scars were gone. Completely gone. The only evidence of the injury left was the blue stitches slightly pulling his skin together. 

Shouta smiled and patted him on the back as Chiyo removed the stitches and Nakano asked him some questions about how he felt. It obviously took a lot of energy due to Izuku’s roots fading from a light blonde to dark brown while most of his hair faded into viridian curls. They asked him a few more questions before confirming his healing factor. A part of Izuku’s new quirk training will include healing any small bruises or minor cuts. Dr. Nakano left shortly afterwards, and while Chiyo talked to Shouta about switching some of his medications for others, Izuku laid on the exam table with his eyes closed waiting to leave. A few minutes of incredibly boring adult conversation later, Shouta finally cued Izuku to get up before they walked out of the room hand in hand. Izuku shifted his weight from the balls of his feet to his heels while Shouta signed some final paperwork, trying to stop himself from inching out the door. 

“Alright, alright. Now we can go.” Shouta said after thanking the woman behind the counter. Izuku grabbed ahold of his hand, sticking close to Shouta as they walked down the sidewalk. He was practically buzzing while they crossed the street before they stood in front of the pet store named Barko’s.

Shouta opened the front door to the store and a smell that felt brand new wafted into Izuku’s nose. He didn’t know exactly what it was, but he could only describe it as warm, earthy, and woody. There was a high pitched bell ring when the door opened, and as he walked in with Shouta right behind him, there was a young woman who greeted them from behind the counter to their left. Shouta gave her a polite wave and acknowledging nod, but Izuku was in another world. The new, yet already oddly addicting, smell surrounded him in a crisp, cool breeze in comparison to the warm August afternoon air outside. The first thing that caught Izuku’s attention was a display directly in front of him. On it hung what looked like a bunch of different stuffed toys in different shapes, colors, and textures. There were different types of animals ranging from a cow to a parrot, shapes such as bones and different fruits and vegetables. Izuku couldn’t pick up on a theme but he was still just as happy to be there. “Are these for people?” He asked, confused. 

“No, they’re for dogs. See?” Shouta said before picking one up and squeezing it. Izuku winced at the loud squeaking that the toy made before Shouta put it back.

“And they actually like that?” Izuku asked, his eyes already starting to wander around to find the next thing that piques his interest. 

“Yeah, apparently.” 

Izuku hummed contentedly as he walked towards a wall of leashes of all varieties. He ran his hand along them, making them all sway until they stopped. Shouta called him over to look at a plethora of different collars. They had all sorts of different styles, patterns, materials, sizes, and Izuku was getting a little overwhelmed by all the different ones to look at. Shouta walked behind him as Izuku navigated further into the store. They skipped the aisle of bags of different kinds of food for the aisle next to it. Inside a bunch of glass enclosures were different types of little critters. Mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, even a chinchilla. Izuku didn’t even know that those were a thing! He watched them all while pointing each out to Shouta, who nodded and smiled while Izuku read off the information cards on each enclosure. Shouta stepped only two steps away before calling Izuku over to him. Izuku set down the blue plastic hamster hideout he was holding and skipped over to Shouta’s side. 

“Come look over here, I think you’ll like it.” Shouta said as he walked to the back wall of the store. Izuku’s eyes widened as he saw fish tanks from floor to ceiling covering the entire wall. Each tank was filled with different types of fish ranging in every way Izuku could even think of. He spent minutes staring into each tank, handing Shouta every informational pamphlet he could find to read at home. The way the fish's fins flowed when they swam in intricate patterns completely had Izuku in a trance. He made sure to look at each species but somehow, he kept feeling his eyes back to one tank. Specifically, to one fish inside that tank. 

The tank had eight Izumo Nankin goldfish, each with their own unique patterns and shades of orange. But there was one in particular that Izuku’s eyes kept wandering to. Its body was mostly white with a light orange circular marking that closely resembled a sun with swirling lines coming off it. There were slight dots that got darker as it reached the underside of the fish. The only other color was on the tops on his fins that streaked into white by the ends. Izuku liked the way its eyes looked too big for its head. He was staring into the tank, mimicking the fish's lip movements with his own before Shouta finally said something. 

“Izuku, would you ever want a pet fish?” He asked, his hand finding Izuku’s shoulder. Izuku nodded without taking his eyes off the tank in front of him. Shouta squatted next to him to get a better view of the fishes that seem to have kept Izuku’s attention in what he would consider his own personal heaven. “That one kind of reminds me of your quirk.”

“I thought that too.” Izuku whispered back. Shouta noticed Izuku’s eyes tracking the fish for another two minutes before he cleared his throat.

“Alright, kiddo. Let’s start heading back this way.” Shouta said, tapping his shoulder to pull him out of his trance. Izuku’s eyes darted back and forth from Shouta to the tank, a clear sign he didn’t want to. But he followed anyway, not one to put up a fight. 

“Yes, sir.” He said with a sigh. He was dragging his shoes slightly as he walked behind Shouta. There was a part of him that wasn't ready to leave yet, so he tried to enjoy the few moments he was still actually inside the store as they walked towards the front door. But before they got there, Shouta turned. He followed him closely as he walked to the counter to speak with the woman who welcomed them when they first walked in. 

“Hi, we were looking to purchase one of your goldfish back there.” Shouta said to the woman before looking down at Izuku with a smile. Izuku could feel the tears welling in his eyes as he processed what he just said. 

“Oh, great! Do you know what breed you were looking for today?” The woman asked happily. 

“Oh, I don’t remember the name. Hey, buddy, do you remember the kind of fish we were just looking at?” Shouta asked Izuku, who was just staring up at him with his big green and golden flaked, teary eyes. 

“Uh, um. Th-the Izumo…” Izuku trailed off, still in his state of disbelief. The woman nodded and led back to the fish tanks, having Izuku point out which one he wanted specifically before going into the back room to get it out of the tank safely. That was when Izuku finally snapped back into reality and wrapped his arms tightly around Shouta’s waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” 

“You’re welcome, kid.” Shouta said, returning the hug and patting his back lightly. “Listen, I'll help you take care of it, but this fish is your responsibility. You’re going to be feeding it everyday and taking care of the tank. Do you think you could do that?” 

Izuku nodded quickly into his side as the woman came back with a big bag of water and the fish inside. She helped Izuku pick out tank decorations like a few fake plants and brightly colored rocks to place on top of the natural looking gravel. Izuku made sure to ask Shouta permission for every item he picked out, which of course Shouta said yes to. He would’ve bought one of every single decoration had Izuku asked for it with those big pleading eyes of his. Before he knew it, Izuku went on a fifteen minute shopping spree and now he was carrying over 20kg of tank decorations inside a huge glass tank that Shouta needed to use both of his forearms to carry. Izuku walked behind him with the bagged up fish in both his hands while the employee took them back to the front counter. She rang up each item while asking them questions about their day. Shouta mostly answered while Izuku carefully held the bag up to his eyes, staring intensely at the fish who swam in circles.  

“Have you thought of a name for her yet?” The woman asked him. Izuku hummed for a few moments before just shaking his head no. 

“No, I don’t know her that well yet.” Izuku murmured. 

“Well, if you come back let me know what you come up with.” She said with a genuine smile. Izuku liked her. He thought she was nice and pretty, and they had similar taste in tank decor. When he decides his new fish’s name, she’ll be the first person he tells. Shouta paid before she handed him a long receipt and looked at Izuku again. “Make sure you give your dad a big thank you!”

Izuku paused before looking up at Shouta, who also didn’t know what to say. He just mouthed the words ‘Thank you’ before Shouta patted him on the back softly. They didn’t say anything else besides thanking the kind employee. Izuku opened the door for Shouta before grabbing on to his coat with one hand, his fish in the other. Izuku got to open the trunk of the car for the first time so Shouta could set his tank setup inside. Shouta opened Izuku’s door for him and made sure he was buckled in correctly. He was sure to drive slowly and cautiously around the turns. The ride home was nothing but Izuku’s gratitude and smiles. 

Shouta set up the tank on Izuku’s desk, making a mental note to himself to buy a better stand for it online. And another one to brace himself for Hizashi’s wrath for spending an absurdly large amount of money without talking to him about it. But Hizashi would understand, especially when he would see how happy it made Izuku. 

Izuku got to decide the placement for all the decorations before Shouta filled it up with water one large bowl at a time. By the time Hizashi got home from work, Izuku’s new fish was already settled into her new tank, weaving through the variety of plants and swimming happily. 

“Shouta!” Hizashi called out from the front door. Shouta was there almost instantly, welcoming his fiancé home. “Hey, did you see this statement from the bank this afternoon? I think one of our cards got stol-”

“Mr. Hizashi!” Izuku ran at him quickly, jumping into his arms. “Come see my new fish! She’s so pretty!”

“A fish?” Hizashi asked with amusement  before giving Shouta a more strict, concerning look. “I’d love to see her!”

And thus, the newest member of the Aizawa-Yamada household was lovingly accepted, and Izuku was happier than he’s ever been before.

Chapter Text

Before Izuku came into the picture, Hizashi, Shouta, Nemuri, and Oboro would alternate hosting a weekly dinner every Friday night. When Nemuri first adopted Hitoshi, they stopped for a few weeks before starting the tradition back up. They showed Izuku the same respect, giving him the time he needed to adjust before having guests over regularly. But one week after bringing home Amaterasu, Izuku’s fish he named after the Japanese sun goddess he read about in one of Shouta’s student’s books, Kayama and Hitoshi were coming over for dinner. Oboro was still out of the country on a mission, but Izuku was alright with that. He still hasn’t met him, but he hadn’t really met Nemuri either and he wasn’t big on socializing so he was fine with it being just her and Hitoshi. 

Izuku cleaned his room as he waited for Hitoshi to call him over the radio when he got home. Not that his room was ever messy, but it was one of his daily responsibilities like feeding his fish, brushing his teeth, and helping Shouta cook at least once a day. So he organized his desk, after finally being able to use it again once the tank stand came in the mail. It didn’t take very long to organize his math worksheets that Shouta printed out for him and by the time he was done, Hizashi walked through the front door and announced his arrival. Before Izuku could even begin to head towards the stairs, Hizashi knocked on the door of his room. “Hey, buddy! Can I come in?” 

“Yeah!” Izuku said, getting up to give him a tight hug. Hizashi kissed the top of his head, his freshly cut curls that poked out at all angles around his head tickling his face.  “Did you have a good day?”

“You know, I did. But I got caught in some crossfire debris during heroics, and got this small cut on my arm, ya see?” Hizashi said, pointing out a cut on his right bicep while taking a seat on the edge of his bed. “If only there was a kind, smart, funny little soul out there with a super cool healing ability who would be willing to help me out.” 

Izuku squealed excitedly as he volunteered himself. Since he discovered the ability, Izuku has been desperate to practice with it. But he wasn’t getting any new cuts or bruises because Shouta was always there before he could fall if he ever tripped. Shouta also wasn’t getting any types of injuries so the only hope he had of using his quirk in this way was by Hizashi maybe getting hurt while training the heroes of the future. Not that he hoped Hizashi would ever get hurt, but Izuku wanted to practice. So he would ask everyday when Hizashi got home if he had injuries. Today was the first time he actually had one. 

Hizashi pulled his arm out of his jacket to give Izuku better access to the cut. He examined it closely with a slightly worried look on his face. “Did it hurt?” 

“Nah, I didn’t even notice it until the end of class. Recovery Girl cleaned it, but she wanted you to heal it.” Hizashi said while Izuku started producing a candle like light from the left palm. He waited for Hizashi to give him some kind of sign to say he was ready, and took a big deep breath before finally placing his hand over the gash. Hizashi wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but feeling his skin stitching itself back together wasn’t it. There was an intense sensation of heat in his arm that definitely wasn’t being provided by Izuku’s hand, which felt cold as ice in contrast. Hizashi fought hard not to let his face twist from the unusually fiery kind of pain it was causing. Shouta had said Izuku winced when he used it on himself, but if it was anything like what Hizashi was feeling he had no idea how he simply sat in silence. Izuku was strong and tough, yeah, but this hurt. Hizashi held his breath until Izuku finally lifted his hand and reopened his eyes. 

“All better?” Izuku asked, not yet looking down at his arm.

“All better! Thank you so much!” Hizashi smiled, examining his arm to find it completely unscathed. Izuku finally looked down to examine his healing-handiwork, impressed that it actually worked on somebody else. After a moment he finally looked back up with a proud smile on his face. “So bud, how’s little miss Amaterasu today?”

“She’s good.” Izuku said, toe walking to the fish tank to find his fish swimming around. “I think she likes it here. Her tank at the pet store was so small.”

“Oh yeah?” Hizashi said as he stood up and squatted next to him, peering in the tank as well. “She does seem pretty happy. How are you doing, honey? Still feeling nervous?”

Izuku has known about Nemuri and Hitoshi coming over today for days, but this morning when he woke up he had a heavy sense of dread weighing down his chest. He’s only ever seen Nemuri twice, once when she dropped off the bag of Hitoshi’s old clothes and toys and once when she had come to pick Hitoshi up when he snuck over. Both times he only stared at her from a distance, so stunned with fear his breathing stilled and his body was unable to move. Maybe it was the fact that she was constantly titled as ‘mom’ whenever he heard about her, and Izuku wasn’t exactly known to have great relationships with mother figures. Shouta talked to him about what to expect and that he wasn’t expected to make much conversation with her, which did put his nerves at ease. But as the hours passed, and the closer it became time for dinner, the dreadful feeling slowly started sinking back into the deepest parts of himself. Still, he had to do this at some point so he may as well get it over with now. Or at least attempt to.

“Yes.” He answered after a long pause. “But I’m still going to try.”

“Attaboy.” Hizashi pulled him into a quick side hug before kissing his temple and excusing himself to find Shouta.

Izuku hummed in acknowledgement as he watched Amaterasu swim through the leaves of the fake plants. He went back to organizing his desk, placing each paper and pen meticulously. It had to look absolutely perfect before he could walk away. Once he finished, he turned in a slow circle to find that there was nothing left in his room to organize. He slowly grabbed his radio off the foot of his precisely made bed. Hitoshi should contact him any minute now, which means he and Nemuri would be coming over shortly. The thought itself started stressing Izuku out quickly, and somehow his eyes kept drifting to the floor underneath the bed. And that's exactly where he ends up. He laid on his stomach, his legs straight and ankles crossed, and his chin rested on his forearms in front of him. He sighed and closed his eyes as he tried to calm himself down. 

*Izuku? I’m home.* Hitoshi called from the radio next to him. 

“Hi.” Izuku mumbled into the mic. 

*Hey, my mom’s making a big fuss about my room being clean before we go.*

“I just cleaned my room too.” Izuku rolled over onto his side. 

*I didn’t think your room would ever get dirty.*

“It doesn’t.”

…

*Right. Well, we’ll be over soon. I’ll let you know when we start leaving. Stand by.*

“Okay. Standing by.” Izuku said before lightly tossing the radio out from under the bed. He closed his eyes and put his head down again. He let his mind wander through his thoughts as minutes passed. Eventually, Hitoshi let him know they were going to start walking over. Still, he laid there, mindlessly flicking the blanket corners that hung off the side of the bed. Even when he heard Nemuri and Hitoshi knock on the front door and Hizashi and Shouta welcoming them inside. Shouta called Izuku to come down stairs, but he couldn’t get himself to get up or even call out to him. Izuku could hear footsteps coming up the stairs before a knock on his open door.

“Izuku?” Shouta called out. Izuku stayed silent under the bed, watching the sock covered feet walking around the room while he continued to call out for him. Right as Shouta was about to walk out the door, Izuku let out a sneeze causing sparks of light shoot out from underneath the bed. Shouta turned around and sat against the wall next to the desk. “Izuku?”

“Yes, sir?” Izuku whispered, pretending like he didn’t hear him the first few times. 

“What are you doing under there, kiddo?”

“Um, it just seemed comfortable.” Izuku twisted his fingers around each other. “Sorry.”

“That’s alright, bud. Nemuri and Hitoshi are here.” Shouta said softly.

“I heard.” He sniffled. Izuku moved over to poke his head out, looking at Shouta who was simply smiling at him. He pushed himself out all the way and crawled over next to Shouta. There were no words said, but Izuku made himself comfortable next to him while he wrapped his arm around his shoulder. 

“Are you feeling alright?” Shouta said after a moment, kissing into his hairline. “You feel a bit warm.”

“Yeah.” Izuku shrugged. “D… Do I have to go talk to her now?”

“No, not if you don’t want to. You can wait to say hello until dinner, if you need to.” Shouta suggested. “I can send Hitoshi up here if you want to see him.”

Izuku nods before Shouta stands them both up. He gave him a light pat on the back before heading back downstairs. Hizashi and Nemuri sat next to each other on the couch, gossiping about their students. Hitoshi sat next to her, very clearly not interested in the conversation. Shouta gave Hizashi a slight nod when he shot a subtle but worried look at him before heading to the kitchen. He filled one of Izuku’s water bottles with ice and peach juice and headed back to the living room. “Froggy, you can head up to Izuku’s room now. Here, give this to him for me.” 

Hitoshi stood up immediately, catching the water bottle with both his hands when it was tossed to him before basically running up the stairs. Nemuri let out a slight sigh watching him turn the corner of the stairs. She smiled as Shouta took his seat next to Hizashi and brushed her hair behind her ear. “Shouta, how’s the stay at home life treating you?” 

“It’s good. It’s easy when he's more well behaved than most highschoolers.” Shouta chuckled. “I’m a little worried since today’s the first day he’s taking his new medication, I don’t know how he’s going to respond to it.”

“I’m sure it won’t be too much of a change. If his old medicine was working fine, then I don’t see why Recovery Girl would make a drastic change in what he’s taking.” Nemuri said. 

“Nem, there’s no point in trying to comfort him. It’s like he doesn’t know how to do anything else now besides worry and stress over him.” Hizashi chimed in. Shouta gave him an unamused look before rolling his eyes. 

“It’ll get easier, Shouta. It took me a month and a half to start patrolling again after adopting Hitoshi. Oh! Speaking of!” She clapped her hands together. “How’s the process going for you guys? Hizashi, you said he used both of your family names in the sentencing, is that official yet?”

“No, not yet. But we should hear from the lawyers any day about the final documents. After that, it’ll be completely official.” Hizashi said with a smile. It was something all three of them were starting to get impatient with waiting for. Izuku hated living each day, still legally connected to Inko and Hisashi. Hizashi and Shouta did their best to comfort him about it, but no matter what they said he still wasn’t content.

Conversation drifted into a myriad of different topics before Nemuri and Shouta began working side by side to make dinner. Shouta had told her it wasn’t necessary that she help, mostly because what he was making was something he’d been making a lot recently; katsudon. But partly, the part that he would never say out loud (to her face), was that she was not a very good cook. Unless you like your food simultaneously burnt and frozen. However she refused to stand idly by while he cooks for the five of them. Hizashi, on the other hand, was temporarily banned from the kitchen after he was supposed to cautiously help Izuku use a knife for the first time before nearly dropping it on the boy's foot. Every once in a while they heard loud laughter coming from upstairs. Shouta did let Hizashi set the table while Nemuri finished plating the food. He trekked up the stairs, the conversation he walked away from faded quietly while playful bickering started to become clearer. So what if he had to wait in the hall for his smile to fade down a bit.

“Hey guys.” Shouta said while knocking. Izuku, who was lying on the ground with his feet up on his desk chair, and Hitoshi, who was lying on Izuku’s bed with his head hanging upside down off the side, both looked at him with small but genuine smiles on their faces. 

“Is dinner done yet?” Hitoshi asked right before his stomach let out a subtle growl. “I’m hungry.”

“Yes, go downstairs and wash your hands before you sit down.” Shouta nodded. Hitoshi hopped up immediately and walked past him before whispering. 

“Okay, look who's ‘mister parent’ now.” 

Shouta looked back at him but he was already walking down the stairs and out of view. He just rolled his eyes and looked back at Izuku, who was no longer smiling. “Having a good time, kid?”

“Yes sir.” Izuku answered briefly. 

“Ready to go downstairs yet?” That didn’t get an answer. No hum or shrug. No eye contact. Which told Shouta exactly what he meant. “Alright, I know earlier we agreed that all you had to say was one full sentence, but we can change that. Do you want to change it to something less?”

A nod.

“Okay, then that's what we’ll do. How about you just say hi?”

Izuku looked at him like he didn’t believe him, his dark curls shifting slightly when his head tilted. 

“I promise. You don’t even have to say goodbye when they leave. You can just go downstairs, say hello, and be over with it. Does that sound manageable?” After a long pause, Izuku sighed and nodded before getting up. Shouta pulled him into a hug while placing a kiss on the freckle in his hairline, noticing he felt warmer than before. “Are you sure you’re not feeling sick?”

“I… I think so.” He mumbled.

“Will you let me know if that changes?” With a squeaky yes, they walked downstairs, Izuku making sure to use Shouta to cover himself from the table. There was an awkward silence as Izuku washed his hands in the kitchen before sitting next to Shouta at the table; their chairs were as close together as they could be. 

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Izuku. I hear so much about you from these three.” Nemuri said softly with a smile. Izuku’s breathing started getting noticeably faster and uneven. His hand found Shouta’s underneath the table and gripped it tight. 

“Hi.” His throat felt dry and scratchy. Shouta gave his hand a slight squeeze. There was an awkward silence that followed, and even though he couldn’t see them because he was too busy staring at his lap, Izuku could feel everybody's eyes on him. It felt like forever before Hizashi cleared his throat and thanked Nemuri and Shouta for the meal, Hitoshi following suit quickly after. Izuku felt pressured and gave a small agreeing nod which Shouta didn’t let go unnoticed. 

The smell of the food in front of him made his mouth water but Izuku couldn’t force himself to eat. His eyes darted up at Hitoshi, who was staring back at him, before they both quickly drew their eyes down at the table. If he was thinking rationally, Izuku would’ve been able to tell that his expression is one of concern and innocent curiosity. But right now it feels nothing but judgmental. He pushed his food around, half trying to find a bite he could stomach down, half trying to blend in with the slight movement of everyone around him. Shouta tried to help him relax by rhythmically squeezing his hand. Hizashi started to fill the silence with a retelling of a funny event from his day. Maybe it was funny, Izuku didn’t really know. Everything sounded fuzzy to him. Unrecognizable chatter continued for what felt like eternity before Izuku finally glanced up at Shouta. Tears welled up in his eyes when he saw his eyebrows drawn together, most likely in worry, but Izuku’s immediate thought was disappointment. He couldn’t stand the thought of possibly disappointing or upsetting Shouta. When he let out an involuntary wheezy sigh, Shouta leaned down and whispered to him.

“Take your food to the kitchen, I’ll be there in a moment.” Shouta let go of his hand and gently rubbed his back. It was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but it did nothing to calm Izuku’s nerves. He kept his head down while slowly scooting his chair back. The conversation around him faded into silence as everyone at the table watched his hands shake while he picked up his bowl. Their eyes pierced into his back as he slowly shuffled away and into the kitchen. Izuku set his meal on the counter before quickly making his way to the opposite side of the kitchen and curling himself into a ball in the corner of the cabinets. He tucked his head in between his knees and used his arms to cover his head. Shouta could be heard apologizing before getting up, quickly followed by Hizashi asking Hitoshi how school has been. 

“Izuku.” Shouta gently called from the other side of the kitchen. 

“I’m sorry!” Izuku whispered frantically. “I-I’ll be better, I promise!” 

“Look at me, kid.” He said, picking up the bowl off the counter and inching closer to the boy. Izuku did, tears already staining his cheeks. “I know this is stressful for you. I just want to check in with you.”

Izuku squeezed his eyes shut before he let go of the breath he was holding. “Sh-She’s so… scary and I just don’t want you and Mr. Hizashi to be disappointed in me but it’s scary .”

“I understand. But I think it’s important that you know, Hizashi and I aren’t disappointed in you. You took a huge step today and next time it’ll still be scary, but it will be easier. You gave your best effort today, and for that we are so proud.” Shouta said softly.

“So, I-I’m not in trouble?” Izuku squeaked out.

“No, of course you aren’t.” Shouta smiled before handing him the still full bowl of food. “I know you’re probably hungry and you seemed a little stressed out in there. You want to take a few bites in here?” 

Izuku looked at the bowl for a moment before letting out a small whine and shaking his head. “I feel kinda sick.”

“Yeah?” Shouta slowly raised his hand to his forehead to find that it was slightly warmer than it was minutes beforehand. “Do you need to go to bed early?”

Izuku didn’t say anything, but he looked over towards the table where Hitoshi sat. Despite living two houses down, the two boys rarely saw each other in person. Hitoshi wasn’t allowed to come over on school days and last weekend he and Nemuri were out of town to see her parents. But Izuku was also getting sluggish and tired from his stressful day and beginning of getting sick. He looked back at Shouta who was seemingly already putting together a plan to make him both happy and comfortable. 

“Alright, if you take at least three bites of dinner, we can save the rest until you're hungry again. Then you can go pick any blanket you want and I’ll turn on the fire pit outside for you. You can take a few minutes to calm yourself before Hitoshi can come sit with you when he’s done eating. Does that sound like a good plan?” Shouta asked. Izuku gave a sniffly nod while taking the bowl into his hands. He struggled to eat, each bite making him slightly more nauseous than before. Shouta ruffled his hair when he finished his last bite. Izuku kept his head down when he quickly shuffled to the living room. He looked through the basket of blankets they kept in there for naps on the couch. Picking up a dark blue blanket, Izuku wrapped it around himself before Shouta walked out to the backyard with him. He curled into one of the chairs that surrounded the fire pit while Shouta turned it on. Flames shot out of the blue and green glass shards before settling into a pleasant source of heat and light. Shouta made sure Izuku was comfortable, tucking him into his blanket and pointlessly pushing a curl behind his ear. “Okay, are you all set?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Izuku nodded as he nuzzled his face into the blanket. 

“And what are the rules for being around the fire pit?”

“Don’t move the chairs closer, don’t put anything in the fire, and yell for you if I need help.” Izuku recited. Shouta smiled and nodded before going back inside. The three hadn’t moved from their spots at the table and none of them were talking anymore. They watched silently as Shouta sat back down as if nothing happened. There was an uncomfortable silence for a long moment as they slowly ate, until Hitoshi just couldn’t take it anymore. 

“Is he okay?” He asked quietly. “He was fine when we were upstairs.” 

“He’ll be okay. This is just a bit stressful for him.” Shouta answered briefly. Hitoshi started to ask another question before Nemuri quickly interrupted him. “Nemuri, it’s fine. He’s just worried.”

“Is he always stressed out eating dinner?” Hitoshi asked with genuine concern. 

“No, not always. But Izuku isn’t very comfortable around people he doesn’t know, you can relate to that can't you?” Shouta asked to which Hitoshi nodded. “It’ll take time for him to adjust, but eventually he’ll get used to it. Right now, we just have to be patient. Can you do that?”

“Yeah.” Hitoshi said, poking around the rest of his food. When Shouta told him he could join Izuku outside after dinner, he started eating quickly until his mom finally excused him from the table. He took his bowl to the sink and washed his hands before beelining for the door. Izuku was sitting, curled up into a ball on the chair and staring into fire intently. “You know, you’re so lucky Shouta is such a good cook. My mom can only heat up the pre-made stuff. Sometimes.”

“Hm?” Izuku hummed before looking up at him. “Yeah, I am. He’s all picky about what I eat; only really wants me to have the super healthy stuff. But it’s good, so I don’t mind.”

“Yeah.” Hitoshi lifted himself up into the chair next to him before plopping down. There was silence between them, but not the same awkward kind as before. It was comfortable and understood. But still, Hitoshi was itching to say something. “I get it. Not liking strangers, I mean.”

“Oh.” Izuku’s face reddened with embarrassment. 

“The first time they had this dinner thing after my mom adopted me, Oboro was there too. It was the first time I met Oboro, Hizashi, and Shouta and I wasn’t used to meeting people at all so I was really nervous. When they came to my house, they went to my room to meet me and I got so scared I jumped off my bed and into my closet. That’s why they call me Froggy.” Hitoshi promised himself he’d never tell anyone that story. When he jumped off the bed, his foot got caught on the bed frame and he ended up falling face first into the carpet. It was embarrassing enough to always have that be the first impression of him, but now they constantly reminded him of it. Of course, the nickname isn’t as bad as he makes it out to be. It made him feel special. But they agreed to never call him that in front of other people to save him from further embarrassment. Now here he was, telling Izuku on the off chance it would make him feel better. 

It sort of worked. Izuku stifles a chuckle before looking back into the fire and pressing his lips against his knees. “So you don’t think I’m weird?” 

“No, I do. But, I’m weird too, so it’s okay.” Hitoshi smiled.

“Yeah, you are weird.” Izuku laughed. Hitoshi laughed too before it settled into the sound of the fire crackling and popping in front of them. It lit up Izuku’s face in a perfect contrast to the dark background of night that surrounded them. Light shone gold on his face, reflecting off his short, dark, and messy curls and off the rim of his glasses. He had more freckles since the last time Hitoshi had seen him. The flame reflected in his pupils, circled in deep green. Hitoshi thought he looked somewhat… angelic. Not that he’d ever say that out loud. It was just a silent observation he’ll keep to himself.

Izuku sighed after a few minutes of silence before looking over at Hitoshi again. Who was already staring at him. He shifted uncomfortably and covered his mouth under his blanket again. “What?”

“Nothing.” Hitoshi shrugged and looked back into the fire. “I like your haircut.” 

“Oh, thank you.” Izuku sniffed, taking another second of silence before whispering. “Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did.” Hitoshi smirked. He laughed as Izuku shot him an unamused look before saying ‘sure’ with a shrug. 

“How… did you start calling your mom your ‘mom’?” Izuku asked hesitantly. Last week, when the employee at the pet store referred to Shouta as his dad, it struck a chord with him. He knew that the adoption meant he’d legally get to live with Hizashi and Shouta and that they would take care of him, but for some reason he never realized that it would make them his parents . No matter how many times it was worded differently. The day after, Hizashi and Shouta sat him down and let him know that if he ever so chooses, he could change how he refers to them. They couldn’t stress enough that however they were to be addressed was fully up to Izuku to decide. But he couldn’t. 

“Oh,” Hitoshi said before drawing his eyebrows together in thought. “It was really shortly after I met her. One day during lunch she promised me that despite the fact that she was adopting me, my actual parents wouldn’t stop being my, well, parents too. That they would still love me and they wouldn’t be upset with me if I called her my mom. That they’d understand.”

“Do they?” Izuku mumbled. 

“They would , yeah.” 

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Izuku could feel his face flushing as he sniffled again. An unfamiliar type of headache started to fade into the muscles and bones of his face. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t pleasant. He wiggled his toes under his blanket, thinking about what Hitoshi said. It didn’t exactly help as much as he hoped it would, seeing as he doesn’t want anything to do with either of his biological parents, but it was a sweet story. Hitoshi hasn’t told him anything about his life before meeting Nemuri, and Izuku plans on showing him the same respect by not asking about it, but it was nice to hear something somewhat positive about his bio-parents. “What exactly is a parent? Like, how do you tell the difference between a parent and someone who just cares? Or are they the same thing?” 

“No, no. It’s like; Hizashi and Shouta care about me, but they aren’t my parents.” Hitoshi chuckled. Izuku laid his head back and stared up at the stars starting to poke through the night sky. 

“But what’s the difference?” 

“I don’t know.” Hitoshi just shrugged. “Parents take care of you and love you and stuff. They know all your favorite stuff, comfort you when you're not feeling good, clean your cuts when you fall. They make your food the way you like and tuck you into bed at night.  You know, parent stuff. Like, how Shouta only likes you to have healthy stuff.”

Izuku shook his head gently as he kept his eyes glued onto flame that flicked and whipped into the air in front of them. His fingers mindlessly picked at the hangnails growing in his nail beds. Unlike Hitoshi, Izuku couldn’t even imagine Inko and Hisashi being okay with the idea of honoring somebody with the title of mom and dad; or just dad in his case. He could hear Inko screaming at him about it, see this disappointment and disgust in Hisashi’s face; the same face he wore when he heard Izuku would be quirkless. The last face Izuku ever saw him make. The thought sent shivers down his spine as he let out a small puff of air. “No. Mr. Shouta just cares, I don’t think he loves me or anything. Plus, Inko and Hisashi wouldn’t be happy with… that.” 

“What are you talking about? Of course he loves you. My mom says that she hasn't even had a conversation with him that wasn't about you. He stopped going to work to stay home with you. He acts like an actual parent now, which honestly is a little weird to see.” Hitoshi said as he stood up, stretching his arms before taking a step closer to the fire. “You didn’t know him before, so you wouldn’t know. But I do, and I’m older so you should just listen to me.”

“Only by two weeks.” Izuku mumbled as he nervously watched his friend stick his hand directly over the flame. “Maybe you shouldn’t do that. Your sleeve could catch fire.”

“You worry too much. I’ve done this loads of times, Oboro taught me how to do it.” Hitoshi reached his arm further out before the flame suddenly got taller and the cuff of his sleeve started to burn away, quickly rising up his arm. He let out a blood curdling scream while hurdling himself across the yard towards the door. 

Izuku was chasing after him, and when he looked inside to see that the three adults wouldn’t make it in time to stop a serious injury from occurring, he let his instincts take over completely. His arms shot out in front of his chest and a large burst of energy jutted out, hitting Hitoshi in the back and pushing him a few yards and then into the pool. Izuku winced once he felt the energy leave his palms, squeezing his eyes shut and tripping over his own foot. His face smacked straight into the wooden deck below him, but he stayed huddled into his arms while bracing himself for the fact that he may have just worsened the situation. There was a slight smack before a splash, and the sound of sizzling from the fire being extinguished behind the ringing in his ears.

Nemuri was the first to crash out the door, screaming her son's name in a way Izuku is sure will haunt him for the next few years at least. Hitoshi broke through the surface of the water with a desperate gasp for air and a couple of coughs to follow. Before he knew it, Hizashi lifted Izuku up by his armpits and helped him sit upright. He could feel his hand gently take hold of the side of his face while Shouta repeatedly asked him if he was okay. But Izuku could only focus on his friend, who was crawling out of the pool and into his moms arms. 

“Izuku, look at me.” Hizashi called for his attention to no avail. Izuku mumbled something under his breath as his eyes stayed glued onto Hitoshi. “You’re bleeding, can you tell me what happened?”

“H-Hitoshi?” Izuku completely ignored Hizashi and Shouta as he stared at the mop of hair poking out from around Nemuri’s arm. 

“Baby, look at us. Please, tell us what happened.” Shouta gently turned Izuku’s face back towards them, but his eyes were still darting back every few seconds. 

“Fire- Hitoshi was on fire. I-I panicked! I-” Izuku let out a small yet frustrated growl. “I used my quirk on him. I pushed him into the pool. I-I attacked him!”

“No, you didn’t attack him.” Hizashi quickly stated. “You aren’t in trouble, love, but we need to get you inside-”

“N-No-” Izuku shook his increasingly pounding head and stumbled a step over towards his friend who was heaving out his cries. “Hitoshi.”

“I’ll check on him for you, but you need to let Hizashi take you inside.” Shouta compromised. Izuku still rejected the idea of going inside, but he let Hizashi guide him towards the door anyway. They walked into the kitchen before Hizashi helped him up on the counter and instructed him to stay there while he grabbed the first aid kit.

That was when Izuku had finally noticed the blood that was leaking from his busted lip. The more time that passed and his adrenaline lowered, the more aware he became of how hurt and uncomfortable he felt. His head and lower lip were throbbing, his nose was stuffy, and his throat was both sore and scratchy. It suddenly started to become too much for him to handle at once, but the real cincher was when he looked down to find his yellow shirt now had smears and splotches of blood covering the front. Tears welled up in his eyes as his chest twinged with guilt. Maybe everything was just a little too overwhelming, but no matter how hard he tried, Izuku just couldn’t get himself to stop crying. He just let his feet hang off the counter and crossed his arm over his chest while letting out little sniffles until Hizashi finally came back. 

“Aw, why the tears?” Hizashi said with a slight chuckle, setting the first aid kit on the counter next to Izuku. He wiped his tear stained cheeks with his thumbs pointlessly. Izuku let out a small huff before pouting. 

“M-My shirt. It’s ruined.” He just couldn’t stop the tears slipping from his eyes. 

“It’s not ruined, honey. We can clean it; make it look brand new again.” Hizashi reassured with a smile. He cleaned the blood that ran down Izuku’s chin and disinfected the already swelling cut on his bottom lip. Izuku cried and sniveled the whole time, overwhelmed by everything that's happened in the last hour. “That was some pretty quick thinking, pushing Hitoshi into the pool.” 

“I didn’t think.” Izuku whispered in between tears. “My hands just… moved on their own.”

“You know, they say all the greatest heroes had one thing in common. Their bodies moved before they had the chance to think.”

“Really?” Izuku asked as he wiped his eyes again. Hizishi hummed softly as he dotted medicine over the cut on his lip. He told him stories of the earliest generation of heroes to keep him distracted from the slight stinging sensation. 

Shouta came inside minutes later, Nemuri and Hitoshi following behind him. He found Izuku and Hizashi quickly, picking up the poor boy off the counter and into a tight hug. Hitoshi, red in the face and snot nosed, promised Izuku he was okay, showing him that his arm was completely unharmed. His sleeve may have burnt off, but his arm looked and felt perfectly fine. Izuku listened silently as Nemuri bowed to the ground in front of him, thanking him for saving Hitoshi. He nodded with a nervous smile when she looked up at him before hiding himself in Shouta’s neck. Nemuri took Hitoshi home quickly after to get him out of his cold, wet clothes. 

After going through his usual night routine of taking a bath, drying his hair, and taking his medicine, Izuku was absolutely beat. He laid under his stack of blankets that continued to grow as Hizashi added more on top of him. It was a struggle to breathe, his left nostril was completely stuffed while the right was running down his face every few seconds. Shouta sat by his side while lightly scratching his scalp with his nails. 

Izuku stared at him while he thought about what Hitoshi had said. Shouta hand makes every single meal Izuku eats, modifying his recipes to fit his palate. Hizashi cleaned him up and helped him take care of his busted lip. They take turns tucking him in and reading to him before bed every night. They pay close attention when he talks about his interests, and they always remember their silly conversations. Almost everything Hitoshi said makes someone a parent. There was just one more qualification to get them to the title, and although Izuku doesn’t think it’s possible there was enough evidence not to completely dismiss it. So he took a deep breath through his mouth before looking up into his eyes. 

“M-Mr. Shouta?” Izuku whispered. 

“Yeah, kiddo?”

“Do you and Mr. Hizashi… love me?”

Shouta smiled down at him, gently taking a hold of the side of his face. “So, so much. And we love you more and more after each day.”

Izuku smiled as he closed his eyes, letting himself drift asleep after both Hizashi and Shouta placed a kiss on the forehead. They said good night, and I love yous before they left him to get his much needed rest. Maybe he felt like his face was going to explode, or that he was suffocated from not being able to breathe properly. Maybe he did have a swollen lip. Maybe he did have an unnecessarily stressful day. But Hizashi and Shouta love him. They said it, they’ve done nothing but show it, and Izuku has no choice but to believe it. And he couldn’t be happier.

Chapter Text

Shouta always knew raising children was a difficult task. After becoming a teacher, he experienced first hand how rowdy and difficult teenagers can be on a day to day basis. Before the end of his first year, he told himself that he would never be able to have kids of his own. The thought of dealing with his students' hardships and bad attitudes all day, just to come home and do it all over again was not one that made him happy with the whole idea of kids. Even after Nemuri adopted Hitoshi. Sure, Shouta loves that kid, but even just watching him for a few hours while Nemuri was busy wiped him out for the rest of the day. The constant questioning of every single move he made, the meltdowns from things as simple as having to wear a jacket when it’s cold out; it was all just too much for Shouta.

Then he met Izuku. And suddenly, all his opinions and beliefs about what it's like to raise a child changed. The moodiness he regularly encountered with his students and frequent outbursts of emotions never bothered him. Never annoyed or overwhelmed him like it would after a long day at work. His incessant question asking and need for attention only warmed Shouta’s heart. Though, just because Izuku wouldn’t outright complain or argue, doesn’t mean he didn’t have his own unique challenges Hizashi and Shouta faced with raising him. Once they thought they finally got into a groove in how to handle his ever changing moods; Izuku came down with seemingly the worst cold of the century. And unhelpfully, Hizashi left to stay at Oboro’s house to stay healthy for work. At least, that's what he said. If you ask Shouta, he left because this new side of Izuku was, well, difficult to say the least. 

The boy has only been awake for a grand total of two and a half hours, and Shouta is so ready for him to get healthy again. He doesn’t really understand how a fever could change someone's whole personality in just a short amount of time. Izuku woke up crying over his stuffy nose and throbbing headache, demanding to be freed from what he called “a prison of blankets”, and taken downstairs to watch cartoons. He managed only four bites of breakfast before throwing it back up and letting out a blood curdling scream until Shouta brushed his teeth for him. But he only stopped screaming after the second time because the temperature of the water wasn’t up to his preference. About every five minutes Shouta would have to find wherever Izuku threw his socks to, put them back on his feet per his demand, just for him to get too warm and rip them off again. Yeah, it’s been a long morning for the Aizawa-Yamada household. 

“Baby, what if we just used a different pair of socks? Some thinner ones so you don't get too hot?” Shouta sighed as he once again retrieved the boy's socks he managed to throw onto the stairs. 

“No!” Izuku cried. “I like these ones!”

“I know you like these ones, but they’re obviously not the right ones for today. I’m just trying to help you be as comfortable as possible.” He explained calmly, but Izuku wasn’t having it. He whined and thrashed in his blankets out of frustration. 

“No! These ones have the octopus on it!” He yelled into the couch cushion. Izuku himself didn’t understand why everything seemed so extreme. He knows that Shouta is just trying to help him, and it’s not that he doesn’t appreciate what he’s doing, but every little thing he finds overwhelming and irritating. He can recognize that the way he’s acting is unusual and unacceptable, but he just can’t get himself to stop. “Please, I want these ones!”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry, kid. You can wear whatever you want.” Shouta gave him an apologetic smile while reluctantly putting his socks on for what feels like the twentieth time today. Izuku simply sniffled, giving Shouta a weak thank you before turning his attention back towards the TV. Typically, he wasn’t one to lay around and watch movies all day. He hated staying still for too long, and although he did enjoy watching television, there were other things he preferred to spend his time on. Like studying or playing outside. But today, the only way Izuku was going to get up from the couch was if Shouta dragged him off.

Shouta worked quietly at the table, trying to answer emails while simultaneously tending to Izuku’s every need. Hizashi sent him a few texts asking how Izuku was doing, but Shouta didn’t even bother to open them. He was a little fed up with him if he was being completely honest. Ditching his fiancè and his sick child to sit in a big empty house just down the road by himself, while Shouta struggled to care for their kid who was feeling absolutely miserable; and then having the nerve to text him? Yeah, Shouta was a little mad. He tossed his phone to the opposite side of the table and sighed heavily. It was only a few short minutes before Izuku was calling for his aid again. 

“Mr. Shouta!” Izuku groaned from the couch. His eyes were closed as he laid flat on his back, listening to the movie Shouta put on for him. 

“What do you need, kiddo?” Shouta asked as he leaned over the back of the couch. 

“I don’t feel good.” He whined. A warm hand gently held the side of his face, thumb brushing over his left temple. Despite getting immediately overwhelmed from the heat that mixed with his increasing fever, he leaned into the comforting gesture. 

“I know you don’t.” Shouta cooed at him. “Is there something I can do to help right now?”

“Where’s Mr. Hizashi?”

Shouta didn’t answer immediately. After a few seconds of silence, Izuku cracked his eyes open in search of an answer. All he got was a small sigh and smaller smile. “He's out for work right now. He’ll be back, I promise.” 

“When?” He asked with a seemingly content hum, closing his eyes again to help his pounding headache as much as he could. Again, there was a longer than normal pause before Shouta spoke. This time, changing the topic of conversation to something else. 

“You feeling hungry for lunch? Are you still feeling nauseous?” The very idea of food made Izuku’s stomach twist and forced an unsatisfied whine while he shook his head. Shouta only nodded understandingly before heading to the kitchen to make lunch anyways. Regardless of how he’s feeling, Shouta knows he has to at least try to feed him. He chooses to reheat Izuku's forgotten dinner from the night before, hoping maybe his favorite meal would bring him a little comfort right now. Except all it actually brought was a long fight with Izuku to take just a few bites, which he once again threw up almost immediately afterwards. Directly into Shouta’s hands. Well, at least he saved the rug.

Izuku agreed to get up off the couch to take a bath, and for the next approximately four minutes, Shouta can relax. He sat outside the bathroom door and closed his eyes while he ignored his phone's constant text alerts. It felt like only a few seconds before Izuku called out for his help again. He rinsed his hair carefully as the boy sat still in the water; with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs. Shouta can’t explain why, but all the anger, frustration, and annoyance Izuku seemed to have washed away as well, only to be replaced with a sad, quiet mood instead. “You okay, kiddo?”

“He hates me, doesn’t he?” Izuku said after a long pause. “D-doesn’t want to be around me anymore.”

“Who are you talking about?” Shouta asked, his eyebrows knitting together as he wondered where this was coming from. 

“M-Mr. Hizashi.” That’s when he finally let his tears fall, rolling off his feverish face and into the bath below him. 

“He doesn’t hate you. He never, ever could.” Shouta rubbed his shoulder a little bit while giving his hair one last rinse. He could feel the way he slightly shook, clearly trying to keep at least some of his tears in.  

“But it’s Saturday! First day of the weekend!” Izuku whined as he stood up and let Shouta wrap a towel around him.

“I know, kid. I’m sure he’ll find some way to make it up to you.” Shouta concealed it for Izuku's sake, but he was pissed. Izuku feels abandoned by one out of the two people he’s supposed to feel safest around, and that doesn’t fly with Shouta. But he also knew that he couldn’t paint Hizashi to be the bad guy, because he knew he didn’t actually leave. Just for the next few days until Izuku’s cold dies down. No, Hizashi should know better than to take off like this. 

Izuku kept crying as Shouta helped him get dressed and dried his hair. His nose was already stuffy and running while tears streamed down his face. By the time he stopped crying, exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave and both him and Shouta were pleased with the idea of a nap. Izuku waddled behind Shouta as they went to his room, picking up his stuffed turtle off the floor. Instead of crawling into his own bed, he grabbed his pillow and made his way back to the door, sniffling before looking back at Shouta. He nodded ever so slightly before now following the boy to wherever he was going.  

Izuku yawned and rubbed the tears out of his eyes as he stumbled through the door leading into Hizashi and Shouta’s room. He climbed into the bed and under the duvet. The second his head hit the pillow, he struggled to stay awake. He could vaguely sense Shouta laying down on the opposite side of the bed after kissing his forehead and whispering “sweet dreams” to him. 

Sleep overtook Izuku quickly, and his dream followed shortly after. 

Izuku looked down to find himself strapped into a car seat he was clearly too big for, but he didn’t get a chance to think too much about it before the voices in front of him started speaking. 

“It’s not too late, you know.” A man’s voice said quietly. “He’s still young, would probably forget all about us by the time he’s an adult.”

“I don’t want to keep doing this any longer than you do,” A woman's voice, who Izuku could quickly recognize as Inko’s, responded. “But have you seen all these forums? If we give him up to the wrong adoption agency it’s like we’re sentencing him to death.” 

“You only keep seeing those horror stories because they get the most interaction online, it’s not a guaranteed experience.” Hisashi, Izuku finally identified, sighed before making eye contact with him through the rearview mirror. “Ready for your first day of school?”

Izuku couldn’t respond, not in the way he wanted at least. He felt his head nod as the car came to a stop, and despite what he wanted, he jumped out from the door to the sidewalk below him. 

When Izuku’s feet hit the floor below him, the scene around him changed and suddenly he was inside of a house. A much larger, much nicer house than the apartment he lived in. He wasn’t exactly sure how he knew, but he somehow recognized it as the Bakugo residence. Izuku shook his head as he tried his hardest to make sense of whatever was going on before finally getting control over his voice. 

“What are we doing?” His voice didn’t sound like his own;  it was higher pitched and his words came out oddly, like a toddler still figuring out pronunciations. Hisashi and Inko, who were walking in front of him, looked down at him and sighed heavily. 

“We’re here to celebrate Katsuki getting his quirk.” Inko said before quickly turning around to kneel in front of Izuku and grab ahold of his hands. He braced himself for an unbearable tight squeeze or the possibility of broken fingers, but her hold stayed gentle as she looked him in the eye. “I know it’s been hard waiting for yours to come, but today isn’t about that. Just for tonight; let’s just be happy for him, okay?” 

“Uh, y-yeah.” Izuku answered nervously. Inko stood up and continued to walk hand and hand with Hisashi as if nothing happened. As they finally emerged from the hallway that was supposed to lead into the rest of the Bakugo house, they entered the living room of Hizashi and Shouta’s house. Izuku rubbed his eyes in confusion as the four adults greeted each other as if they were lifelong friends. 

“Hey, Izuku! Today's the day; how are you feeling?” Hizashi cupped one side of his face and kissed the other side like he always does, Shouta following suit right after. 

“Where… where’s Kacchan?” Izuku asked as Shouta ruffled his hair and let out a chuckle. 

“At his house, kiddo. We can go see him soon though if you want; this weekend, maybe.” Izuku’s eyebrows knitted together as he watched Hisashi and Inko sit on the couch and start pullingpapers out of a bag he was sure they didn’t have with them before. Hizashi brought them each a cup of tea before sitting on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. “Come help me in the kitchen really quick.”

Izuku tentatively follows Shouta into the kitchen, crossing his fingers that the world around will stay the same long enough for him to understand what’s going on. “What’s going on?”

“We’re just getting a snack for everyone else.” Shouta handed him a large plate off the counter and instructed him to use both his hands to hold it. 

“No. I mean, why are they here? What are we doing?” Izuku huffed as he asked. Shouta started placing cookies one by one on the plate. 

“Well they have to sign the papers to make it official.” Shouta chuckled. Izuku was getting frustrated by the lack of information he was getting, but before he could ask yet again what was happening, Shouta ushered them out of the kitchen.  

Hizashi smiled at Izuku as he walked in and plopped down next to him. Hisashi and Inko smiled at him from up on the couch before he shrunk down into Hizashi’s side. 

“Alright, we had our lawyers look everything over and all that’s left is for each of us to sign and everything will be all set!” Inko chirped happily as she passed both Hizashi and Shouta a few pieces of paper each.

“What is it for?” Izuku tried asking Hizashi this time, and thank goodness he did because he may have genuinely lost his mind a little bit if he didn’t get a real answer. 

“Your adoption papers, remember?” He answered without taking his eyes off the papers he was holding. 

His adoption papers. They were signing his adoption papers! Finally! But, that still doesn’t explain why Hisashi and Inko are here. Or why they were talking about him in the car as if he wasn’t there, or why the objective of what’s happening kept changing. 

“Is something wrong?” Inko asked with actual concern in her voice but Izuku wasn’t having it. 

“You’re supposed to be in prison! A-And you left!” Izuku said frantically. The four of him simply stared in confusion before they all burst out laughing. 

“Izuku, you come up with the most random things.” Inko laughed. It wasn’t mean, it wasn’t supposed to be making fun of him. It was nothing like the Inko he knew. Hizashi agreed joyfully while switching his papers for Hisashi’s. 

Shouta ruffled Izuku’s hair with a chuckle. “Kids have wild imaginations. Him more than most.” 

“N-no it’s true, I swear!” Izuku shook his head as he tried to make sense of it all. Shouta continued to chuckle and rub his back but not acknowledging what he was saying any longer. He kept talking, defending his statements, while they continued to brush him off with small laughs. After a lot of rotating and exchanging, Inko reviewed each page carefully before once again separating them into two piles and handing one to Shouta. 

“Alright! He is officially, one hundred percent, yours!” Inko smiled as she clapped her hands together, Hizashi smiled; Shouta did too. Hisashi didn’t, but he still seemed as happy as the rest of them. “Izuku, I know this might be a little difficult to understand, but this is for the best.”

“I want to be here,” Izuku started before taking a deep, still confused breath. “But I don’t understand why. I don’t think you hate me here.”

“Hate you? Izuku, we’ve never hated you.” Hisashi spoke up for the first time in minutes. Izuku simply shook his head in perplexity. Inko slid off the couch and kneeled right in front of him. 

“We aren’t giving you up because we don’t like you, or because of anything you did. Your father- or I guess, Hisashi and I, were never meant to be parents. We had you, and since day one we vowed to take care of you until we could find your real parents. The people who want to be there every second of the way, who want to love you unconditionally. They were meant to be your parents, we were just meant to have you for a little bit. Do you understand that?” Inko said softly. She tried to grab ahold of his hands like she did in the hallway, but Izuku scooted back until he was leaning into Shouta. She didn’t get angry or make any harsh movements, just leaned back onto her heels and smiled softly. “You’re going to live such a lovely life here.”

No one said anything and after a long silent moment, Izuku whispered, “Okay.”. Everyone stood up, Inko and Hizashi talked about some documents getting mailed over while Shouta and Hisashi made small talk. Izuku stayed on the ground while they shuffled around him. At some point, Inko kissed his cheek for “one last time” while Hisashi patted his back. They said goodbye with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces before walking out the front door. 

Shouta carried hot bowls of food to the dining room table, despite not having cooked anything beforehand. Three bowls, three sets of eating utensils, three cups of water, three napkins; the table was set perfectly for their new family. Hizashi and Shouta sat in their respective seats and looked towards Izuku. “Come on, kiddo. It’s time for dinner!”

Izuku stared at them before smiling and standing up. “Okay, dad.”

—

Shouta woke up from Izuku coughing in his sleep. He gently sat him up until his coughing fit settled before laying him back down as carefully as he could. Izuku immediately curled back into the blanket, clearly still passed out. Fever still raging and nose running, but still asleep. Shouta stretched his arms before deciding to head downstairs and do as much cleaning as he could before Izuku woke up. He stumbled down the stairs with a yawn when he heard the front door unlock and open. Eyebrows scrunched, he moved towards the door to find Hizashi closing it behind him. 

“Hey.” Hizashi said as he toed off his shoes. 

“Hey?” Shouta asked as his previous annoyance with the man came rushing back. “Hizashi, what were you thinking?”

“Listen, I’m sorry-” Hizashi started but Shouta quickly interrupted him. 

“You left. You left your poor, sick child who you know struggles with abandonment. You left me to figure out how to handle all of this by myself!” Shouta started to raise his voice but he quickly took a look towards the stairs before taking a deep breath. “He won’t get over this cold in a day, so what are you doing back here?”

“Sho, I know I let you down. I let you both down today.” Hizashi sighed. “I should’ve been here today. You both are more important than work, by far. I shouldn't have left today, and I’m sorry I did.”

Shouta stood angry, his arms crossed and his scowl was strong. Hizashi gave him an apologetic look and continued to whisper about how sorry he was. Shouta didn’t fully forgive him, not now anyways, but he still let out a sigh of his own before turning back towards the living room. “Don’t do it again.”

“I won’t. Ever. The idea will never even cross my mind again, I promise you.” Hizashi exhaled heavily in relief. He followed Shouta into the living room and helped him tidy up the aftermath of Izuku’s day long tantrums. They worked together in silence until the room was as spotless as it usually is. “So, you didn’t answer your phone earlier.”

“No, I was too busy taking care of our sick child to have the luxury of texting.” Shouta said semi bitterly as he prepped the dishes to be washed. 

“I got a call from our lawyers today.”

Shouta stopped what he was doing and turned to look at him. Hizashi was holding a green file with a few pieces of paper sticking out of it in front of his chest. He looked back and forth between the file and his face which started to crack into a smile. “His adoption papers have been reviewed and approved by a judge.”

“Approved?” Shouta whispered in disbelief.

“Approved! He’s ours! Legally, finally, ours!” Hizashi beamed as he handed Shouta the file. He didn’t even bother to look at them for now, just tossed it on the counter next to him and wrapped his arms around Hizashi’s shoulders. Tears were shed, apologies and “I love you”’s were overused. The moment was special, an irreplaceable memory the two of them would remember for the rest of their lives. The only thing that would make it better would be if Izuku were right there with them. 

Just on cue, Izuku’s coughing could be heard from upstairs followed by a disapproving whine. Shouta sighed as he looked between the dishes and the staircase. 

“I got it handled here. Go see that our son is okay.” Hizashi smiled. Shouta thanked him before heading upstairs to find Izuku completely tangled up in the blanket. He squirmed his way out before sniffling. 

“Where’d ya go?” Izuku murmured. Shouta smiled down at him and cupped his cheek with his right hand. 

“Just went to welcome Hizashi home.” He hummed. 

“He’s home now?” 

“Yeah, kiddo, he’s home now.”

Izuku sighed with his eyes closed before smiling ever so slightly. Shouta asked him if he slept well and felt better, to which he nodded to both. He told him vaguely that he had a good dream, but how his need to cough woke him up. Shouta couldn’t help but simply smile at him, proud of the progress he’s made since the day they met. Already proud of the amount he’s going to make in the future. Ecstatic about the fact that he's theirs forever now. And honestly, Shouta just feels really lucky to be here at this very moment. He was so lost in thought that he couldn’t hear what Izuku mumbled under his breath. “Sorry, love, can you say that again?”

Izuku smiled before his face shifted into a guilty one. “I, um, said I’m sorry. For being so mean today, I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay, kid. I know you aren’t feeling great, so I understand.” Shouta ruffled his hair while simultaneously feeling for his fever. He was glad to find that it did feel a bit less intense than it had earlier in the day. They talked for a bit longer until Izuku’s stomach growled and he finally admitted to being hungry for the first time all day. Shouta carried him on his back, Izuku’s arms wrapped his neck lazily. Izuku swung his feet by Shouta’s sides and rested his forehead on the nape of his neck. He took a deep breath in through his mouth since his nose was far too stuffed for that. Sighing out his exhale caused Shouta to lean his head back to lightly tap their heads together. “You okay?”

“I love you, dad.”

Shouta’s heart dropped at the whispered words. His hands tightened ever so suddenly around his ankles as he felt Izuku’s chin quivering against his back ever so slightly. This felt like the moment he didn’t know he was waiting for. Well, he knew he wanted it but he didn’t know how badly until just now. Shouta leaned his head over and kissed the top of Izuku’s arm gently. “I love you too, kiddo. Come on, there’s some good news waiting for you downstairs.”

Izuku’s interest piqued while Shouta walked him down the stairs. Hizashi kissed the sides of both their heads. He sat with Izuku on the couch while Shouta cooked, carding his fingers through green curls and making up for the time they lost together. Tears threatened to prick his eyes every time Izuku would look up at him to see if he found the same joke funny as he did in the movie they put on. In the short amount of time they’ve known him, he only grew more and more precious to them. Shouta ended up giving into Izuku’s desire to be on the couch so that’s where the three of them ate dinner. All cuddled up on the couch, the sound of Izuku’s sniffles, coughs, and small giggles filled the air with the movie playing quietly in front of them. By the end of it, Izuku had finished half his bowl of soup before claiming he was full and was nearly falling asleep curled into Shouta’s side. 

“Wait a minute, kiddo. Can’t fall asleep just yet.” Shouta nudged him. Izuku groaned quietly without opening his eyes. “Come on, it’ll be worth your time. I promise.”

“Make him stop.” Izuku mumbled as he switched from Shouta’s side to Hizashi’s. 

“Make him stop?” He chuckled. “How should I do that, hm? By tickling him?”

Shouta knew what to do immediately and together they ganged up on Izuku, making him fall victim to their ticklish attack. He laughed and squirmed happily despite how achy and sore he felt. After a few seconds they finally let up, letting Izuku catch his breath before finally sitting up. 

Shouta handed Izuku a piece of paper, one that the lawyers that helped them printed specifically for this moment. Specifically for Izuku. It was bordered with a thick dark green line and small hand drawn yellow suns. Right in the center of the page, bold letters read “Certificate of Adoption”. Izuku’s eyes began to water as he continued reading, only being able to skim the rest before he was unable to look away from the words Izuku Aizawa-Yamada. 

“I-It’s real?” Izuku whispered. He could feel two pairs of arms wrap around him, Shouta confirming it for him while Hizashi kissed the side of his head. He’s not exactly sure why, but this version felt much better than it did in his dream. Inko and Hisashi aren’t here. Nobody is denying what happened to him. Treating him like he doesn’t understand what’s going on, nevermind the fact that he didn’t. Everything was exactly how he wanted it. Hizashi and Shouta gave him everything he wanted and more and from this moment on he’s officially a part of a family. Not out of obligation because a mistake was made, but because he was genuinely loved. They wanted him just as much as he wanted them, and there’s nothing anyone could do to separate them now. Hizashi and Shouta are his dads; and Izuku is their son. That’s the way it is now. The way it should have always been. 

“Thank you, thank you!” He sobbed into Hizashi's neck as he hugged him. They laughed through their tears, wiping Izuku’s face pointlessly. 

“Thank you , Izuku.” Shouta said before kissing his forehead once more. The paper was dropped somewhere onto the floor below them, temporarily forgotten about. Later it would be framed, displayed proudly in the living room. 

The family celebrated by taking a late night drive. Izuku was clearly unsure of the idea at first; getting into the car after being nauseous all day didn’t seem like the smartest move. But Shouta told him he’d probably feel better getting some fresh air, and Izuku was desperate for some relief. He let Hizashi strap shoes onto his feet and carry him out the door. It was dark out and the air was warm and humid, but still extremely pleasant. There was hardly anybody else out on the road, surprising for a Saturday night. They avoided driving through the city as much as they could before coming across a short countryside road that led to a concealed strip of beach. Shouta drove by the ocean slowly so Izuku could really soak in the moonlit beach. It was the first time he’d ever seen the sea this close in three and a half years. He loved it just as much as he remembered. They decided to pull over for a few minutes to roll the windows down and simply listen to the waves crash onto the sand. 

Shouta sat quietly in the driver’s seat, his hand in Hizashi’s and the other resting on the steering wheel as he glanced up into the rearview mirror. In the reflection, he saw Izuku, curled up in the backseat with a blanket tucked around him and his red and yellow pajamas poking out. His cheeks were flushed and his soft, steady breaths fogged the window beside him. The sound of the ocean rolled in, waves crashing rhythmically against the shore, blending with the occasional car driving past. Shouta could feel his heart soften, watching his boy’s peaceful face, lit up by the faint glow of a distant streetlight. For a moment, the world seemed perfectly still, as if the universe aligned just for them; just for tonight. 

Hizashi and Shouta took in a deep breath at the same time, letting in the salty air into their lungs before pushing it back out. They gave each other a small smile as Hizashi rubbed his thumb over the back of Shouta’s hand. 

“I forgot to tell you.” Shouta remembered quietly. 

“Tell me what, love?” Hizashi hummed back as he closed his eyes and leaned back onto his headrest. 

“Izuku called me dad today.” He couldn’t even say it without smiling. Hizashi shot right back up, his eyes wide and smiled just the same.

“He did? That’s fantastic!” He gasped, struggling to stay quiet. “How did he say it?” 

“Right before he came back downstairs from his nap. I was carrying him on my back and he said, ‘I love you, dad’. Just, out of nowhere.” Shouta would be lying if he said he said that with a straight face. His smile was cheesy and honestly uncharacteristic of him, but he couldn’t help it. There was no greater reward than Izuku honoring him with the title; a title he swears to uphold. Hizashi came in quickly with a kiss and hug to follow. He couldn’t be happier for his soon to be husband; for his family.

Izuku whined and shifted in his blanket but stayed asleep. The pair took it as a sign to get him back home and into bed. They both looked back at him once more before looking back at each other.

“Alright, let’s go get our kid home, dad.” Hizashi smiled.

“Yeah, let’s go get our kid home.”

—

A month passed by quickly. Izuku got over his cold in only a few days. Which was a huge relief to Shouta, who was trying to bring him to the emergency room when he wasn’t feeling immediately better after day one. Izuku also agreed to seeing Hound Dog once a week. They sat together in the backyard every Sunday afternoon for about an hour. Those days were hard on him. They were spent quietly on the couch afterwards, cuddled up in a blanket while Hizashi or Shouta read to him. Hitoshi started sleeping over Friday nights and spending the entirety of Saturday with Izuku. It wasn’t a lot of time together, but it was clear they were having a good influence on each other. They each seemed happier, more relaxed, and more outspoken with their thoughts and ideas. The weekdays passed the same; breakfast, schoolwork, freetime, lunch, nap, do whatever Shouta has planned for the day, dinner, movie with both Hizashi and Shouta, shower, and then bed. Occasionally Tsukauchi would come over and work with Shouta in the office, sometimes pulling Izuku in to ask him a few questions before letting him get back to whatever he was doing. It wasn’t always perfect. It won’t always be. But it was good, and that was enough. 

Izuku sat at the table with his breakfast, his foot up on the chair and chin on his knee while he ate. Hizashi jogged down the stairs, still spraying hairspray on his mohawk. He was late. He should’ve been halfway to U.A already, but apparently he forgot to plug his phone in the night before. 

“Why do phones even die that fast? I want a phone that stays charged for like, a week.” Hizashi complained as he walked into the kitchen hoping to find an easy to grab breakfast. 

“And you still wouldn’t charge it when it dies.” Shouta quipped, handing him a granola bar and travel mug of coffee. Izuku snorted a laugh from the table as he watched Hizashi run around the house like a headless chicken. 

“Hilarious. Really. You should have your own talk show.” Hizashi spat out sarcastically. He finally managed to gather everything he needed before rushing to put his boots on as fast as he could.

Izuku chuckled again before looking up at Shouta. “Go say bye, kiddo.” 

He got up quickly and shuffled to the genkan. He wrapped his arms around Hizashi's neck, hugging him tightly from behind. Shouta came up behind them shortly after, giving him a goodbye hug of his own. Hizashi gave Shouta a quick peck on the lips and Izuku a kiss on the side of the head and ruffled his hair. “I love you two, I’ll be back later. Be good for dad, bub.”

“Okay!” Izuku waved as Hizashi walked out the door. He walked back to the table to finish his breakfast. The day was supposed to go as usual, but around thirty minutes after Hizashi left and Izuku finished his food, he noticed Hizashi's leather jacket left, forgotten on the couch. “Dad!” He called out.

“Yeah, kiddo?” Shouta asked, coming out of the kitchen. 

“He left his jacket.” Izuku tried to pick it up but it caught him off guard with how much heavier it was than he expected. Shouta picked it up easily before looking at his watch.

“Yeah, he did.” He said before thinking for another moment. “Well, you want to go to U.A and give it to him?” 

Izuku’s eyes lit up as he shook his head excitedly. Shouta chuckled before telling him to get dressed. Izuku stumbled upstairs as fast as he could to get dressed. His style hasn’t changed since day one from coming home from the hospital. Mostly because he still only has the clothes handed down from Hitoshi; but that was by his choice. He refused anytime Hizashi and Shouta offered to buy him new ones. It was something he was working on with Hound dog. 

Izuku dressed himself in a dark blue t-shirt, white and black striped long sleeve underneath, and black jeans before grabbing a pair of socks and racing back down the stairs. He let Shouta clean his face off with a warm, damp rag before putting his socks on. He was practically buzzing with excitement while he waited for Shouta to finish getting dressed, dragging him to the door to put their shoes on. Despite his insisting that he could do it himself, Shouta tied his shoes for him. He darted out the door to the end of the yard, waiting for Shouta to finish locking the door as usual. 

“Ready to get your butt kicked again?” Izuku yelled. 

“You wish, punk.” Shouta muttered out, taking his place next to Izuku. 

Izuku won by a landslide. 

He was beaming as he strapped himself into the back seat. Shouta rolled his eyes as he got in, turning to look at the boy before saying “Wait until you’re allowed to start sparring; then we’ll see who’s kicking whose butt.”

“Yeah, beating up on a seven year old. Very heroic of you.” Hitoshi must have had an extremely strong impact on him, but honestly neither Hizashi nor Shouta were complaining. Izuku was coming out of his shell and that was all that mattered. 

Shouta chuckled before starting the car and backing up. The drive was short, but new to Izuku. He kept his eyes glued to the windows while talking with Shouta about what to expect. His very first time at U.A.

How bad could it go?

Chapter Text

Spoiler alert: It did not go well. 

Shouta pulled into his, for some reason still , reserved parking spot in the facility lot. He turned to Izuku, who was already rushing to unbuckle his seat belt. There were so many things he was excited to see; excited to explore. Hizashi and Shouta could only describe everywhere he’s never been as well as they could. 

Izuku wanted out of the house. At first, he didn’t think being restricted to the house and hospital would be all that bad. There was more to do at home than he could imagine, but it’s starting to get repetitive for him. Saturdays, when he and Hitoshi would spend the entire day together, were filled with variety. They made a point not to do the same as whatever they did the week before. But that still wasn’t enough for Izuku anymore. He was desperate to learn more. To experience more. There was so much he missed out on over the last three years, and he wanted to catch up as quickly as he could. This may not have been the first step back into the world; but it was an important one. 

If only Shouta would let him get out of the car already. 

“Ah, wait a second.” Shouta spat out just as Izuku cracked the door open, shutting it again with a huff. “I know you’re excited, but I just need to make sure you understand what to expect.”

“I do! I-I’ll be okay, I’ve been to a school before.” Izuku said, looking out the window again. 

“This school is different. There are a lot of students and staff here. It’s really easy to get lost in the shuffle, especially if you don’t know your way around.” Shouta sighed as he looked at him, partially wishing he could just keep Izuku in a protective bubble and out of harm's way for the rest of his life. “I just don’t want you to get scared or lost. Or hurt.” 

“I won’t.” Izuku said with a sudden drop in his mood. “I-I won’t be by myself though, right?”

“No, of course you won’t.” He could tell that his anxiety was stressing Izuku out, so he tried his best to suck it up. Izuku would be fine . What’s the worst that can happen? “Alright, I’m sorry. You’ll have fun. Let’s go find dad, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Izuku hesitated before reaching for the door handle again. He took a deep breath before shaking the negative feelings out and reaching for the handle. Shouta let Izuku carry the jacket around, folded meticulously so it wouldn’t unravel as he held it. It took a bit of maneuvering, but he was able to carry it with one hand while he held Shouta’s hand in the other. 

Izuku was right back to giddy as soon as the door opened, leading into the main office. The lights were bright and the air was crisp, unlike the heat outside. There were at least eight people, students and staff, walking around. The smell of freshly printed paper, the same as the worksheets Shouta printed out for Izuku to complete, flooded Izuku’s nose. Shouta walked them to a tall desk where he politely chatted with the man on the other side. Just like when they went to the hospital for Izuku’s check ups. Izuku must’ve been spaced out more than he thought because Shouta was suddenly instructing him to stand in front of the wall beside them. He looked up at him, then the man behind the counter who was looking at him back, and back up at Shouta. 

“Why?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“He needs to take your picture for your visitor pass.” Shouta looked at him with his eyebrows slightly drawn. He guessed this wasn’t the first time he was told this. But he still wasn’t exactly thrilled about this. He shook his head ever so slightly, still very aware of the man's eyes on them. Still, Shouta gave his hand a slight squeeze and a softened look. “Just this one time. He’s going to print it on a card just like mine.” 

Shouta handed him a plastic I.D badge with a picture of him from when he first started working at U.A. While of course they were still prominent, the bags under his eyes were smaller. His hair was short, much like Izuku’s but tamer. He was wearing a suit, the same one he wore to Inko’s sentence hearing; a black coat and tie over a simple white dress shirt. It must have only been a couple of years old, but Izuku still thought he looked much different. Underneath the picture were what he assumes were his titles.

Shouta Aizawa

Pro Hero: Eraser Head

U.A Faculty 

Riveting. 

But this still isn’t enough for Izuku to change his mind. He could see Shouta practically begging him with just one look. Realistically, Izuku knows that he has to do this. He knows the man behind the counter is just doing his job of keeping intruders out of the school. But he also knows what strange adults do with his pictures. Well, not exactly, but he has an intrusively detailed idea. So he shook his head again and whispered. “I don’t want him to take my picture.”

“Okay.” Shouta sighed before looking up at the man behind the counter. Izuku hid back behind him as he stood and continued to talk to the man in hushed tones. He felt somewhat guilty and embarrassed, but he just can’t make himself be okay with it. So he buried his face in Shouta’s side. Shortly afterwards, Shouta kneeled back down. “Would it be okay if I took your picture?”

“Um,” Izuku used his free hand to scratch his arm under his sleeve as he looked around nervously. “I-I guess so.”

Shouta smiled at that, mouthing a thank you before giving him a quick hug. Izuku stood with his back against the counter which was a head taller than him. He was picking at the skin of his lips, looking anywhere besides Shouta’s phone camera. It felt like one big eye staring directly at him. His attention was caught by Shouta’s subtle sigh, before setting his phone down on the floor. “Do you want to wear dad’s jacket? I think that’d be pretty silly.”

That finally got Izuku to smile and nod his head. With the assistance of Shouta, he let the jacket droop over him, basically drowning him in leather. They shared a quiet laugh at the way the sleeves hung awkwardly past his fingertips. Shouta picked his phone back up slowly and took his picture before he could remember what was going on before handing the phone to the man behind the counter. It barely took a minute before Shouta handed him his very own ID card. His hair was an unruly mess; light green and blonde curls sticking out in every direction. Blush dusted his cheeks and ears ever so slightly from his laughter dying down. His front teeth were sticking out just a bit from his smile and freckles were prominent. Underneath his picture read: 

Izuku Aizawa-Yamada 

Son of Eraser Head and Present Mic

Permanent U.A Guest

Izuku smiled at Shouta, showing off the card like he wasn’t the one who handed it to him. Still, Shouta smiled and nodded. He rolled up the sleeve of Hizashi's jacket up his arm to hold on to Shouta's hand easily as he walked them through another door. Immediately, the people who were previously walking about took notice of their presence. 

“Aizawa! I thought you had the rest of the year off?”

“Eraser, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your homeroom students. Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Aw, who’s this?”

All the sudden attention caused Izuku to basically pull Shouta backwards to shield himself. He could feel his hand cup the back of his head, despite the awkward angle it put his arm in. Shaking his head aggressively into Shouta’s shirt, Izuku frantically whispered, “Too many! Too many!”

“I know, kid. Just hold on.” Shouta whispered back before the three others could fully approach them. The first two questions got answered quickly, brushing off the talk about his students. He told the man to send him an email, which Izuku thought was maybe not the best idea. He heard him complain about the absurd amount of emails he already had to get through on a day to day basis. The thought was kicked from his mind when Shouta introduced him to the three strangers. “This is our son; Izuku.”

Izuku looked up at him with wild eyes, shaking his head once again. His voice felt a million miles away, but that didn’t stop the quiet whine that escaped his throat. He was lucky that only Shouta heard it. It didn’t make sense that no one else heard it, seeing as the three were practically leaning over him. They only got a quick glance from him before he tried hiding behind Shouta again. 

“Izuku,” Shouta said softly as he moved beside him once more. “These are pro heroes; this is Thirteen, Vlad King, and Cementoss.”

“Ce…mentoss? Like… from the video?” Izuku whispered. Hizashi and Shouta have been showing him clips of the news; different heroes saving people or, in Cementoss’s case, buildings. Shouta nodded as he crouched down to his level. Izuku looked back and forth from Shouta and Cementoss before gulping loudly. “You… um, saved a l-lot of people. The building, you made it look like water.” 

The three heroes in front of him chuckled before it died down into smiles. Cementoss scratched his head nervously. “You saw that?”

“You ever seen any of my epic rescues, kid?” The hero Shouta introduced as Vlad King asked, dramatically pointing to himself with his thumbs. Izuku thought about it for a moment before shaking his head, gripping onto Shouta’s hand tightly in anticipation. The hero only looked embarrassed as the other two laughed again. 

“So if you have the year off,” Thirteen began after having to catch her breath. “What are you guys here for ?” 

“Hizashi left his jacket at the house and we thought it’d be fun to stop by and bring it to him.” Shouta answered, standing back up.

“Ah, well then we’ll leave you to it.” Cementoss replied. “Izuku, it was very nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around occasionally?”

Izuku nodded shyly, murmuring “Nice to meet you.” to each hero before they walked away. He and Shouta smiled at each other and gently knocked their heads together. Hand in hand, they continued their journey through the hallways. Once they were out of the main office, the amount of people they saw walking around diminished to almost none. Izuku was amazed how the hall ceilings were practically taller than the house. Shouta helped him peek into the windows off the classroom doors. There were a number of students who saw him, pointing from the desks before he and Shouta ran off down the hall. They went up three floors in the elevator, Izuku jumping the whole time while Shouta gripped onto the hand rails for dear life. He’s been in countless scary situations, far worse than this, but elevators have always given him a bit of anxiety. But Izuku was having fun so he could deal with it. There was a loud ding before the doors opened and Izuku skipped out into the hall. Shouta let him run ahead until he got to the door of Hizashi's classroom. “Wait, wait, wait.”

“Hm?” Izuku turned around with his head tilted to the side. Shouta peeked inside quickly before kneeling down. 

“Dad’s in the back of the room talking to one of his students.” Izuku gave him one stiff nod, barely able to contain his smile. “When I open the door, you're going to go straight until you get to his desk, sit in his chair, and be quiet until he notices you. Think you can do it?” 

“I can do it!” Izuku said loudly. Shouta suppressed a laugh as he brought his finger up to his lips. He giggled with his hands covering his face before reiterating in a whisper, “I can do it!”

They gave each other a high five and a quick hug before Shouta cracked the door just wide enough for Izuku to squeeze through. Just like Shouta said, the desk was a straight shot from the door, and luckily for Izuku all the students seemed too engrossed in their assignments to notice him. He slipped into Hizashi's rolling chair, trying his best to keep it as still as possible.

Not laughing seemed to be a greater challenge than Izuku originally thought it would be. He kept his head down on the desk to hide himself behind everything on the desk. There was a laptop with an opened email, something about “My Child's English Grade”, directly in the middle. A small plant surrounded by hand made paper dolls and a variety of different animals like how Hitoshi made for him was on the right side, and on the left were two picture frames. One had a picture of him and Shouta together, in the same uniforms that the students in front of him were wearing. They looked much younger, Hizashi had his arm wrapped around Shouta’s shoulder while clearly laughing. Shouta was making the same face he makes when he’s trying to be serious after Izuku makes an inappropriately timed joke. The other picture was a stick figure picture of Hizashi and Shouta with Izuku in between them. Izuku had drawn it in the hospital after being rescued as a thank you for the birthday presents Hizashi had brought him. He assumed that Hizashi had thrown it away after a few days like Inko did with all of his drawings, but he was more than happy to see it displayed on his desk. 

Izuku looked over at the door to find Shouta looking right back at him, giving him a small wave and smile. He waved subtly back, his wrist basically glued the desk as his thumb and pinky lightly hit the wood. Just then, Hizashi clapped his hands together as he walked backwards towards Izuku. “Remember listeners, ask your peers for help before asking me! If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times; you should be able to communicate on and off the field!”

“These are the same people we’ll work with after graduating.” The class recited like they really have been told a million times. 

“Yeah, yeah! You guys get it!” Hizashi was smiling as he turned around to properly see his desk, perhaps to find something, but his eyes landed on Izuku immediately. He let out an excited yelp before practically sliding onto his knees in front of the chair and grabbing onto the boy's hands. “Hey, honey! Oh my goodness, what are you doing here?”

“You um,” Izuku whispered, his eyes darting to the students staring at him with confused expressions before looking back at him. “Y-You forgot your jacket.”

It was awkward for Izuku, shedding off the massive leather jacket as some twenty odd students watched. Hizashi slipped it on easily and gave him a quick hug and asked for just a moment to handle his class. 

“Who here didn’t notice this young boy walk in and sit at my desk?” Hizashi asked, his quirk enhancing the volume slightly. Most everyone raised their hand; only three who sat in the front row and closest to the door didn’t. “Alright, all of you up. Walk of shame to the office. You should all have enough awareness to notice someone simply walking into the room. If he were a villain we’d all be dead or in danger. Have someone sign and time stamp a piece of paper and come back.”

The students groaned before tearing out a piece of paper from their notebooks and shuffling out the door. Some murmured a hello to Shouta, who was still waiting out in the hall. Hizashi told the last to leave to invite him in. It was barely even a second before Shouta turned into the classroom and made his way to stand behind Izuku. The three remaining students sat smugly, assuming they would surely get rewarded for doing what their classmates could not. 

“You three saw him coming in?” Hizashi asked. They nodded their heads proudly but their shoulders began to shrink as Hizashi's head shook disappointedly. “So you saw a strange kid walk in, sit at my desk, and just decided it wasn’t worth mentioning to me or at least another student?”

“Well, sir, I figured it was the kid from the drawing on your desk; I found a resemblance and assumed you knew he was here.” The girl in the middle raised her hand while speaking. 

“Assuming can be dangerous; knowing is less so.” Hizashi sighed. “You three take the walk of shame down to gym gamma; Powerloader is there testing support items with his class, have him sign a piece of paper.” 

The three dropped their jaws and huffed but didn’t argue. Just like their peers, they each ripped out a piece of paper out of their notebooks and shuffled out the door. Hizashi turned back around to face Izuku and Shouta with a big smile on his face. “What a fun surprise!”

“Are you allowed to make them all walk around like that?” Izuku asked curiously as he fiddled with a rubber band he found on the desk. 

“Teachers at U.A are allowed to do whatever they see fit to benefit their students. I make my students walk when they make small mistakes like that to help them clear their head and think about what could be changed next time.”

“Oh. Makes sense, I guess.” Izuku hummed. He looked around the class room, far less nervously now that it was just the three of them. Besides Hizashi’s desk, the room itself was very plain. The desks of the students who were previously sitting there were in five rows of four. Each had a few papers spread about, some had notebooks and text books. Coats and backpacks hung off the back of chairs or rested on the legs of the desk. There was a clock on each wall and, presumably, storage cabinets in the back of the room. The chalk board read “English 2.7 ” in big bold letters, but Izuku didn’t know anything else on the board. He was still learning to read in Japanese, so his English reading ability was extremely limited. So far. 

Shouta was telling Hizashi about their run-in with Cementoss, Thirteen, and Vlad King when Izuku tuned back in. They smiled at him before asking him what he thought of the school so far. He told them the truth, that he definitely underestimated how big it was but was still having a ton of fun. Stretching his arms over his head, Shouta hummed something about going back home. Both Hizashi and Izuku gave out small, disappointed whines. 

“Can we please stay? Just for a little bit longer?” Izuku pouted, making his eyes big and sad. Hizashi looked at him and nodded before making the same face.

“Yeah, please?” He scurried to Izuku’s side, kneeling down to his knee while they pressed their faces together.

“I don’t know, guys. Izuku still has some school work to do and lunch…” Shouta started to trail off as the big puppy dog eyes started to do their thing. Hizashi and Izuku begged again with a harmonious “please”. Their efforts proved to be successful when Shouta sighed and nodded slightly. Together they ambushed him with a tight hug until he pushed Hizashi off. 

Students started returning to the room, causing Izuku to duck back into the swivel chair at Hizashi’s desk. One by one, they handed Hizashi their torn out notebook page. Some greeted Shouta, some asked questions about who “the kid at the desk” was, but they both waved them off. Once all the students were seated again, even the three who left after everyone else, Hizashi chatted with them while Shouta kneeled down to meet Izuku face to face. He gently took hold of one of his hands before whispering. “Would you be okay if they ask you some questions?”

“Huh?” Izuku asked, genuinely confused. “Like what?”

“Your name, maybe about your quirk. You don’t have to answer anything you're not comfortable with; and dad and I will shut down anything we deem inappropriate or too personal.” He got a small nod as a response.

Hizashi instructed his class to finish their worksheets and set them on his desk once done. They must have been close to finishing the assignments before taking the “Walk of Shame”, because it was only a few short minutes before they were sitting and waiting for an explanation of who and why a seven year old was in their classroom. 

“Okay, I know you guys are curious so let me, finally, introduce mine and Mr. Aizawa’s son; Izuku!” Hizashi whispered a yell like a fake crowd cheering for him. Izuku stood awkwardly, in front of Hizashi who kept his hand on his shoulder. Every student greeted him warmly, some of the girls awing at him. “He will answer some questions if you have some, but please remember to be respectful; he won’t answer anything he doesn’t want to.”

Hands shot up immediately which made Izuku jump back ever so slightly, but he was still open to answer questions. He let Hizashi pick students because he at least knew their names. They asked him his age, his favorite color, basic things like that. When a boy asked him how he met Hizashi and Shouta, his dads shut it down exactly how they promised they would. It took a surprising amount of time, but a girl with hair that touched the floor finally asked, “What’s your quirk?”

“‘Do you have a quirk?’” He corrected quietly while looking up at Shouta. He wasn’t smiling as much as usual since the students came back, but he still gave him a slight nod.

“What?”

“Y-You should ask if someone has a quirk… before asking what it is.” Izuku said unconfidently. “B-but I do have one. It’s called Sunlight Absor- um- absorption.”

“Can we see it?”

Izuku hummed unsurely while he looked up at Hizashi for an answer. Once he got a nod of approval, he slowly inched his way through the rows of desks. There were murmurs of curiosity, wondering what he was doing but Izuku ignored it. He carefully scanned each student before finally stopping in front of a boy with a bandage taped to his forehead. He had what looked like rogue bones growing out of random spots on his legs and arms. Izuku nervously held out his hand, eyes shut tightly as he grabbed hold. He slowly walked back to the front of the class and asked him to kneel down. “What’s your name?”

“Uh, Buma Kotsuo.” He answered. 

“Could you please take off your, um-” Izuku shyly points to his bandage. 

“Okay, it’s a little gnarly, just so you know.” Kotsuo warned as he untaped the gauze from his forehead. The cut was bloody still, in the shape of a large check mark cutting through his eyebrow. Izuku honestly wasn’t fazed by it. Admittedly, it was gnarly but Izuku’s seen worse on himself. He did still sympathize with him; sure it was incredibly painful. Izuku raised his palm to his head and closed his eyes. 

“This is going to hurt.” Hizashi warned quietly as Izuku activated his quirk. Kotsuo let out a pained groan but sat still the entire minute it took until Izuku opened his eyes again. He stepped to the side to let Hizashi and Shouta examine the teen first. They both gave their approval in a nod and a gentle pat on the back. The rest of the students gasped at the disappearance of their classmates' injury; some murmuring about how cool it was to have a healing quirk. A girl with some sort of geo-quirk handed Kotsuo a shiny, basically reflective, crystal for him to look into. He gawked over how his cut vanished like it never even happened. 

“That’s a mighty impressive power you got there.” Kotsuo said, unable to take his eyes off his reflection. 

“Thanks.” Izuku said shyly.

“Do you want to be a hero when you’re older?” 

Izuku froze before he could feel himself start to shake ever so slightly. His cheeks flushed as his fingers seemed to restlessly rub against each other. It was barely over a whisper “No, I can’t.”

Everyone stared at him in confusion, especially Hizashi and Shouta. Still, they stood behind him with their most intimidating faces daring anyone to question it. All the students bit their tongues to stop their curiosity; all but Kotsuo.

“Maybe that’ll change one day. I didn’t think I could be a hero because I didn’t think my quirk could be useful enough.” He patted the ground for Izuku to sit next to him.

“What is your quirk?” 

Kotsuo broke off one of the bones growing out from his arm. He tomahawk threw it across the room and just when Izuku thought it was going to hit the back wall, it turned around and landed directly into his palm. “Boomerang Bones.”

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Izuku asked, eyes wide in worry.

“No, not really. If I break them off too early it does.” He smiled as Izuku seemed to come out from whatever unsettled mood he was in. He asked him what felt like a million questions before the bell rang loudly.

Kotsuo shook his hand and went back to his desk. Every student gave him a high five on their way out, making him smile with quick flashes of their quirks. The girl from earlier handed him a dark blue rock with gold flakes. It was smooth to the touch; a bit smaller than his palm. There was a slight indentation on one side and level on the other. Izuku handed it to Shouta first; who examined it quickly before handing it back. “Very cool, bub.” 

He squealed and showed it to Hizashi next. 

“Oh, it's lapis lazuli! Sana Iwao makes worry stones with her quirk for everyone in her class. Dad and I have garnet and jasper ones.” Hizashi smiled as he gave it back. Izuku examined it carefully as he made his way back to Hizashi’s desk chair. Hizasi and Shouta kneeled in front of him, gently pushing the stone down to get his attention. 

“Hey kid,” Shouta started with a nervous look at Hizashi before looking back at him. “What did you mean when you said you can’t be a hero?”

“I-I can’t.” Izuku said as if he thought it was common knowledge. 

“Why do you think that, honey?” Hizashi asked with his eyebrows drawn together. Izuku shifted uncomfortably in the chair, chewing the skin off his bottom lip. 

“Be…cause? I can’t?” Izuku genuinely didn’t understand why they were asking him this. In his mind it was obvious. 

Shouta let out a small huff before spinning his chair slightly to make him face him. “Izuku, what reason do you have for saying that?”

“Becuase I can’t! I’m too scared and weak and you don’t have to keep rubbing it in!” Izuku yelled. He doesn’t exactly know why, but he pushes himself off the chair and forces himself past the two of them. Hizashi tried to grab ahold of his hand before he could get too far, but he ended up just slipping by. Out the door and down the hall, Izuku sprinted as fast as his legs would take him. He stumbled down the stairs, but didn’t slip completely. He bumped into multiple students who tried to stop him to no avail. A sharp pain shot through his left hip causing him to lurch forward. Unfortunately he fell face first into someone's bent elbow, getting hit directly under his right eye. He let out a pained yell while looking up at the high schoolers who now felt even more ginormous to him. They were clearly trying to talk to him, probably asking him if he’s okay, but everything sounded fuzzy to Izuku. Once again, he pushed himself up and started running despite the pain. He went down what felt like a million stairs and found the first door that led outside. It wasn’t until he was finally outside when he noticed his nose spewing blood. He let out a whine before ducking behind a large bush surrounding the building. The sticks scratched him harshly, tearing his shirt sleeve. 

Izuku finally toppled over into the dirt, sobbing uncontrollably. He flinched when the bell rang again minutes later. He doesn’t know exactly how long he was sitting there for, knees curled into his chest. Snot and blood stained his face and shirt while grass and dirt covered his pants. Hizashi and Shouta’s questioning replayed in his mind on loop, only working him up more and more. He could hear footsteps approaching and his heart skipped a beat when the steps stopped in front of him.

“Get out.” Said the booming voice. Before he could even move, the voice turned into a hand, grabbing his wrist tightly and lifting him out from the bush. Attached to the hand, to the voice, stood an angry looking man with a tall, broad frame. His eyes were sharp and intense like his scowl. Red, flame-like hair blew ever so slightly in the calm wind. His hand was burning into his wrist, his grip seemingly tightening more and more. 

“Ow, pl-please! Let go!” Izuku thrashed in a panic. 

“Where are your parents?” He asked loudly. Izuku fought to at least get his feet on the ground. A loud scream escaped him as his shoulder popped from the harsh position he was in. 

“Father, at least let him down. You’re hurting him.” A small voice said behind the man. 

“Quiet, Shoto!” The man barked. This Shoto person must’ve struck a chord with him because after a few seconds he let go of his wrist and let him fall to the ground. Good thing his knees broke his fall. Just when Izuku thought it was over, the man grabbed him harshly by the ear. “Come along, Shoto. We’ll escort this trespasser to the office and we’ll continue on our way.”

“Yes, father.” Shoto whispered. Izuku glanced around him, slightly surprised to find that whoever this Shoto person was, is his age. His hair was split directly down the middle, one side red and one white. His eyes were different shades as well but that’s not what caught Izuku’s attention about him. It wasn’t the massive scar covering the left side of his face either. It was how miserable he looked. His eyes held the same negative energy as Hitoshi’s when they talked about school. The same as when Izuku looked at himself in the mirror after therapy sessions with Hound Dog. 

It was a little hard to worry about him when his father had a tight grip on Izuku’s ear, dragging him through the now empty hallways. He could feel the tears well in his eyes and heart racing before a familiar voice yelled from the other side of the hall. “Endeavor! Let him go!”

It was Hizashi, quirk activated and seething. Shouta was right next to him with his eyes glowing in anger. The man, Endeavor, finally let go of him. Izuku stumbled into a run down the hallway and into Shouta's arms.

“What the hell did you do to my son?!” Shouta barked angrily.

“What did I do? He’s the one being a bad influence on my Shoto!” Endeavor all but yelled pointing to the boy standing shyly behind him. Both kids shook their heads ever so slightly in disagreement.

“Whatever he was doing, doesn’t constitute you dragging him by the ear!” Hizashi yelled, continuing closer towards the not so heroic hero.

“Your brat was hiding in the bushes outside throwing a fit! Maybe if you two were actually parenting him I wouldn’t have to!”

Hizashi didn’t even respond. Just opened his palm and harshly slapped Endeavor across the face. Izuku flinched in Shouta’s arms. Shoto did too. Just as Endeavor's quirk flashed bright and he lifted his fist back, another voice stopped them.

“That’s quite enough of that.” He was like a little bear…thing. Izuku wasn’t exactly sure what he was. “I’m sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this!”

“Princiable Nezu, there is absolutely no reason for him to be dragging my son by the EAR!” Hizashi yelled again, unable to control his quirk.

“Yamada and Todoroki, if you would please follow me to my office!” The bear named Nezu said happily with a clap of his hands. Paws? Paws.

“Come, Shoto.” Endeavor demanded, taking a step forward.

“That won’t be necessary! Neither him nor young Izuku’s presence will be needed!” Nezu said, immediately diminishing Endeavor's confidence. Then he turned to Shouta. “Aizawa, you wouldn’t mind watching these two, right?”

Shouta nodded slightly as Izuku hid his face into his shoulder. “Not at all, sir.”

Izuku watched as Nezu followed Hizashi and Endeavor down the hall and through a door. Shouta set his back on the ground and closely examined his face. He fretted as he told him about running into a student's elbow and how the running pained his hip. Izuku sniffled as Shouta pointlessly tried to clean some of the blood off his face when Shoto caught his attention from down the hall. He was standing awkwardly with his head down and arms clearly struggling not to curl into his torso.

Izuku stepped through Shouta’s doting as he stared at the kid in front of him. “A-Are you okay?”

Shoto’s eyes widened slightly before scanning Izuku fully. “Are you?”

“Let’s… go see Recovery Girl.” Shouta gently pushed Izuku forwards to get him to start walking. The three walked silently to the nurses office, Shoto and Izuku acting as if they weren’t sneaking glances at each other.

Recovery Girl greeted each of them individually before cleaning up Izuku’s face. A quick kiss on the cheek seemed to be enough to make him feel almost perfectly normal. They were sent on their way quickly due to her needing to catch up with paperwork, but Izuku and Shoto both received a sugar-free lollipop, per both Shouta’s and Enji’s previous personal requests. The boys mentioned being hungry, cueing Shouta to lead them to the cafeteria. Luckily, Lunch Rush had enough time to make them each their own bowls of food; kastudon for Izuku and Shouta, and cold soba for Shoto. Hardly any words were spoken since the hallway, but Izuku was itching to start a conversation. Shouta must have noticed the tension because he gave him a subtle, encouraging nod. 

“So, do you have a quirk?” Izuku shyly asked, poking his food around.

“Huh?” Shoto looked up, surprised. “Yeah? Do you?”

“Uh-huh.” Izuku nodded. He looked up at Shouta, completely unsure what to do next. Again, he gave him an encouraging look. “It’s called Sun Absorption. I can shoot solar energy out from my palms; and heal cuts and bruises and stuff.”

“Can you heal scars?” Shoto’s interest piqued at the last part. Izuku almost didn’t want to respond. The answer would only disappoint him. It disappointed Izuku himself. The day he learned his quirk could be used to heal, he tried to use it on the scars that littered his arms. He made sure to soak up as much sun as he could before taking his nightly shower. He tried everything to rid his arms of the ugly marks but it was no use. 

“N-Not yet. I hope I can some day, though.” Izuku bit his lips together; half in embarrassment, half in shame. 

“Oh.” Shoto said in a monotone voice. “That’s still cool.”

“Thank you. So… what’s your quirk?” 

“Half-Cold Half-Hot.” He hummed before taking another bite. There was silence again, but not as awkward as before so Izuku counted it as a win. It wasn’t until the three finished eating and Shouta took their dishes back to Lunch Rush did Shoto speak again. “So, are you homeschooled too?”

“Yeah, but I’ll get to go to regular school soon.” It wasn’t a definitive plan yet, but each time he asked Shouta he’d just say ‘soon’. “Sorry my dad hit your dad, by the way.”

“It’s okay, he kinda deserved it.” Shoto shrugged. “Sorry if my dad hurt you.”

“It’s fine.”

…

“Do… you want to go outside and play?”

“Play what?”

Izuku shrugged as Shouta came back. With his permission, the boys found their way to a big grass field. They agreed to just look for different bugs and flowers; not exactly a game but it was still fun. After a few minutes of that, they decided to let the millipedes crawl around on their faces and arms. Shoto pointed out the change in Izuku’s hair, and Izuku pointed out the small layer of frost and flames that covered Shoto’s arms when he laughed. Shouta let them show each other their quirks, which caught the attention of a few students passing by. Izuku and Shoto were having a lot of fun; not the same as Hitoshi and Izuku would have, but fun none the less. 

When Hizashi and Endeavor walked out the door, the energy around them was stuffy and negative. The boys sat in the grass watching nervously as the adults talked before Endeavor demanded Shoto by his side again. 

“Bye, Izuku. It was nice to meet you.” Shoto said in his monotone voice, giving him a hand shake and bow before running to his dad’s side. 

“Bye, Shoto. Nice to… meet you.” Izuku sighed. He flopped back into the grass as Hizashi and Shouta sat beside him.

“Izu, I think it’s time to go home now, love.” Hizashi said, shaking his foot.

“Are you going home too?” He asked, sitting up quickly. 

“Yup! I guess I should’ve known bitch-slapping the number 2 hero would get me in a bit of trouble.” Hizashi smiled down at him.

“Watch your language.” Shouta warned with a stern look. 

“Did I get you in trouble?” Izuku was worried. He really wasn’t trying to cause a scene, he was just feeling overwhelmed is all. He thought hiding behind the bushes would be enough to conceal himself. Endeavor never even gave him a proper amount of time to defend himself, only proving the point of the whole reason he ran off in the first place. 

But before he could stress himself out too much, Hizashi grabbed his hands and looked him right in the eye; making his seldomly serious face. “You did not get me in trouble. My actions are my own and I stand by them. Endeavor has to write an apology to you for mistreating you, so don’t think he got off free. I get the next three days off school!”

Izuku took it as a cause for celebration, wrapping his arms around him tightly while practically tackling him into the grass. “So you’ll be home tomorrow? And next week too?”

“Just a couple of days next week.” Hizashi laughed while returning the hug.

They laid in the grass for only a few minutes longer before walking back through the hallways, through the front office, and back into the faculty parking lot. Izuku skipped to Shouta’s car, waiting for him to finish checking his phone to unlock the door.

“Hizashi.” Shouta gave him a serious look before handing him his phone. He looked at Izuku while Hizashi read. “You’re going with dad instead, kid. I have to go by the police station to see Tsukauchi.”

Izuku froze. Tsukauchi only ever called him down to the station when he found a significant piece of evidence to finding the pedophile ring who Inko worked with. He should’ve been happy, knowing that the evidence would get them arrested faster, but he wasn’t. Izuku was embarrassed. Ashamed. Just… upset. The only evidence they could find was from the camera footage of Izuku’s room. And those men only ever did one thing there. Izuku hated the fact the videos existed, and when he thought about the fact they keep getting watched, especially by people he knows , he can’t keep his lunch down. 

Shouta has never seen them. Since day one, he has refused to even be in the same room as it was being reviewed. He assured Izuku this, every single time Tsukauchi and he reviewed evidence, but sometimes it just wasn’t enough. Izuku’s had multiple panic attacks and meltdowns after thinking about it for too long. And as he’s standing in front of him now, he could tell that that was the path he was going down. He kneeled in front of him and offered his hand out. “I promise I won’t watch anything you don’t want me to. I love you, and I respect you.”

“O-Okay.” Izuku whispered, taking his hand. “I love you too.”

“I’ll be home, for bedtime at least. I can’t promise I’ll be there for dinner.” Shouta gave him a half smile before Izuku fully came in for a hug.

“B-But Hitoshi’s coming over today.” He pouted. 

“And I’m sure you and dad will make something super yummy for him and Nemuri.” Izuku only huffed before nodding his head. They gave each other one last squeeze before standing up. Hizashi walked Izuku to his car, fully making sure he was buckled in before getting in himself. Izuku told him about Shoto, about how he wishes they could be friends. Hizashi didn’t tell him that Endeavor specifically said he didn’t want the boys near each other. He had a hard enough day.

It was a short drive home, and Izuku felt exhausted. Hizashi figured a nap didn’t sound too bad so he set an alarm while Izuku changed out of his bloody clothes and together they passed out on the couch. An hour and a half seemed like only five minutes to Izuku, who whined and rolled away from Hizashi when he tried to wake him up. Hizashi was relentless though, poking and tickling him until he finally started laughing and agreed to get up. 

Izuku decided he wanted to practice using his quirk, so Hizashi sat outside with him and helped guide him to his goal. He was working on extending the range of the solar energy he expelled from his hands. Hizashi set up targets for him, testing exactly how far he could get it in the first place. Each time he could knock it over, he would move it a few steps further away.Izuku tried over and over when Hizashi moved the target back again, now placing it only a few meters from the back fence. After the thirteenth attempt with no change, he groaned and whined. “Why isn’t it working?”

“Well, are you doing something different between each blast? Or do you just keep shooting and hoping something will be different?" Hizashi asked with his eyebrow raised.

“I’m changing my hand positions but it’s not making it go farther.” Izuku huffed. Hizashi stood behind him and pulled his arm up into his shooting position once again. 

“Tell me where you’re aiming.”

“The… target?” Izuku asked, confused.

“Imagine the energy going through the target. Don’t aim at it; aim to hit just behind it.” He instructed before taking a step back. Izuku tried again, getting closer but still not hitting the target. He let out a frustrated huff before looking back at Hizashi. “Well, that’s not my fault. You forgot the number one thing dad and I always tell you is key; breathe.”

“I was breathing!” Izuku defended. 

“But you’re not focusing your breath. It should be the start of the energy release, every time.” Hizashi took three concentrated breaths with him before having him try again. Izuku stuck his arm out in front of him, took a deep breath, and let out the built-up energy in his hand. This time, the target fell backwards with a new layer of soot covering it. Hizashi grabbed him by the shoulders and gently shook him back and forth. “Attaboy! I knew you could do it!”

“ Can we move it back one more time before we go inside? Please?” Izuku asked, smiling, clearly proud of himself. Hizashi agreed, already on his way across the yard to move it. Izuku knocked it down on his first try, jumping up and down in excitement. They celebrated by each chowing down on a pack of fruit snacks. Shouta would typically only let Izuku have three or four at max, overly worried about the sugar contents. He has to admit that this was always a fun perk when it was just the two of them. 

Together, Hizashi and Izuku began to make dinner side by side. Izuku was determined to make cold soba, and Hizashi was just lucky they had all the right ingredients. As he was cutting vegetables, and Izuku added spices to the broth, he cleared his throat. “So, bub, can we talk a little bit about why you ran off earlier?”

“I-I was upset. I don’t know why I ran away.” Izuku’s voice was barely over a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not upset that you felt you needed to get away. I’ve felt that way too. Maybe we can work on communicating when you want to change the topic.” Hizashi spoke gently; calmly. “Actually, I was hoping we could talk about why you were upset.” 

“I… didn’t like that you and dad kept asking me why I can’t be a hero.” He said in the same quiet voice. “I-It’s obvious, and I felt like you guys were teasing me.”

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry we made you feel that way. We would never, ever make fun of you like that. Just when you wear mix-match socks.” Hizashi joked. Luckily it worked, making Izuku giggle lightly. “It’s just… to dad and I, it isn’t obvious. We think you would make a really great hero if that’s what you want to do. You’re so kind and empathic to the people around you; so strong and caring.” 

“But I’m not strong. I-I can’t defend myself a-and…” Izuku trailed off, stirring the pot thoughtlessly. 

“And?”

“And I’m just… a victim.” Izuku hated that word. He did his best to separate himself from it, but sometimes it just felt impossible. Hizashi stopped what he was doing and opened his arms to Izuku. He took only a moment before falling into his chest and sighed heavily. 

“Oh, my love. You’re so, so much more than that.” Hizashi ran his clean hand over his hair while he shook his head in disagreement. “Yes you are. You’re a good friend, a good student. A responsible fish owner. Most importantly, you’re mine and dad’s son. If you decide you want to be a hero, I think you’d be excellent.”

Izuku avoided eye contact while he thought about it. He supposed he was a good friend to Hitoshi, and hopefully Shoto today, based on what the cartoons he watched taught him. His mind drifted to Shoto, wondering what was going on before he ran into him. From what he knows, Endeavor isn’t a teacher at U.A. What were they doing there, and why did Shoto seem so sad? 

—

Shoto trained until he threw up, a punishment thrusted upon him by his dad. He knew he shouldn’t have said anything to him about what he and Izuku had done. He yelled harshly, screaming about how bad of an influence he is. Shoto didn’t understand how though. When they found him behind the bush, silently sobbing while his nose soaked his shirt in blood, it wasn’t even Shoto who had noticed him. Enji had only stopped in their tracks and reached into the bush. Shoto did his best to help Izuku without angering his dad, but when he started pulling him by the ear, his voice was lost. He knew the pain he was experiencing all too well, but he also knew there was nothing he could do to get Enji to stop.

“Dad, please.” Shoto struggled to say as he was hunched over on the mat of their training dojo. “I-I can’t do it anymore.”

“You can stop once you finish the set.” Enji said in a low tone. “You should’ve known better than to fraternize with that scoundrel. Now I have to reverse whatever shenanigans he taught you.”

“We just found bugs-” He couldn’t finish his sentence before Enji struck him across the face.

And for probably the millionth time in his short life, Shoto wishes he was born into any other family besides his own.

—

“I-I think… I do want to be a hero.” Izuku whispered after a moment. Hizashi kissed the top of his head and smiled.

“Then a hero you will be.”

Chapter Text

Shouta didn't make it back in time for bedtime.

He knew he should've called, or at least sent a text to Hizashi to explain, but what he was doing was just too important. When Tsukauchi texted him, telling him to get to the station immediately, Shouta assumed he had found another small clue in the tens of thousands of hours of video footage. When he walked into the integration room, Tsukauchi was sitting with his back facing the door. Documents and files were spread out in front of him, along with a cup of coffee and a water bottle. Across the table sat the result of not showering for months at a time. The man's hair was long, stringy, and greasy like the snot running down his chin. Shouta nearly gagged at the stench emanating from him, along with his food-stained shirt. He was an absolute mess. And it wasn't until he caught a look at his blackening eye, broken-in nose, and cuffs strapping him to a metal chair that it finally clicked.

Tsukauchi had to pull him out before Shouta attacked him personally. He struggled against him before he finally pinned him to the wall. “Stop; you need to control yourself.”

“Is he one of them?” Shouta practically growled.

“He is, but you need to calm down .” His forearm remained pressed against his upper chest, but his tone stayed calm and collected. “I know what this means for you, but we can't risk scaring him.” 

“Scaring him? What about all the kids he terrorized, my son included?”

“You don't think I know that? I'm not going to repeat this, Shouta. You need to calm down.” Tsukauchi rarely used his first name, only when he was deadly serious. “Go get a cup of coffee and clear your head. As much as you can, anyway. I need you here, thinking with your head .”

Shouta knew he was right. Still, he slightly shoulder-checked him as he walked back down the hallway. Every officer and detective, really every single soul in the station, kept their heads down as he passed. Maybe they all knew who was in that integration room. Maybe it was the insistent muttering to himself scaring them off. Either way, he didn’t care. He'd probably tear someone's hair out of their scalp if they tried to talk to him right now anyway. He returned outside the interrogation room, where Tsukauchi was waiting for him with a cup of black coffee in his hand. Shouta took a deep breath before stopping in front of him. “Okay, what do we know so far?”

“Kurazo Murao, age thirty-eight. He's been accused and charged on multiple accounts of assault, ranging from animal abuse to domestic violence. He spent six nonconsecutive years in jail, bailed out only days, a week at the longest, after each incarceration.” Tsukauchi informed. “We got an anonymous call earlier today; he was hiding behind some bushes in front of an apartment building across the street from a local park. We arrested him for public indecency.”

Shouta struggled to identify exactly how he felt. He knew he felt absolutely revolted at the so-called man sitting on the other side of the door. If not just by his physical appearance, not to be shallow, only truthful, but by his actions. Maybe it’s because he’s been completely off patrols for the past few months, but he was sick to his stomach just thinking about it. He felt sorry too. Sorry for the kids at the park this morning. Sorry for their parents who will destroy themselves thinking it was somehow their fault. He overwhelmingly misses Izuku. His laugh and hugs; his incredibly bright smile and freckled covered face. Even the idea of Izuku being anywhere near that monster made his blood boil. “Is the broken nose from you?” 

“Parents from the park found him before we did. I’ll say it took a bit longer than usual to get out of the car.” Tsukauchi wasn’t typically one for unnecessary violence, but like everyone else, he had his moments. Shouta silently, but heavily, approved of his actions today. 

“How do you know he’s a part of the ring we’re looking for?” Shouta questioned. 

“We started questioning before you got here. Lied about it at first, but he did admit to having contact with Inko.” Tsukauchi sighed, looking in the room through the two-way mirror. “We think the ring is responsible for his bail outs.”

“If that’s true, he may have had to cover part of the members' bail. Do we have a name listed on any of the posted bonds?” 

“No, they were all posted anonymously. We have officers out questioning every bondsman who was working while it was paid, but that’s a long shot.”

“It is.” Shouta sighed. He tapped his middle finger and thumb together rapidly; a habit he’d picked up from Izuku when he was in deep thought. “We should look through his bank statements. He’d have to withdraw large amounts of money to pay his share of the others bail. If we cross-reference the dates of those withdrawals with when other inmates convicted of similar crimes were released on bail, we should have a much shorter list of suspects.”

Tsukauchi smiled before letting out an impressed scoff. “Good to have you here, Aizawa.”

For the first time since Izuku’s initial rescue, they were finally close to shutting this whole thing down. Shouta took the liberty of cross-referencing any bank statement around or over 750,000 yen to the records from every jail and prison in the area. After three drawn-out hours, the list narrowed itself from practically everyone in Japan, to just over two hundred names. It was still plenty to go through, but it made the two feel infinitely closer to putting an end to this once and for all. 

“There has to be a way to cross off some more of these names.” Tsuchauchi sighed as he leaned his head in his hand. “Let’s go talk to our little friend again, see if we can squeeze out something helpful.”

“Oh,” Shouta chuckled darkly before his face turned scarily serious. “He is not my friend.”

Murao sat in the exact same position he was in hours ago, elbows on each arm rest and hand laced together over his bulging stomach. He snorted grossly, as if their coming in had woken him up. “Well, there you are! I was worried you guys forgot about me.”

“Well good thing you have nowhere else to be right now.” Tsukauchi shot back as he sat down. Shouta sat next to him, his scowl prominent. 

“Uh oh, you don’t look too happy to see me. Looks like good cop brought bad cop this time!” Murao laughed obnoxiously at his own joke. 

“I’m not a cop and I’m not happy to see you.” Shouta did his best to control his anger, but his scowl stayed present. 

“No?”

“I'm a pro-hero; Eraserhead. We want to ask you more about your relationship with Inko Midoriya.”

“I already told your buddy over here. She was nothing more than a business partner.” He shrugged. “Look man, I know she went to jail or prison or whatever, and that sucks but I don’t know why you want more dirt on her.”

“Would your friends describe her as a business partner as well?” Shouta asked with his eyebrows knitted. Murao slightly jerked his eyes up to make contact with Shouta’s death stare before looking to Tsukacuchi quickly and back down. His demeanor changed ever so slightly, but it was enough for the two across the table to notice. 

“Got no friends to describe her as anything.” He shrugged again. 

“You have to have some,” Tsukauchi said without looking up from the file in his lap. “Who else would be posting bail every time you find yourself incarcerated?”

“My mom pays for it.” Tsukauchi shot a look towards Shouta and squinted eyes ever so slightly. He was lying.

“If we called her, would she say the same thing? If we told her that her son is here for groping himself in front of a park full of kids, would she feel so bad for you that she'd give up her money just so you can do the same thing next week?” Shouta questioned. Murao gaped like a fish out of water before stuttering out a response.

“W-Wait wait wait, y-y-you don’t have to call her. She’s busy, man.”

“Yeah, I bet she is. So busy living in shame over the disgrace she has to call a son. Tsukauchi, I think maybe we should give her a call.”

Tsukauchi didn’t respond right away. He flicked through papers until finally pulling one out and sliding onto the table. “Well, we would, but she died over thirty years ago. Didn’t she, Kurazo?”

“Y-You-”

“She died at the hands of your father when you were only five. He was a drunk; he had a history of violent crimes; he got into an argument with her one night. Things got heated and he hit her in the head a little too hard, a few times too many.” Tsukauchi pressed. Murao shifted uncomfortably and snorted grossly. “Afterwards, he started hitting you. CPS came to check on you at least six times and never removed you, so you started taking your anger out on kids younger than you. Except, as you got older, your victims stayed the same age.”

“What does any of this have to do with Midoriya?” Murao yelled while shaking his head.

“You’re right, let’s change the topic. How long have you known Osanai Gyōro ?” Tsukauchi said, slamming the file in his hand down. 

Osanai Gyōro, age twenty-eight. He was arrested the same night Inko was; caught leaving the apartment complex after his assault. Like Maruo, he had a history of various types of assault but only served a few days at a time. Gyōro was supposed to be the key to finding each of the other members of their formed ring, but only four hours after his initial arrest, he committed quirk-assisted suicide in a holding cell. Tsukauchi and the other detectives working on the case didn’t think to check his bank statements, but thanks to Shouta, they were inching closer to finding the rest of their perverted group. 

“I don’t.” Maruo said, shifting his eyes down quickly. 

“That’s a lie.” Tsukauchi stated. Shouta will never not be impressed with his quirk. He truly felt lucky to work alongside someone with a quirk so silently powerful. “You know there is no point in lying to me, so make it easier on everyone and be honest.”

“I… shared a cell with him for a little bit.” 

That caught Shouta’s attention instantly. He quickly excused himself, rushing through the hallways to find a computer. One by one, he searched each of the two hundred names of suspects. Murao and Gyōro did share a cell at one point. So did twelve of the other names on the list. Shouta was practically buzzing on the high of knowing this was it. Today, they finally found them. After months of searching, hours of scamming chat rooms and arresting lone wolves, Shouta could rest a little bit easier.

But not yet.

He took advantage of the advanced systems the police department had, using it to track the past locations of their phones; cars if they had them too. Each of them seem to reside at one location with the rest of the small group in a crime-ridden part of the city. It looked like it was previously classified as an apartment building. Actually, Shouta thinks that the entire street was completely turned off. No power or water; nothing at all. He printed a list of their past locations over the course of three days to take to Tsukauchi. As if on cue, he barged in through the door looking slightly upset.

“What the hell was that about, Aizawa? It’s not like you to take off in the middle of an interrogation.” Tsukauchi wasn’t wrong. Nothing about Shouta’s behavior today was typical, not his out of control anger or lack of communication. Maybe it was because of how emotionally involved he was, but he honestly couldn’t care less about his uncharacteristic actions. He was producing productive results. 

“I found them.” Shouta said, handing him the new list along with their locations. Tsukauchi reviewed the pages silently, his eyebrows furrowed while was in deep thought. 

“How did you manage…” Tsukauchi trailed off, eyes darting between the papers in his hands and Shouta, who was sitting slumped in his chair. He explained to him how Murao’s mention of being cell mates with another member sparked the idea, how he searched through every single name to find a connection between them, and how he tracked each of their phones. “Shouta… this is incredible.”

“We should head to this location.” Shouta said while pointing to the piece of paper on top of the pile.

“You’re right, we’ll go tomorrow night.” Tsukauchi nodded, but Shouta stopped in his tracks. 

“What? We need to go now.” He said, confused. “The longer we wait, the more harm they will do.”

“Yes, but we don’t have the people for it today.” Tsukauchi shot him a warning look, knowing his anger and impatience were rising by the second. “I know what you’re thinking, and this isn’t a one-man takedown. The odds of success are higher with a complete team and more information.”

“So call some people down here!” Shouta argued.

“It’s two in the morning. Go home, Shouta. Come back tomorrow at eleven, when we’ll have a full and informed team awaiting your every command.” Tsukauchi practically demanded. The two said nothing as they stared each other down, until Shouta slowly exhaled with his eyes closed. 

He grabbed his phone off the desk and jacket off the back of the chair he was previously glued to for far more hours than he realized. “Eleven. Sharp .”

“We’ll be ready. Good night, Aizawa.” Tsukauchi only got a hum and a single nod in response. 

Shouta saw two officers escorting Maruo towards the temporary holding cells as he made his way out the door. He supposed he’ll have to be happy with the fact that they at least caught one today. A yawn escaped him as he pushed through the door, his exhaustion hitting him quickly. 

The ten-minute drive home felt an hour long, but pulling into the driveway and seeing the porch light left on for him brought a smile to his face. Shouta kicked his shoes off into the genkan, not bothering to put them away properly. The lamps in the living room were on, along with the TV playing a movie quietly in the background. Under further inspection, he found Izuku and Hitoshi sleeping on the couch, propped up against each other under the same blanket. Hizashi was sleeping on the other side of the couch, his head resting on his fist. He didn’t even try to suppress the grin on his face. Shouta couldn’t take his eyes off Izuku, nearly crying over the overwhelming relief of knowing he’s been here all night, safe and happy. 

A soft click ended the noise of the TV as Shouta turned it off. He turned off one of the lamps, leaving the one closest to Izuku on before gently shaking Hizashi awake. “Hey. Take Hitoshi upstairs and go to bed, ’Zashi.” 

“Hm,” Hizashi rubbed his eyes before looking up at him. “Hey, how was it?”

“We can talk about it tomorrow. I’m tired too.” Shouta said, his voice barely above a whisper. Hizashi didn’t seem to have any problem with that, nodding as he stood up with a stretch. Shouta carefully took the blanket off the boys, folding it while Hizashi woke up Hitoshi by tapping him on the knee.

“Come on, froggy. Let's get you into an actual bed.” Hizashi yawned, already heading to the stairs.

“ ’Kay.” Hitoshi murmured as he slid off the couch and onto the floor. “Night, Shouta.”

“Good night, kid. Sleep well.” Shouta smiled and patted him on the back as he walked by. The two trudged their way up the stairs before turning the corner to get Hitsohi settled in the guest room. He and Izuku required polar opposite sleeping conditions. Izuku needs some form of light, and on rough days, music playing softly enough for him to hear but not to overwhelm him. Hitoshi, on the other hand, could rarely fall asleep unless it was pitch black and silent. Tonight must have been one of the special occasions. 

Shouta tossed the folded blanket over the back of the couch before gently taking hold of Izuku’s shoulder and shaking him ever so slightly. He only furrowed his eyebrows slightly and turned his head away, still sound asleep. Shouta cooed softly, “Izuku, wake up.”

Still asleep, Izuku hummed in disagreement. Shouta just sighed before carefully picking him up, wrapping his arms around him and struggling not to squeeze him as tight as he could. To just hold him as close as possible and never let go. He settled on giving him a long kiss pressed into his temple. He balanced Izuku in one hand while turning off the light before heading up the stairs. Izuku must have noticed unconsciously because he wrapped his arms around his neck tightly, letting out another whine. 

“Shh, I got you, kid. I got you,” Shouta whispered to him. Slowly but surely, he got them upstairs and into Izuku’s room. A soft, dark blue glow met him as he stepped inside, cast from Amaterasu’s tank light on its daily timer. It shifted with the natural daylight and never let the room fall completely dark.

Toys spilled across the floor, half-hidden in the darkly lit shadows, and his blankets were pushed into a messy pile at the foot of his bed. Shouta stepped carefully around a half-finished card game, doing his best not to disturb it, then laid Izuku down onto the mattress. 

It took a moment of quiet searching before he found Twerp the turtle, propped up against the window. Izuku loved lying there, staring at the stars at night, soaking in the sun during the day. Shouta used to hate those floor-to-ceiling windows. They’d felt too exposed, too vulnerable. But since Izuku came into their lives, he adored them. He tucked the turtle under Izuku’s arm and pulled the blankets over him with a kind of gentleness that had become second nature to him over the past few months. 

Shouta leaned down and pressed one last kiss into his hairline and whispered good night. He only made it two steps before Izuku called out for him.

“Dad?”

“Hey, buddy. Did I wake you up?” Shouta turned back to face him, squatting so they could talk face to face.

Izuku shook his head softly before opening his eyes and shifting onto his side. They didn’t say anything, but the hours they spent away from each other started to weigh on them both. Shouta has never missed tucking Izuku in for bed at night. He’s never not shown up when he said he would. Still, there was no trace of anger in Izuku’s eyes. “Are you close? To finding them?”

“Yeah.” Shouta said as he extended his hand out to him. He took it instantly. “Yeah, we’re super close. We got one today.”

Izuku hummed happily with a smile on his face. “Thank you.”

Shouta sighed as he moved his hand into Izuku’s hair. He combed through his curls, pushing them out of his dimly lit face. He let his eyes explore his little face, committing every detail to memory like he always did. His big green eyes stared back at him, so bright they practically emanated their own light. Some of his freckles blended into the dark blue light, leaving only small constellations of them splattered about his skin. “You don’t have to thank me, sunshine. It’s my job to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, but… thank you anyways.” Izuku tried not to show how much the nickname made his face flush red, but Shouta could tell by the way his cheek heated his hand. 

“You’re welcome.” Shouta smiled. “Try to go back to sleep now. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Will you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep.” 

“Of course.”

Izuku closed his eyes while he nodded. It took less than two minutes for him to fall asleep completely. It helped that he was only half asleep before. Still, Shouta sat with him for an extra couple of minutes, stroking his thumb over the back of his hand. 

When Izuku turned over in his sleep, Shouta finally stood with a stretch before whispering good night again and leaving his door half open. Each of his steps made him feel more and more exhausted, and by the time he reached his own door he was ready to collapse. He couldn’t tell if Hizashi was asleep or not, so he was careful not to disturb him while he shed his hero costume before pulling on some actual pajamas. He flopped onto the bed with a sigh, staring up into the dark abyss above him.

Maruo’s grease-covered face haunted him each time he closed his eyes. Names echoed through his head, building his anger further as he was already anxiously waiting for tomorrow night. He could imagine each precise move he could use. He could practically hear the handcuffs locking around the wrists of his son's offenders.That thought satisfied him enough to finally let his exhaustion wash over him. He barely noticed Hizashi's arm draping over him before giving in to sleep. 

Shouta woke up to the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. He didn’t even need to check the clock to know it was late in the morning. Izuku and Hitoshi charged him when he found his way downstairs, begging him to accompany them outside so they could use their quirks against each other. He agreed happily, sitting in the shade while they ran around the grass. He was paying attention, of course. Stopping their quirks when things got a little too crazy, but if he was honest, he was zoned out. He clapped and smiled when they looked his way, but his mind was miles away. 

The hours ticked by slowly, dragging him closer to justice, inch by inch. He cooked silently and alone, letting Izuku enjoy having his friend over. They walked Hitoshi home after dinner, letting the boys play there for a few minutes while he, Hizashi, and Nemuri talked. It was the first time Shouta told Hizashi about tonight, about having to leave late in the night. Of course, the two were supportive, offering their assistance. Shouta denied the both of them, insisting they stay with the kids tonight.

Izuku clung on to both his and Hizashi hands on the way back, chattering about how he was happy to have time to spend with just them. Shouta stared into the glow of the TV screen, waiting for Izuku to finish taking his shower. He bobbled downstairs in loose pajama shorts and a baggy t-shirt, his hair was still practically dripping off the tips of his curls. By the end of their movie, Izuku was fast asleep, snoring slightly curled up into Shouta’s side. 

Shouta shook him slightly, successful in waking him up today. “Hey, time to head to bed, kid.” 

“Mmm,” Izuku whined before sniffling. “Can I sleep in your guys’ bed tonight?”

Hizashi’s eyes flicked towards Shouta, worried. He reached out to grab a light hold on his ankle. “Yeah, honey, of course you can. But… it’s just going to be us again tonight.”

“You’re leaving? Again?” Izuku looked heartbroken as he looked at Shouta for answers.

“I am, but I should be back before you wake up.” Shouta promised. 

“N-No.” Izuku shook his head in denial. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I’m sorry, kid, I have to.” He said softly.

“But what if you didn’t? Just this time?” Izuku’s voice was barely above a whisper, tears already threatening to fall. “Y-You could stay home. We can watch another movie or, or I can go to bed right now. I’ll sleep in my bed if you want.”

Shouta’s heart squeezed painfully. The way Izuku was staring up at him with his big, sad puppy dog eyes was making this much harder than it needed to be. His hand found his way to the boy’s hair, brushing out his curls slowly. He wishes he could stay here with him. He wishes this wasn’t the situation left for him and Tsukauchi to clean up after Izuku’s rescue. He wishes he didn’t have to say no to him. “It doesn’t matter what bed you sleep in, kid, I just… have to go this time.” 

“No, you don’t!” Izuku cried as he twisted into Shouta’s chest, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt. Likely to keep him as close as he could.

Hizashi and Shouta looked at each other over his head, slightly communicating. They agreed while dropping Hitoshi off, that they wouldn’t tell Izuku where Shouta was going, what exactly his mission was. They didn’t want him staying up all night restless, anxious, and afraid. He didn’t need to know Shouta was leaving to put himself in danger for his sake. Now they decided that despite that was still clearly feeling all those things, he still didn’t need to know. 

Hizashi reached his hand from Izuku’s ankle to his heaving back, rubbing small circles into it. “Honey, it’s okay… he’s going to come back. You won’t even notice him being gone if you go back to sleep.”

That only seemed to make Izuku more upset. He blinked out his tears before shaking his head, getting more aggressive with each shake. “No! No, you have to stay!”

“Izuku…” Shouta tried to reason with him, but he trailed off when Izuku looked up at him.

Izuku tilted his tear-streaked face up at him, his eyes desperate and pleading while he hiccuped, “P-Please, dad? I-I need you to stay!”

Shouta struggled to fight his own tears. He wants, more than anything anyone has ever wanted before, to give in. To give Izuku everything he ever asks for. To hold him tightly in arms, protecting him from the scary world they live in. He reached out to hold Izuku’s face, brushing his thumb across his damp cheek and wiping his tears away. 

And then it all came rushing back to him.

Shouta’s mind flashed Maruo's disgusting smirk. Gyōro’s sweaty face staring up at him in horror after he secured him to the lamp post waiting for Tsuakuchi to haul him to the station. Those faces, those people, hurt his son. His sweet, loving boy who only wants Shouta to stay with him for the night. And it’s those who haven’t been caught yet, who are making him deny his son’s request.

Holding Izuku close, keeping him hidden away from those monsters isn't enough. He can’t keep him here forever. But he can do his part to make their city safer for him. 

His jaw clenched as rubbed his thumb over Izuku’s cheek once more. “I’m…sorry, sunshine.” He whispered. “I wish I could. I really do.” 

Izuku’s face turned redder as he held his breath, likely to stop his crying for just a moment before his sobs started again, louder than ever. His tiny fist clenched around his shirt, tight enough to turn his knuckles white. He shoved his head into Shouta’s chest, soaking his shirt with his tears while practically screaming. “No! W-What if you get hurt?! What if you don’t come back?!”

“He’s going to be okay, honey.” Hizashi reassured him softly. The worried glances between him and Shouta never stopped, wondering how much more he’ll resist this. “He’ll come back, I promise.”

“You can’t promise that!” Izuku yelled in between sobs, his voice raw and strained, before looking back at Shouta. “You said you would be here for bedtime yesterday! And you weren’t!”

His words hit like a punch to the gut.

Last night, he simply assumed his being late didn’t bother Izuku. He wasn’t upset with him after Shouta tucked him into bed. During the day, he was a little more attached to his side than normal when Hitoshi was visiting. But now, in hindsight, he saw it for what it really was.

Izuku was anxious. He’d made sure Shouta was always in his line of sight. Constantly checking, constantly watching, as if afraid he might disappear again. And Shouta… had been too zoned out to notice. His throat tightened, fighting himself to say something, anything . 

“I-I… I know I let you down, kid.” Shouta’s voice cracked, a tear starting to slip out from his eye, showing the cracks in his tough exterior. “And, I’m so sorry.”

“You said…” Izuku’s voice wabbled. 

“You’re right, I did.” Shouta pushed back Izuku’s tears and brushed his curls back, making sure he was looking him in the eye before continuing. “I wanted to make it back to you in time. I should’ve at least called you and, I-I want to stay here with you, more than anything.” 

“Then stay!” He hiccuped as his tears started pouring out again. “You don’t have to go! Y-You’re choosing to!”

Hizashi did what he could to step in, slowly shifting Izuku off Shouta’s lap and into his own arms. Izuku fought it at first, thrashing his legs and pulling Shouta’s shirt with him. Hizashi gave him a look, silently telling him to go, that Izuku wont stop pressing until he gets his way. Telling him he can’t give in.

“I am. And… you’ll understand why. Eventually.” Shouta forced the tear in his eyes back, leaning in to kiss his hairline one last time. Izuku quickly wrapped his arms around his neck, pleading quietly into his ear and wiping his tears off on his shoulder. He hugged him back for a moment before whispering, “No, sunshine. I have to go.”

Izuku’s wailing continued as Shouta fought against every instinct he had, prying Izuku’s arms from around his neck and each of his fingers from his shirt. His cries became frantic along with his pleading. Hizashi was quick to wrap his arms in his own, forcing his thrashing to minimize. “No! No, please, don’t let him go!” 

“Izuku, honey, breathe. It’s going to be okay.” Hizashi spoke gently as he held him tight to his chest. Shouta took his chance to fully stand from the couch. His knees felt weak as he watched his son reach for him again, his mouth moving but no words actually coming out. 

“I love you.” Shouta wiped his eyes before telling Izuku with a much steadier voice. He mouthed it again to Hizashi, who mirrored it back. Forcing him to move was harder than he thought it would be, each step towards the door making him feel heavier and heavier.

Grabbing his hero costume that was left by the genkan after Hizashi washed it for him, and jamming his boots on, he pushed himself outside the door. Izuku’s cries were muffled behind the door, but it still hurt.

Izuku paused when he heard the door click, like he was in disbelief that Shouta actually left. He looked up at Hizashi, who gave him a pitied look. His tears never stopped, but did slow drastically. “Y-You let him leave…”

Hizashi sighed softly as he rubbed small circles into his back. “This is his job, baby. He’ll leave for a few hours, and then come back home. To you. To us.” 

“B-But what if he doesn’t ?” Izuku choked up, his voice cracking on the last word.

When Hizashi didn’t answer right away, something in the silence crushed a part of him. His breathing turned from desperate gasps for air into shaking, angry heaves. 

“What if he doesn't come home because you let him leave?!” Izuku yelled with his eyebrows drawn together, his hands balled up into tight fists and weakly slammed down on Hizashi’s chest. “You didn’t even try to stop him! You just let him go!”

Hizashi didn’t even flinch as Izuku faintly hit him. He just let him get his frustration out, waiting until he ran out of steam and sat back. Izuku looked up at him, ready for him to finally respond. 

“I know you’re upset, but dad is going to be okay. He’s strong and smart; He knows how to handle himself.” Izuku’s face twitched before turning into a deep frown. Slowly, he leaned into Hizashi, letting him wrap his arms around him again. This time there was no resistance, no screaming or crying. Just small hiccups and sniffles. 

“I just… have a bad feeling.”

—

In the ten minutes it took to get to the station, all the pain and hurt from having to leave his family turned into anger, rage. Into motivation. Every tear, every plea and desperate look fueled him to accomplish what he set out to do. He wanted to get back as soon as he possibly could. So tonight, he would show no signs of hesitation, no signs of weakness. He’ll work quickly and efficiently, each movement will be precise; leaving no room for mistakes. And then he’ll go home, and wrap Izuku in a tight hug until the sun rises. 

It took less than three minutes to change into his hero costume, popping him out of the station’s bathroom and into Tsukauchi’s office at 10:59pm. “Is everybody here?”

“You’re…” Tsukauchi started before looking at his computer screen quickly and back up at him. “A minute early.”

“Naomasa.” Shouta warned with a heavy voice. 

“Yes, everyone is here. They're reading the files of each target now.” He nodded before handing Shouta a large envelope. “Study these carefully in the car. I want to give the guys one last run down of the plan before we leave.” 

Shouta gave him an affirmative nod, following him out the door, down the hall, and into the conference room. It smelt like burnt coffee, printer paper, and sharpie. Papers spread out all over the table and maps were pinned on the walls. The chatter died down once Shouta walked in, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration and his scowl prominent. 

Tsukauchi made his way to the head of the table, wearing his usual white button down and black tie. His voice carried a deeper level of professionalism and seriousness than every other case he’s worked on, and Shouta was glad to see that he was on the same level. “Our targets are currently residing in an abandoned apartment building that has had its power and water cut off over a year ago. The area surrounding is one you’re all familiar with. We see reports of drugs, gangs, and domestic violence coming from the area daily.” 

Some nodded and murmured against each other. Shouta watched them each closely, all familiar faces. He’s worked with each of these men and women personally, and from what he remembers, they were all exactly what he needed to pull this off. No inexperienced skills. No dead weight. No liabilities.

They had a good, solid team.

Tsukauchi cleared his throat, re-gaining the attention of everybody immediately. “The building is five stories, six units on each floor. This building was shut down for a reason, guys, so watch out for unstable structures and mind your footing. We’ll split into two teams. Team A will sweep the lower levels and proceed up. Team B will do the same, starting on the roof and sweeping down. The goal is to box them in; give them nowhere to go. Be sure you’re searching each room thoroughly. Leave nothing unchecked before proceeding to the next floor.”

An officer with a semi-fresh scar running across his cheek cleared his throat before speaking. “And each target is confirmed to be there? You said earlier they each leave at sporadic times.”

“We have someone monitoring their locations now, and a back up group will stay here in case one leaves.”

The officer nodded and scribbled in the small notebook in his hand. Around the room, pens moved, pages flipped; notes being taken without needing to be told. Shouta crossed his arms, his eyes sweeping over them again. He could feel something that resembled relief. At least they were treating this at the same level of seriousness he was.

“We have the element of surprise, and for us to be successful we need to keep it. If we give ourselves away, these guys will run. If they do so early enough, and they get a chance to hide, they will. And it will be damn near impossible to find them again. I can’t stress this enough when I say; you will move silently, keep your lights low, and stay vigilant.” Tsukauchi warned in a low voice. He looked each officer, Shouta included, in the eye. “Twelve targets. Some have records of resisting arrest. Two have documented quirks capable of structural damage; expect them to try to fight back if they have even a sliver of a chance. That’s why I don’t want anyone alone. Partner up and watch each other’s backs. Understood?”

Twenty-four unanimous hums rang through the air, Shouta’s voice included. Tsukauchi gave a sharp nod. “You have five minutes. Gear up and get to your vehicles. Dismissed.”

One by one, the officers filed out quietly. As they passed by, they each gave Shouta a solemn nod; a small gesture of respect he returned with the slightest tilt of his head. Their faces were serious, focused. Exactly what Shouta wanted to see.

Shouta stayed seated a moment longer, arms crossed, letting the room empty out until it was just him and Tsukauchi left. Neither said anything, Tsukauchi only studied the map hanging on the wall. He waited until he turned around, making eye contact before Tsukauchi flicked his eyebrows up and looked back down. “You’re leading Team A.”

“I figured.” Shouta said after a moment, slowly raising to his feet and making his way to the door. “I want this done fast, Tsukauchi.”

“So do I, but we still have to be as precise as possible.” He gave him an affirmative nod. 

“Don’t tell me what I know.” Shouta grumbled under his breath before heading down the hall and outside to where two big vans awaited with the back doors open. Every officer piled into both vans; Team A in one, Team B in the other. 

The drive felt hours long. Shouta did his best to focus on the files in front of him. In depth details of each and every one of his targets and the termite ridden building they reside in, but he couldn’t focus on any of it. He tried his hardest to pay attention, but every other word made his mind flash back to Izuku. He shifted around in his seat, rubbing his eyes as he tried to re-focus. 

Renji Karube. Quirk: Blinkcast. Any object the user touch can be teleported a short dist-

Last week, Izuku had asked Shouta to sit on the couch and close his eyes while he made different objects disappear off the table in front of him and reappear somewhere else in the room. Shouta pretended he couldn’t hear his giggles and tiny footsteps running behind the couch to switch whatever object he had. Shouta could feel himself smile at the memory, wishing he could go back to it. 

Focus . 

Rikuto Ishigama. Quirk: Shockstep. With just a single stomp of their foot, the user can cause seismic damage in a ten meter radius. This is one of the ones Tsukauchi warned them about specifically. If he can bring the entire building down in one stomp, they not only risk the possibility of their own men getting hurt, but the targets escaping as well. 

Once again, Izuku’s face flashed behind his eyes as he blinked. His cries and pleas echoed through his head as he tried his hardest, despite what he wanted, to push his tear soaked face out of his mind.

It must’ve taken him longer than it should’ve to get his head back on track because when he glanced up, Tsukauchi was giving him a worried look. “Everything alright?”

‘“Fine.” Shouta answered briefly before looking back down. “Just… ready to finally finish this.”

There were multiple hums in agreement, though no more words were spoken. Shouta could only focus long enough to skim over each target's profiles before the van came to a stop. One by one, they filed out the vans and formed two groups. Shouta and Tsukauchi stood facing one group, while Sansa Tamagawa, a trusted ally with a head of an orange cat, and another officer stood in front of the other.

Maybe they should’ve brought Tamagawa to talk to Izuku. He, unsurprisingly, had a way of getting kids to open up to him. Shouta’s not exactly sure, but he likes to assume Izuku would enjoy his presence. 

“Eraser Head?” Tsukauchi snapped him out of his thoughts. Ten officers were standing at attention, awaiting his orders. 

“We don’t move until Team B is in position on the roof. Once we’re inside, we will be silent .” Shouta directed with his arms crossed. “Communications will be through earpieces and beep codes only,” He continued after a few nods of acknowledgement. “One long beep means a target’s been captured. Two long beeps signal an unexpected guest. Two short beeps means we’ve found any…” His throat caught for half a second, but he pushed through. “Any victims.”

Another round of nods signaled their understanding before Tsukachi directed them behind the fence, waiting for Team B to take their place. And again, Shouta couldn’t stop his mind from drifting back to home.

The conversation he had with Izuku the night before rang in his ears. How Izuku thanked him with a soft smile on his face. Shouta could practically feel the warmth of his cheeks under his palms and soft curls through his fingers. There was no second guessing where each of his freckles were placed, even his newest ones. He wished he could go back to that. Or at least stay with him tonight like he had begged. He wishes he could curl himself around Izuku and protect him from whatever bad may come his way. 

Not just Izuku either.

Shouta longed to have Hizashi here with him. His presence is always so grounding and warm. Safe. The house always felt incomplete while he was away, the absences of his voice echoing through the halls. He could picture him sitting on the edge of their bed, Izuku asleep in his arms. Being there, in the comfort of his own loving home seemed far, far better than being in this dark, run-down street.

Shouta shook his head, forcing the thought to the back of his mind for now. A habit he picked up from Izuku.

…

He shook his head again, focusing on Tsukauchi in front of him. A quick beep caused everyone's hand to fly to their ear, a deep voice quickly said “Ready.”

That was the cue. Team B was in position. Now’s the time. What he had been waiting for all day. What they’ve all been waiting for these last few months. 

Shouta raised his hand out with two fingers pointed up before signaling forward. Each step was uniform, taken exactly the same that made a rhythmic beat. Step by step they entered the door that creaked as it opened. Shouta and Tsukauchi directed pairs to each room using hand signals. They moved as silently as possible, placing themselves in front of each door in the hall. Shouta unwound his scarf around neck and into his hands with practiced ease as he braced himself. 

Once everyone was in their positions, Shouta gave them the cue, and the doors simultaneously opened. Tsukauchi mirrored his movements, moving quickly and eyes scanning. There was mold growing in the corners of the room while bottles and empty wrappers littered the floor. There was a dirty mattress with no sheet on it and an empty dresser with every drawer pulled open, but no people. Just as he and Tsukauchi made eye contact, there were three long, single beeps. 

Three down, nine to go. 

They rumaged through the filth, taking pictures of every single nook and crannie before heading back into the hall. Four of the other pairs stood waiting for the final pair to exit their assigned room. They came out with a shake of the head. Empty. 

“First floor clear, heading to the second now.” Tsukuachi whispered as he held his ear piece. 

*Understood. Handing off three targets to standby, then ready to sweep the fourth floor.* Tamagawa’s voice announced through their ear pieces. 

A sharp nod cued their team forward, heading up each step of the moonlit stairwell slow and coordinated, as if they were one unit. Until one officer's foot broke through the floor board with a loud cracking that followed splintering. 

Everyone froze. It was like a gunshot in the dead of night. 

Shouta could hear his heart pounding behind his rib cage as he turned to face the sound. The officer was quick to pull himself out of harm's way with the hand rail. He shot a thumbs up, but his ears perked up at the shuffle that came from above them.

“Move.” Shouta hissed. Discretion went out the window as they charged up the rickety steps. As the second floor came into view, movement went up the next staircase to the third floor. Shouta was quick to send the rear of the group after them, leaving him and Tsukauchi to search this floor. 

The first room he checked was empty, much better put together than the room on the first floor. It was still bare but it lacked the trash and molding on the walls and floor. The next room was identical and just as empty.

The third one was different.

When he swung the door open, there was a small, quick gasp that came from the opposite corner of the room followed by something rustling directly in front of him. He scanned around with his flash light, finding nothing that could have made the shuffling sound at first. But tucked into the far corner of the room, a little girl was crouched into herself, hugging her knees tightly. She squinted at the light, and suddenly Shouta recognized her. 

Kaoru Tsune, age six. She went missing just last week on her way home from school. She was still wearing her school uniform, but one of her shoes was missing. There weren’t any visible injuries, but her eyes still held a flash of terror. And once again, the thought of Izuku forced itself into his head.

Shouta couldn’t help it. His heart clenched without his permission when she flinched at a loud thud coming from above, reminding him too much of the way Izuku used to. The way he still tucks his knees into his chest when he’s lost in a deep, bad memory. Like the one she's living right now. 

He regained his focus and took a few small steps toward her, crouching down like he does for Izuku. His hand reached for his ear piece, sending two short beeps to the other officers before making sure he had her attention. “Kaoru Tsune? I’m a pro-hero, my name is Eraser Head. I’m going to get you out of here.”

“He's still here.” She whispered. 

Before he could fully register what she said, a knife whipped just past his eyes. His instincts took over, quirk activated and scarf at the ready. A man hidden in the darkest part of the room lunged forward with another knife already in his hand. Shouta shot his scarf out, wrapping it around the man's ankles, causing him to fall forward. Still, he threw the knife, slicing Kaoru’s forearm. She let out a pitchy scream as a small line of blood started streaking down, dripping off her elbow and staining her school uniform. 

Shotua took the opportunity to step on the man's wrists, pinning it to the floor. Kaoru’s screaming did stop as she frantically wiped the blood off. “Kaoru, relax sweetheart, you’re going to be okay.”

“M-My arm is bleeding!” She screamed. Shouta can feel the man struggling to get up and he knows he only has a few seconds before regaining enough momentum to get all the way up.

“I know, don’t look at it. Just watch me, okay?” He said. She looked up for only a second before wincing and wiping her arm again. “No, no, don’t pay any attention to it. Just keep your eyes on me.”

The man, who Shouta has yet to identify, moved his hand to Shouta’s knee and pushed to the side. Shouta had no choice but to step aside, leaving him wide open for the man to turn on his side and sweep his feet from underneath him. He hit the ground with a thud and gruff grunt. Shouta quickly grabbed the man's arm, pulling it between his legs and into an arm lock. The man let out a pained yelp before throwing his weight over Shouta’s legs. He took an elbow to the groin, and what felt like a knee to his ribs, but Shouta maneuvered himself behind the man’s back, and wrapped his arm around his neck. The man struggled against him until a minute passed and he went limp. 

Tsukachi barged in as Shouta rose to his feet, feeling a little light headed. Kaoru whined uncomfortably, causing Shouta to take a step closer. “It’s okay, he’s just unconscious. It’s over now, we’re going to take you back to your mom and dad.”

“Medic!” Tsukauchi called out the hall. Shouta stumbled on his next step towards Kaoru, and he could finally feel the sharp pain in his abdomen. “We need a medic!”

“Tsukauchi, she only has a small cut.” Shouta said before wincing at the way his side began to feel hot and feverish. 

“It’s not for me, Mr. Eraser Head.” Kaoru said, looking at him in a different kind of fear from earlier. Shouta looked down at his torso, and there it was. A twelve centimeter knife pushed all the way into his side. The throbbing in his head spread throughout his whole body. His heartbeat was quickening by the second, and the ringing in his ears was worsening by the now constant beeping from his ear piece. Shouta tried to take a step towards the door, but he fell to his knees in pain while his vision went black. The last thing he heard before fully losing consciousness was Tsukauchi yelling down the hall again. 

“We need a medic in here, now !”

Chapter Text

It was six in the morning when Hizashi got the call.

Shouta had been in surgery for hours already, and things weren’t looking too good. He allowed himself only two minutes to freak out, pacing their bedroom trying not to wake Izuku up while he sobbed silently. But he pulled himself together quickly, washing his face in the sink before crouching in front of Izuku. He didn’t want to wake him up, especially after only getting him to sleep just over two hours ago, but there was no other option. “Izuku, honey. We have to get up now.”

Izuku only made his typical whine of disapproval. Usually it felt like a treat to hear him complain like every other kid about something so simple, but Hizashi was too stressed out to find it adorable today. So he shook him gently again until he finally cracked his eyes open. “Come on, honey. It’s time to get up.” 

“Is… dad here?” Izuku rubbed his eyes as he asked with a yawn. 

“No, bub, he’s… we’re going to see him right now.” Hizashi was already pulling the blanket off of him, despite how Izuku clearly wanted to stay bundled up. 

“Where is he?” Sleep was still heavy in his voice. 

Hizashi hesitated for just a moment, his breath held still as he tried to perfect what he’s going to say. Each quarter of a second he didn't respond, Izuku got more and more worried. “He’s at the hospital. The doctors are taking care of him right now, but I think he’ll feel even better if we go and show him some support.”

Izuku blinked slowly at him for what felt like minutes before rolling off the side of the bed. He didn’t make a sound or look back before simply walking out the door and down the hall to his own room. By the time Hizashi finished getting dressed, Izuku silently appeared back in the doorway, still in his baggy pajamas but now with socks on and a backpack slung over his shoulder. Hizashi couldn’t force himself to care if Izuku wanted to stay in his pajamas while they were out, so he simply brushed his hand over his curls and directed him downstairs and to the door. They continued the silence as they strapped their shoes on; well, as Hizashi strapped their shoes on. 

Izuku doesn’t know why they always insist on doing it for him. He’s proved time and time again that he was more than capable of putting his shoes on himself, but he’s stopped fighting it. If that’s what they wanted to do, then it’s fine by him. 

Izuku dragged his feet while hanging his head, trailing behind Hizashi slowly as they walked to his car. Hizashi opened his door for him, but Izuku stayed standing in the driveway.

“What is it, honey?” Hizashi asked as he was already opening the driver's side door.

“I can’t get in.” Izuku said quietly, still not picking his head up. “My car seat is in Dad’s car.”

“Damnit.” That’s right, they moved it back into Shouta’s car so Hizashi wouldn’t accidentally take it to U.A with him. Hizashi sighed under his breath before making his way back to Izuku. He crouched down to his level while he thought. “Okay, sit in the middle and we’ll strap you in with both seatbelts.” 

Izuku gave him an unsure look, eyebrows furrowed and hands gripping each other tightly. His eyes stayed glued to the pavement under the toes of his shoes, but his shoulders unconsciously leaned away from both Hizashi and the car. “Is that safe?”

“Safe…enough. It’s safer than just one seatbelt, how about that?” Hizashi tried. “I’ll drive super careful the entire time.”

“I-I…guess so.” He trailed off into an inaudible whisper. Izuku handed Hizashi his backpack before climbing in. Hizashi buckled him, tightening them a little extra just to put his nerves at ease a bit. His bag was placed in his arms, wrapped tightly as he sighed into it. Hizashi sat in the driver's seat and took a deep breath before reversing. They barely even moved two meters before Izuku let out a nervous whine.

“Everything okay?” Hizashi asked, slowing the already snail-speed car to a stop. Izuku let out another worried hum, gripping his backpack even tighter.

“Dad wouldn’t like this. He’d say it’s not safe.” He whispered. 

“Well, I’m Dad too, and I say it’s okay just this time.” Hizashi watched him in the review mirror, waiting for a response, but Izuku only shrunk his shoulders and placed his chin on his bag. 

They both sighed before Hizashi pushed the car into a slow roll again. The air in the car was cold and nippy, their breaths beginning to fog up the windows. There was complete silence besides the hum of the engine and wheels rolling against the road for several blocks. Izuku’s hands were twisting against themselves harshly and Hizashi was biting the inside of his cheek, but neither said anything. Until Izuku hummed before speaking. 

“I-I didn’t have breakfast.” He reminded him in a whisper like he was scared to bring it up, a very quiet growl coming from his stomach. “Dad says I should always eat breakfast.”

Hizashi’s jaw tightened for a split second before he caught himself. He can’t be frustrated, not for this. Despite how much he wanted to be by Shouta's side already, it was still his responsibility to take care of Izuku. Still, every delay was another minute Shouta was by himself. Despite that, he nodded and smiled at him through the reflection of the review mirror. “Okay, love. We’ll pick up something quick.”

Hizashi turned left, opposite the direction of the hospital. He pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant. Izuku looked around at the drive through, wincing at the bright lights against the pale morning light. Hizashi ordered for both of them, noticing how Izuku wasn’t exactly paying attention to what was going on. He turned back to hand him his food, but Izuku looked at it skeptically before taking it in his hands.

“H-How did you get it so fast?” Izuku rotated it around, inspecting it from every angle.

“It’s fast food, not homemade like you’re used to.” Hizashi said, continuing back towards the hospital. 

“There’s paper on it.” Izuku said wearily. 

“That’s just the wrapper, take it off before you eat it.” He said, unwrapping his own breakfast sandwich in Izuku’s line of sight while they were stopped at a red light. Izuku did the same to his, eyeballing it carefully before making the same uneasy face he made before getting into the car. 

It didn’t look or smell like anything Shouta would regularly give him, so Izuku was being very cautious. It was slapped together messily, sauces of some kind spilling out the sides and threatening to dirty his hands. Izuku looked through each layer carefully before pressing his lips together. “I don’t think Dad would want me to have this. It doesn’t…seem healthy.”

Hizashi forced a small laugh as kept his eyes glued to the road. “He wouldn’t, and it’s not. But he’s too strict on what you eat anyways. It’s not going to hurt you to have junk food every once in a while. Eat what you can so you have the strength to tell Dad all about it.” 

Izuku still wasn’t sure about it, but he picked off  smaller than bite size pieces of different layers until it was about half way gone. He told Hizashi how eating any more would make him sick before wrapping leftovers back up and shoving it in his bag. It wasn’t long until Hizashi pulled into the familiar parking lot of the hospital and the two were quickly walking towards the door. 

The receptionist greeted Izuku personally, familiar with him from his constant appointments, before sensing the tension. She directed them towards the ICU, giving them Shouta’s room number. The walk down the hall echoed with the sound of Izuku’s sneakers scuffing against the floor as he dragged his feet. His hands gripped around the straps of his backpack, tightening until his knuckles turned white. 

Once they found the elevator to take them to the fifth floor, Izuku finally grabbed onto Hizashi’s hand but continued to stare down at the floor. “Is he really hurt? L-Like… real bad?” 

Hizashi’s heart ached as he thought about what Shouta may look like when they finally get to him. He doesn’t know the full extent of his injuries or anything about what his recovery will be like. But he can’t tell Izuku that he doesn’t know what’s going on. He can’t lie to him either. “He was in surgery for a while, but he has the very best doctors who are going to make sure he’s okay. When we get there, he might look a little different. There’s going to be tubes and wires, and if you feel scared; that’s okay. Just remember, he’s still Dad. And he’s going to be okay.”

Izuku nodded slightly with a nervous hum. He let Hizashi lead him out the elevator doors and down another hall. They turned corners and passed by nurses and other patients until Hizashi finally stopped in front of a shut door. They each took a deep breath, but as the door slid open, Izuku took a step backwards while shaking his head. 

“I-I’m not going in there.” Izuku whispered, pulling his hand from Hizashi’s grip. His eyes were glued to Shouta, or what was supposedly Shouta. It didn’t look like his dad to him. His dad didn’t have tubes coming out from his mouth while he slept. His dad wasn’t surrounded by the spine shivering sound of machines beeping and the smell of ammonia. 

Hizashi kneeled in front of him, cupping his face and forcing him to look at him instead. “It’s okay, love. I know it’s hard to see, but we’ll go in together.”

Izuku shook his head as his eyes flicked up at Shouta again. “No, w-what if I hurt him?”

“You won’t. You don’t have to get close, but I’m sure he’d want to hear your voice.” Hizashi tried to reason but Izuku was shaking his head again. He was desperate to finally close the gap between them, but Izuku seemed genuinely scared. 

“I-I’m going to mess something up.” He swallowed hard taking another step back from the door. 

“No, it’s going to be okay.” Hizashi said while wiping Izuku’s eyes free of the tears threatening to fall. “We can go in on the count of three, if it makes it easier.”

Izuku didn’t answer right away, but he took a step to the left, backing up until his back hit the cool wall right next to the door. “Please, Dad, I-I can’t go in there.”

Hizashi knew pushing him wasn’t going to help, so he compromised as much as he could. “Okay, I won’t force you. But I need you to stay where I can see you. Right outside the door, deal?”

“Deal.” Izuku whispered before sliding down the wall until he was sitting. His knees dug into his chest and his arms wrapped around them. 

“Just stay there until you’re ready to come in, honey.” Hizashi said, making sure he wasn’t going to bolt off before finally stepping into the room. He pulled a chair closer to Shouta’s side, making sure Izuku was still in his line of sight before gently grabbing onto Shouta’s hand. “Hey, Sho. Izuku and I are here now.” 

Izuku could hear him from the hall, but he forced himself to stop listening. He kept his eye on the wall in front of him and listened to the sound of his own heartbeat through his palms that were covering his ears. 

And now that he was finally alone, he let the tears fall from his eyes. 

He did his best to keep the sound choked down, and if Hizashi noticed he didn’t say anything. His head was spinning at the overwhelming thoughts that had been consuming him since Hizashi woke him up. The image of Shouta lying there unconscious, hooked up to tubes and wires pressed itself into his eyes, making it feel impossible to escape from. His stomach knotted as a new wave of guilt washed over him. 

This was all his fault. 

If he had just tried a little harder last night, if he asked just once more, this could’ve been avoided. If Shouta had just listened to him. If he had just stayed home. Izuku’s nails dug into his arms as he tried to ground himself. 

Shouta had gotten hurt because of him. Because he was fighting for him. He didn’t have to. Taking care of those who hurt him, wouldn’t reverse the damage done. There wouldn’t have been as much damage as there is if Izuku had only stood up for himself more. If he were stronger. Then Shouta wouldn’t feel the need to avenge him. 

This could’ve been avoided if Shouta hadn’t rescued him at all. Sure, Izuku would still be locked up, fighting for his life from his injuries. But at least Shouta wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Izuku wishes, for the first time ever, that he could go back in time and stop Shouta from rescuing him. It would save both him and Hizashi a lot of trouble, and Izuku is more than willing to put himself back in that situation to make their lives even a little bit easier. 

But it doesn’t work like that. 

Izuku doesn’t get a redo, and now he has to face the fact that he almost got Shouta killed last night. The least he could do was keep his distance and not mess everything up like he always does.

He couldn’t help but let out a small whimper from the ache in his chest. Just as he did, he noticed footsteps that were coming his way stopping right in front of him. “You okay there, shrimp?”

Izuku was quick to wipe his eyes before looking up in front of him. There was a man already squatting down with his arms in front of him across the hall. He vaguely recognized him, sensing something familiar about him but he couldn't place what it was exactly. Izuku nodded slowly when he remembered he still needed to respond. 

“Are you lost?” The man asked with a soft tone like he was trying not to scare him. Izuku shook his head and debated rushing right to Hizashi’s side, but something in his instincts told him that it was going to be okay. “Your parents know where you are?”

Izuku nodded again, at a loss for words as he tried to piece together how he knew the person in front of him. The tears still lingering in his eyes and lack of glasses made it hard to see any real details. Only light blue hair he knows he’s seen somewhere.  

“Okay, well, get back to them soon. You wouldn’t want them to worry too much.” The man said as he stood up and continued on his way. Izuku couldn’t regain his train of thought from before, not when the unfulfilled feeling of recognition left him confused. He tracked the man, surprised to see him walking right into Shouta’s room. 

“Hey, Hizashi.” The man said with the same gentleness he spoke to Izuku with. Hizashi turned, surprised by the sudden voice, but he was quick to stand up and wrap his arms around him in a tight hug.

“Hey, Oboro!” He said with a smile. They patted each other on the back after a while, signaling each other it was time to let go. “Man, when you said you were leaving Japan for a mission, I thought it’d be a couple of weeks! Then you just disappear off the face of the earth for almost six months!”

“It was only supposed to be a few weeks!” Oboro groaned as he pulled his own chair closer and sat down with a huff. “Things started going to shit though and we had to take deep cover. Checking in was damn near impossible!”

“Well, you know an ‘I’m alive’ text every few weeks would’ve been nice.” Hizashi half joked as he sat back into his own chair. 

“I couldn’t! My phone got smashed three weeks in and I couldn’t replace it without blowing my cover.” He defended. “So, what did I miss?”

“Just about everything.” Hizashi said with a chuckle, not even sure where to begin. “Sad to report that we’ve been having the best months of our lives since you’ve been gone.”

“Damn, Hizashi, I thought you were the nice one!” Oboro put his hand over his heart dramatically. “So what, you guys finally get that coffee machine you’ve had your eyes on since highschool?” 

Hizashi laughed loudly at that, shaking his head and waving his hands. “No, no- well, yes, but that’s not at all what I was talking about. We got something much bigger to us than that.” 

The two fell into a steady rhythm of back and forth conversation. Banter that could only come from years of friendship, about any and everything. Oboro asked about their mutual friends and the latest gossip at U.A. He wondered if anyone actually watered his house plants like he asked and if they finally tried the sushi place he told all of them about. Hizashi told him about the latest segments on his radio show and his students' progress since the spring. 

Oboro couldn’t share any details from his mission yet because it was still in the final stages of closing, but they laughed together over his story about a stranger thinking he owed him money. He couldn’t fight back without blowing his cover, so he hid underneath a table with a floor length cloth covering it like he was a cartoon character. 

They laughed in tandem at how ridiculous it all was before their sights landed on Shouta, who was still lying unconscious, looking paler than usual and hooked up to multiple machines. 

There was a drop in the mood for only a moment before Oboro cleared his throat. “So what was that big thing you guys got?”

“Hm?” Hizashi hummed before pulling his eyes away from Shouta. He didn’t look Oboro in the eye, but his smile was light and dreamy. “Oh, we got the sun.”

“The…sun?”

Hizashi nodded with a smile before glancing towards the door. Izuku was sitting on the other side of the doorway, his big eyes peeking in the room and staring back up at him. He scrunched his nose at him with a smile before giving him a single nod, beckoning him to come forward. 

Izuku hesitated, ducking behind the wall slightly. His eyes shifted from Hizashi’s, to Oboro and to Shouta, and his heart squeezed painfully in anxiety once again. He wanted to shake his head no again, but the way Hizashi was smiling at him, so patient and loving, made him let out a conflicted whine before pushing himself up. He stood in the doorway awkwardly, not yet crossing the threshold. 

Oboro was looking between him and Hizashi, his smile widening slightly each time he looked at Izuku. Hizashi waved him over, offering his arm for him to hide behind. 

With a deep, shaky breath, Izuku crossed the line that separated the room from the hall, bracing himself for the worst. When nothing happened, he let go of the breath he didn’t realize he was holding and practically ran into Hizashi’s arm, letting it wrap around him tightly. 

Oboro couldn’t get himself to stop staring at the two. It was clear he was making the kid uncomfortable, but there was just something so mesmerizing about seeing the two of them together. Like when Nemuri introduced him to Hitoshi. There was just something so natural about the way they looked together. His heart raced, not in a bad way, but he was so happy for friends. Hizashi seemed absolutely enthralled with the kid shying away into his arms, littering kisses on his cheek even when he tried to push him away. The kid, whoever he is, looked happy despite the embarrassed blush that was covering his face.  

Hizashi finally got Izuku to sit on the chair next to him, letting him slouch to hide himself. “Izuku, this is Oboro Shirakumo. He’s family, too.” He whispered.

Izuku eyed him carefully, not leaning forward but not leaning back either. Hizashi considered that a win. “Oboro, this is our son, our own sun, Izuku.”

Oboro couldn’t hold back his smile. Their interaction in the hall made him feel kind of dumb now that the dots are connected. “You didn’t tell me you belong to these two knuckleheads, shrimp.”

There was only a split moment of hesitation before Izuku mumbled. “Sorry… you didn’t ask.”

Just as he spoke, Shouta’s hand twitched ever so slightly. It was a subtle movement, but it didn’t get past Izuku. There was an irregular beep from one of the machines for just a moment before it turned back to the even beats. Hizashi rubbed his arm, assuring him that Shouta was okay before he settled back into his spot. 

“So,” Oboro said softly, picking up on the new tension in the air but choosing to ignore it for now. “What do you like to do, shrimp? You a big reader? An artist?”

Izuku shook his head as he avoided eye contact again. Hizashi grabbed a gentle hold on his knee before giving it a small shake. “You like to read, honey. He’s beginning to read books at a more advanced level than most kids his age.” Hizashi boasted.

“That’s super impressive!” Oboro said with a smile and clap of his hands. Izuku kept his quiet streak going by only shrugging his shoulders. 

“He’s modest.” Hizashi gave Izuku’s knee a light pat with a satisfied smile.

“Yeah?” Oboro leaned forward, putting his elbow on his knees as he continued to study his guarded posture. “What about food? What’s your favorite dish?”

Izuku opened his mouth like he was going to answer, but pressed his lips together again and looked up at Hizashi.

“Katsudon.” He answered for him again. “Shouta spoils him rotten with handmade meals every day.”

“Man, lucky!” Oboro said, leaning back in his chair and putting a hand on his stomach like he was remembering a good meal. “Shouta’s a crazy good cook. Last time I tried making myself noodles, it caught fire.”

Hizashi laughed while using his hand to cover his mouth. Izuku turned his head to the side, trying his best to repress the smile on his face. Even he can make noodles without anything bad happening. Still, a slight laugh-like huff escaped him and Oboro didn’t waste his shot. 

“Ohhhh, I caught that. Admit it, shorty, I got you to laugh.” Oboro said, like he’d just won a gold medal. The space in between the back of the chair and Hizashi’s back looked pretty good right about now, so that’s exactly where Izuku tried to squeeze his face into without much success. “It’s fine, laugh at me all you want! But I’ll have you know, it was a very small fire.”

Izuku didn’t come out from his incomplete hiding spot, but both Hizashi and Oboro noticed how he allowed himself to smile just a little more. 

“Alright, shrimp, you’ve been letting this loudmouth do all your talking. Which is fine for a while, but I already know him. I wanna hear something from you.” Oboro said, tilting his head and smiling. “Tell me anything you want, big or small.”

Izuku wasn’t exactly smiling anymore. He gripped onto Hizashi's sleeve tightly, trying to avoid eye contact with Oboro. After a long, long minute, he pulled himself closer to Hizashi to whisper in his ear. “Can you say it?”

“Not this time. He asked you to say it.” Hizashi spoke in his usual volume which made Izuku’s face flash red in embarrassment. 

The feeling of eyes watching him, waiting for him to speak only made the anxious feeling in his chest stronger. But he finally took a deep breath in, and spoke just above a whisper. “I have… a fish.”

“A fish, huh? D-”

Before Oboro could say anything else, the heart monitor’s slow rhythmic beeping turned rapid. Shouta’s hands were twitching again, grabbing at the blankets over him. It was damn near impossible for Izuku to pull his eyes away from the way his chest started to hitch. The sound of his choked gagging against the tubes caused Izuku to quickly push himself away, toppling over the arm of the chair and landing on the ground with a painful thud. 

Hizashi felt stuck in place. Both Shouta and Izuku need him right now. Shouta’s hurt. Badly. He’s probably unaware of where he is and why can’t breathe normally. But Izuku’s trembling and hyperventilating from how scared he is. He has no idea what’s happening, just that it’s downright terrifying to see. Hizashi has no idea who’s side to go to.

Luckily, Oboro made it so he didn’t have to choose.

“Let’s go, shorty. Back to the hall.” He said in a soft but stern tone, grabbing his shoulder lightly to direct him towards the door.

“N-No!” Izuku screamed as he jerked his arm back. “I-I-”

“Don’t need to see this part. It won’t do him or you any good staying here.” This time he didn’t even give Izuku a chance to argue back. Oboro grabbed hold of both his shoulders and pushed him towards the door. He tried to be as gentle as possible, but he had to quickly jerk the boy to the side to make room for the nurses and doctors who were rushing towards the room. 

“S-Stop touching me!” Izuku yelled out when they finally reached the hallway. He pulled himself away before slumping onto the ground next to his forgotten bag. 

Oboro gave him a soft apology and sighed heavily before sitting against the wall himself, just less than a meter away. Izuku pulled his knees to his chest again, his breathing still shallow and uneven. The machine's terrifying sounds could still be heard, along with new voices shouting over each other. 

“I know that was really scary,” Oboro started slowly after a long beat. “But what you saw in there? That’s not him in pain, that’s him waking up. The machines make it look worse than it is.”

Izuku didn’t say anything, but his eyes did shift from the ground to out in front of him. His fingernails dug deeply into his arms under his sleeves, crescent shaped marks just above his elbows. “It’s… m-my fault.”

“What? I don’t know what he was doing, or what happened to land himself back in here, but I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” Oboro leaned forward, trying to make eye contact. 

“I-I should’ve… tried harder to make him stay.” Izuku whispered as tears started to swell in his eyes. 

“I’ve known Shouta for a long time, and when he’s determined to do something, he will. He’s had his fair share of injuries and scares, even before you got here.” Oboro scooted closer slightly, still giving him plenty of space but offering comfort if he wanted it. “I may not know you very well, but I know those two. And neither of them would want you blaming yourself for their actions.”

There weren’t any words spoken, but Oboro knew he struck a chord with him. For a minute anyways, before Izuku shook his head and placed his forehead on his knees. “No… you don’t know it all.”

Oboro wanted to press, but didn’t. He simply nodded once and kept his lips pressed into a thin line. It didn’t take long for the machines to go back to quiet and the medical staff to file out the door. Oboro shot to his feet and Izuku was about to follow suit before one of the nurses stopped and turned to face them. “The doctor is just going over everything now, please give them a few more minutes before entering.”

They each nodded before sinking back to the floor. Oboro wouldn’t lie and say he’s not also worried, but he felt an overwhelming sense of needing to protect Izuku. He owes that to Hizashi and Shouta, at least. 

“So,” He started, making sure Izuku could hear him before continuing. “You said you have a fish? What’s her name?”

Izuku looked up for a second before glancing back at the wall in front of him and muttered something too quiet to hear. 

“C’mon, a little louder. I won’t laugh, I swear.”

He took another long look at him before blinking slowly. “...Amaterasu.”

Oboro let out an impressed whistle as he leaned his head back against the wall. “That’s… that’s, wow, that’s an epic name for a fish. What kind is she?”

“Goldfish,” He murmured, just on the edge of loud enough. “Well, an Izumo Nankin Goldfish. They’re rare, outside of Japan at least, so she’s super special. To me, anyway. She’s white, and has orange marks like this.” 

Izuku drew her patterns from memory on the floor with his finger. He could feel the way Oboro’s eyes followed along, watching like it was the most important thing he's ever seen. “Awesome! I thought goldfish were all… gold.”

That made Izuku snicker while he shook his head. Oboro listened intently as Izuku explained the differences between goldfish breeds, his voice slowly shifting from a whisper into something steadier as he slipped into sharing facts about marine animals in general. For a few minutes, the fear in his voice eased, replaced with something that resembled joy as he spoke. Oboro didn’t interrupt, only giving him the occasional nod or smile and prompting questions, letting his words distract them both from the reality of what’s going on around them. 

But when Shouta’s doctor came out and told them Hizashi and Shouta wanted a moment alone, everything inside Izuku crumbled again. The words hit harder than he thought they should’ve, and his chest ached in a way he didn’t know how to name. He shut down, curling into himself.

Oboro tried anyway, his voice gentle. “So… how do jellyfish eat, anyway?”

Izuku only stared at him, throat too tight to answer, before dropping his forehead against his knees again. He didn’t want to think about jellyfish, or fish at all. Not when he was sure Shouta was going to be furious with him. Shouta didn’t want him there. He couldn’t come up with any other reason why they’d ask for a moment without him. It had to be because he was the problem. Because Shouta was finally awake and realizing what Izuku already knew; that everything that happened last night was his fault.

That's probably what they were discussing now. How adopting Izuku was a mistake and that they needed to get rid of him as soon as they could before he caused any more issues. Shouta is probably asking Hizashi to take him into the city and drop him off on the side of the road. It’d work too. Izuku would be at a complete loss, unsure what to do, and likely never find his way home. The thought made that dreaded ache in his chest start to throb in sync to his ever quickening heartbeat. 

Izuku didn’t even notice when Hizashi opened the door, or when he kneeled directly in front of him. Only when he felt his hand on his shoulder did Izuku look up at him. 

“Hey, honey. Dad’s awake, and he wants to talk to you.” Hizashi said with a smile, but Izuku didn’t exactly believe it. “Are you feeling up to that?”

The truth? No. Izuku was not up for that. He thought, maybe, if he could just stay out here in the hall then he’d never have to face Shouta’s wrath. But  Shouta is going to have to leave the room at some point. Even if he stalled for as long as he could, it was inevitable. He let Hizashi help him up, straightening his pajamas as well as he could before slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

“He’s a little…out of it. So, go easy on him, okay love?” Hizashi said as he cupped Izuku’s face and brushed his hair behind his ear. Izuku nodded before slowly shuffling his feet towards the door. Once he crossed the threshold, the entire world felt still. 

Shouta was sitting up now, but his eyes were still closed as his head was leaning back on his pillow. The chair Hizashi was sitting in before was pulled even closer to the side of his bed while Oboro’s was pushed off to the side. Izuku nearly jumped out of his shoes at the sound of the door closing behind him, panicking slightly when he realized Hizashi didn’t follow him in. He really almost fell backwards when Shouta finally spoke, probably re-awoken by the sound of the door. 

“Oh,” Shouta’s voice was soft, coming out in a sort of chuckle. “There’s my boy.”

Izuku could feel his face flush at that, but that didn’t stop him from standing firmly in his place directly in front of the door. His hands clenched into fists around his backpack straps. He didn’t say anything, but it wasn’t long until Shouta fully opened his eyes and spoke again. “Come sit.”

Despite his instincts telling him to bolt out the door, down the hall and stairs, and out the door to get as far away as he can on his own merit, Izuku slowly dragged his feet across the linoleum until he stood next to the chair, using it to guard himself. This still wasn’t good enough for Shouta, who let out a little snicker. “You’re being silly, just sit down kiddo.”

This time he did, slinking into the seat and crossing his legs underneath him. His hands fiddled with the zipper of his bag that was now in his lap. Izuku did what he could to avoid making eye contact, but he couldn’t stop trying to sneak a peek at Shouta’s expression. 

“Whatchya got?” Shouta’s voice cut through the tense silence after a few minutes. Izuku hummed nervously as he looked down at his backpack, his hand still pulling the zipper up and down rhythmically. He finally opened it all the way, quickly looking at Shouta then back into his bag.

“Stuff. For you.” He said, reaching his hand in and pulling out a handful of colored pencils and placing them on Shouta’s blanket next to his leg. Before Shouta could ask what they were for, Izuku pulled out his well loved, half finished coloring book. “You don’t have to use it. I-I just thought… I don’t know.”

“Oh, that’s very thoughtful of you.” Shouta smiled at him, which eased his nerves slightly. “You gonna help me color some of these?”

Izuku could feel his ears burn red at the invitation, nodding slightly as he kept his eyes down. “I-If you want.”

The next item he brought out: his unfinished, paper-wrapped breakfast from the car. His nose scrunched slightly at the memory of the so-called food before setting it on the chair next to himself. “That’s just… breakfast. It wasn't very good.”

Shouta’s lips pressed into a thin line when he recognized the wrapper. “Fast food?” He asked with his eyebrow arched. 

Izuku’s nervousness spiked again. “I-I told Dad you wouldn’t want me to have it! It was messy and it smelt weird, and just… not normal. I ate some, because weird breakfast is still breakfast, but it made me feel sick. I didn’t know what to do with the rest, so I brought it with me.”

Shouta’s expression shifted into something softer, a small smile replaced the clearly disapproving one from before. “It’s alright, kiddo. I’m not upset with you, but you were right about me not wanting you to eat that junk. Don’t worry, once they let me out of here, I’ll make you something that actually resembles food.”

Izuku couldn’t help the way his mouth twitched into a smile as he pulled out the next item. It was a small, hand held puzzle. The kind you twist and turn to align the colors. Hitoshi had given it to him about two weeks ago, saying he’d already figured it out a bunch of times so he didn’t find it entertaining anymore. Izuku hadn’t yet figured it out, but he liked the way it made him think. Shouta took it in his hands, twisting it around and mumbling something about how he hadn’t solved one of those in years. 

After a few moments of watching Shouta try to solve the little box, Izuku shifted his hand that was still in his bag, and froze when he felt the soft fuzz under his finger tips. A part of him didn’t want to pull it out. Shouta wasn’t expecting him to bring anything, so maybe the two toys and half eaten breakfast would be enough. Right? Because the very thought of giving it up made Izuku’s heart sink, and for a moment he decided he wouldn’t. He’d keep it safe, hidden away, and close to him.

Until he looked up at Shouta, pale and breathing as if each inhale hurt. He looked weak, exhausted despite just waking up. Izuku sighed before grabbing ahold of the last item.

“And…um,” Izuku started before finally freeing Twerp from his canvas trap. He looked into the turtle's green and glittering eyes before shakily handing him over to Shouta. Who took it in hands like it was the most fragile thing in the world. 

“Oh, sunshine, I can’t take him.” Shouta said softly, his voice heavier than usual while he shook his head softly and offered the toy back. “This little guy is far too important to you. He’s your turtle. You hold on to him.”

It was clear, to both Izuku and Shouta, that Izuku wanted to take him back. But he only shook his head with his eyes shut tight. “No, I-I brought him for you. He’s really good at keeping you company, and… he helps. When you’re hurt.”

“He is good at keeping company, which is why he needs to stay with you. I know this has been stressful for you, and I don’t want to take him away from you.” Shouta tried again.

“But- I brought him for you!” Izuku’s eyes shot open, begging Shouta to give in to him. His voice cracked, but he pressed on, desperate and fierce all at once. “He makes people feel better, and you need him!”

Shouta could only smile. Even in his drugged up, injured state, he couldn’t help but be amused at the determination radiating from the boy. Izuku wasn’t one to argue with him or Hizashi, but he’d be lying if he didn’t say he had his own way of getting his way. “Only if you’re sure, kiddo.”

“I’m sure. I want you to get better.” Izuku said, finally calming back down and relaxing into his chair. 

Shouta smiled at him, then at the turtle he clutched in his hands. He let out a slow, long breath before speaking again. “Well, why don’t you hold on to him for me while you’re here. That way he does his job of keeping both of us company.” 

When Shouta leaned towards the toy to hand him, he let out a painful groan. His knuckles turned white over the green shell and his other hand quickly found his left side. He couldn’t ignore the way Izuku pushed himself back in his chair and how his eyes widened in fear. With the last bit of his strength, he managed to shove Twerp into his chest before falling into the pillows behind him. 

Izuku felt frozen as he watched Shouta’s pained, twisted face letting out shallow breaths. After a moment he tried to sneak him back, inching Twerp toward Shouta’s side. Shouta cracked one tired eye open and gave a faint, crooked smile. “Don’t fight me on this one, sunshine. Keep him with you.”

This time, Izuku nodded and clung on to the turtle with just about all of his strength. It took what felt like hours for the wave of pain to subside, but it finally did. And once it did, Shouta opened his eyes all the way to find Izuku staring back at him worriedly.

“I’m sorry, kid. You shouldn’t have to see me like this.” He said quietly. Shouta hated feeling like this. Never mind the stitches, bruising, and unbearable throbbing pain; he hated feeling like he wasn’t able to do his job of protecting Izuku. The mission last night, despite ultimately being successful, wasn’t enough for him. He’d only taken down one out of twelve targets before getting hurt. How is he supposed to say he did his job when it was the officers assisting him that carried the weight? “Looks like you were right to worry last night, huh, little prophet?" 

Izuku didn’t answer. Didn’t acknowledge what he said or even look at him. He only squeezed Twerp even tighter to his chest. The silence stretched into minutes, only the soft beeping of Shouta’s heart monitor could be heard. Nobody could read Izuku better than Shouta, and he knew his mind was racing faster than the speed of light. “What’s going on in that head of yours, kid?” 

“I just…” Izuku started before shifting in his seat. “I’m sorry. I should’ve tried harder to make you stay.” 

“Tried harder?” Shouta all but scoffed. “Izuku, having to say no to you last night was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’d rather take a hundred more stabbings than say no to you like that again.”

Izuku’s head snapped up and eyes widened with worry. “Y-You were stabbed?!” 

Shouta could only blink at him before a small trace of humor curled the corner of his mouth. “Oh, Dad didn’t tell you that part?”

Izuku shook his head, quickening at each turn. But for some reason, Shouta’s almost-smile calmed him. “No! N-No he didn’t!”

“Well, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m here, does it?” And Izuku couldn’t argue against that. He didn’t push back when Shouta assured him he’d heal and be back on his feet in no time. He didn’t panic when Shouta spoke about the mission, even when he admitted he’d choose to do it a million times again. And for once, Izuku didn’t feel the need to ask if Shouta was mad at him, or if he and Hizashi were planning to send him away. He didn’t need to. Not when Shouta’s voice softened as he recalled how Izuku had been the only thing keeping him motivated. Not when he said Izuku was his last thought before passing out and his first after waking. Not when Shouta’s hand closed gently around his own as they talked. There was no doubt in his mind that Shouta loved him.

Time slipped by as their conversation flowed into easier topics. Izuku told him of his and Oboro’s conversations, and Hizashi’s idea to strap him in with two seatbelts in substitution of his car seat. Once again, Izuku was right about Shouta being displeased with Hizashi’s decisions, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Both Izuku’s and Shouta’s worries faded away, getting lost in their chuckles and smiles. Shouta rested his eyes and had Izuku make up a story while he colored one of the pages he had left half finished days before. It was so peaceful, so domestic. It was exactly what the two of them needed. 

They hardly even noticed the door sliding open when Hizashi and Oboro entered the room again, their conversation from the hall dying down as they crossed the threshold. 

“Hey, he’s awake!” Oboro cheered. Izuku turned only to stare at the two before going back to his coloring. 

“Hey, he’s alive!” Shouta said with far less energy but a small smile none the less. 

Hizashi crossed the room in a few short steps, leaning down to press a quick kiss to the top of Izuku’s curls before setting a small bowl in his lap. Inside was a careful mix of his favorites: strawberries, blueberries, baby carrots, snap peas, and thin cucumber coins stacked neatly at the bottom. Izuku’s eyes lit up at the sight, and he immediately reached for a carrot, taking his signature small nibble before glancing up and thanking him softly.

From the bed, Shouta let out a quiet hum, his lips quirked just enough to pass for a smirk. “Better than the crap you fed him this morning.”

“Whatever,” Hizashi rolled his eyes but he did nothing to hide his grin. “He really is your son, you know. What seven year old doesn’t like fast food?”

Izuku couldn’t help the way his cheeks painted pink, taking another bite of his carrot and keeping his eyes glued to the page in front of him, hopefully to keep himself out of the conversation. Shouta noticed, raising his eyebrow until Izuku gave him a shy but clearly amused smile. 

“Just don’t make a habit of it,” Shouta said, scrunching his nose slightly before looking at Hizashi once again. “For the sake of his poor stomach.” 

“Alright, alright. You’re the boss, even hospitalized.” Hizashi threw his hands up in surrender. 

The room settled into a different, but still easy rhythm after that. Izuku nibbled his way though his bowl, dual wielding colored pencils while Shouta mindlessly combed back his curls. Hizashi and Oboro kept the conversation going, reminiscing over old memories and work stories. They made sure to drag Shouta into it every once in a while, not letting him fully doze off. Izuku was thankful they weren’t roping him in too much. He was so worried about Shouta earlier, the anxiety of meeting someone new was unnoticeable at the time. But now that he knows Shouta’s okay and that he and Hizashi aren’t mad at him, the feeling is definitely present. 

Hours must’ve passed by before Oboro stood up, stretching his arms over his head with a groan. He said something about going to pick up Izuku’s carseat from Shouta’s car, which was still parked at the police station, so Izuku and Hizashi wouldn’t have to make do without it again. With goodbyes to Hizashi and Shouta, and a “See ya later, shrimp” to Izuku, Oboro left with the sound of the door sliding closed behind him. 

Izuku shifted in his seat, laying on his back and curling into himself sideways in the chair. He noticed Shouta and Hizashi were talking to each other with just their eyes, but he didn’t think anything of it. Especially when they let the silence drag on for a few minutes, but it didn’t last very long. Shouta scooted himself up, wincing slightly before taking a deep breath to ground himself. 

“Hey, kiddo,” Shouta started, his voice quiet but steady. “I know you don’t want to think about this right now, but do… you want to tell Oboro about Inko?”

Izuku tightened his grip around Twerp's arm, shrinking into himself. Shouta was right, he didn’t want to think about this. This day had already been plenty stressful enough and Izuku didn’t know how much more he could take. Before he could even form a proper thought on it, Hizashi leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “We just want you to know that it’s completely up to you. And whatever you choose, we’ll support you fully. Even if you change your mind later.” 

“I, um…” Izuku started before biting his lip in thought. He doesn’t want to have to go through the humiliation of telling Oboro. He also doesn’t want Oboro to pity him. Treating him like he’s fragile and could break at any moment. Despite the unfortunate circumstance, he actually really liked meeting Oboro today. There was something familiar about him. Maybe it’s from his pictures hanging all around the house, or similar traits he shared with Hizashi and Shouta, but there was something…safe about him. Izuku didn't want him to think little of him.

But then there was the fact that once Oboro catches up on the news he’s missed, learns of Inko’s case and how Shouta was involved with it, he’d be able to piece it together. He’s bound to figure it out on his own. But maybe, Izuku can just put it off for a little while. So after way longer than he thought, he finally shook his head and squeezed Twerp tighter to his chest. “No, not…yet.”

“Okay. But if and when you decide you want to tell him, you shouldn’t worry. He’s very understanding.” Shouta nodded slowly before closing his eyes. That was it. Simple and easy.

Izuku took a deep breath before reaching out to hold Shouta’s hand, closing his own eyes. He was half asleep when Oboro came back just to leave again not even a minute later. He could hear nurses and doctors come to talk to Shouta but he couldn’t bring himself to pay attention. Like Shouta, he drifted in and out of sleep, shifting every once in a while in his chair. 

When Hizashi shook him awake telling him it was time to go, he stood up with a pout. Shouta rubbed his thumb over the back of his hand while they said goodbye. Izuku was still adamant on him keeping Twerp with him overnight, so in return Shouta sent him home wrapped up in his capture scarf. It wasn’t his turtle, or Shouta himself, but it would do until he could have them both back.

Chapter Text

Shouta came home only two days later.

It was Oboro who drove him home that night, letting him lean against him as he hobbled through the threshold. Hizashi had made a big spectacle of it, holding up hand made welcome-home signs he and Izuku made the day before and a handful of different colored balloons filled the genkan. “Welcome home, Sho!”

Balloons spilled out the door and surrounded everyone's ankles. Shouta shifted his foot, causing them to fly across the floor. “This is a hazard.”

“S-Sorry, Dad!” Izuku quickly fell to his knees and started shoveling the balloons out of the way as well as he could. 

Oboro let out a chuckle, helping push balloons out of the way with his foot. “You’re being such a grump, this is fun!”

Hizashi grinned from ear to ear as he held his sign up higher and shook it slightly. “Yeah! This is fun! Look, you got balloons, glitter, and stickers! The works!” 

“Yeah, uh huh.” Shouta nodded before continuing forward down the hall. About half way there he insisted on making it the rest of the way by himself. Hizashi and Oboro stayed on either side of him just in case, while Izuku shyly trailed behind them. Shouta sank onto the couch with a quiet sigh, closing his eyes for just a moment before opening them again to find the two towering over him. “Will you guys back up? Give me some room to breathe, damn.”

Oboro snorted, unfazed, and straightened up. “Fine, fine. I’ll make you some tea before you bite someone’s head off.”

Hizashi, though, didn’t miss the way Izuku reacted from the far side of the couch. A quick step backwards, chest filling with air without exhaling it back out, and eyes darting to the floor. His hands still haven’t gotten back around Twerp, so they shook nervously by his sides.

“Hey, baby,” He coaxed gently until Izuku lifted his eyes. “Why don’t you go give him a hand? He always forgets how Dad likes it, but you always get it just right.”

It was clear Izuku didn’t want to. They had talked the day before how Izuku has been getting anxious while Shouta’s out of his sight. But the way Hizashi was pleading with his eyes made him shuffle his feet towards the kitchen. 

“Hey,” Hizashi started in a low tone so his voice wouldn’t carry through the house like it typically does. “I know you’re feeling shitty, but can you humor us just a little? Izuku worked harder than I did to do all this for you. He just wanted to make you feel special.” 

Shouta let out a groan, not a pained one, but the kind that admitted he knew he’d screwed up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“I know you didn’t.” Hizashi grabbed a gentle hold on his hand as he squatted in front of him. “But he doesn’t. To him, it just sounded like you didn’t want him near you.”

“I didn’t even notice he was there. I thought I was just talking to you and Oboro, not… him too.” Shouta rubbed his face with a sigh. “I’m just tired.”

“I know, and I'm not asking for a whole show. Just enough so he knows you’re not upset with him.” Hizashi rubbed his thumb over the back of his hand. Shouta closed his eyes again with a small nod.

It wasn’t long until the subtle sounds from the kitchen faded and Oboro came walking back into the living room holding two mugs in hand. Izuku followed behind him slowly, Shouta’s favorite mug clutched tightly by both his hands. His eyes were wide in a mix of anxiety and focus, as if one wrong breath could cause the ceramic to shatter. 

Oboro made it to the couch first, handing Hizashi a mug. “Careful, it’s hot.”

By the time Hizashi felt confident enough to take a sip, Izuku was only halfway across the room. The living room dipped down into two shallow steps, and he paused there, biting his lip before braving the descent. But the second step is where it went wrong. His foot was too far forward, causing it to slip to the next level entirely. The cup didn’t fall, neither did he, but the hot liquid spilt over the rim and coated the knuckles on his right hand. He let out a short hiss before gripping the mug even tighter and looking up as if his mistake harmed any of the three in front of him. Simultaneously, they asked him if he was okay in their own unique ways. He only nodded shyly and finally made his way to the couch where Shouta sat. 

“I-I’m sorry I spilled. I’ll clean it up, I promise.” He quietly whispered with his head down as he handed the mug off. 

“I don’t care about the mess, kid. Are you okay?” Shouta asked as he gently took his hand into his own and checked for any burns. But Izuku quickly pulled his hand back to his chest and nodded again before running off to find a towel. 

There was hardly even an ounce of tea on the floor, but Izuku was worrying as if the entire house was flooded. The towel soaked it up immediately on contact, but that didn’t stop him from frantically scrubbing at the floor.

“Izuku, it’s okay bud. You got it all.” Hizashi said, voice dripping in concern, but Izuku didn’t even hear it. He darted off down the hall to properly discard the towel in the dirty laundry before running back into the kitchen.

The counter was still littered with everything he and Oboro used to make tea. The kettle, the tipped over honey jar, the tin of leaves, and sugar split across the counter. Izuku’s chest pinched and breath hitched. It was a mess. He couldn’t leave it, so he got to work quickly.

Each container got wiped clean and placed back in their rightful spots with labels facing outwards perfectly. The kettle retook its rightful place on the stove, the handle aligned precisely with the burner. He scraped the sugar and fallen leaves off the counter, into his palm, and into the trash before using a damp rag to swipe the surface clean, over and over until it shined. 

When he took a step back to admire his work, the whole kitchen still looked out of order. The spice jars that were twisted in all kinds of different angles. He fixed them one by one until they were perfect, then his eyes landed on the mugs that decorated the coffee bar. Unevenly spaced and crooked before Izuku’s trembling fingers corrected them carefully. If there was something for him to fix, he did. Nothing was safe. The dish towels hanging on the oven handle and the persimmons in the fruit bowl. None of it. 

His razor sharp focus led him out the kitchen, adjusting ever so slanted picture frames into place before the balloon flooded genkan caught his attention.

This is a hazard. Shouta’s voice echoed through his brain.

Hesitantly, Izuku reached out his hand and summoned energy to his palm. But for a moment, it died down. He and Hizashi worked hard to fill these balloons up, even making a special trip to a store to buy them and materials for their posters after visiting Shouta. It took almost an hour for him to blow them all up while Hizashi tied them and another hour to carefully draw on them with thick markers. But, Shouta had said they're dangerous. So he sniffed as he concentrated again and let out a small effective bullet of energy. A yellow balloon popped loudly making him flinch backwards. But he let out another bullet, causing another loud pop and another jerk back.

Each loud pop caused another jump, making his eyes water as he destroyed what he had been so proud of just a few minutes ago. But Dad said it wasn’t safe. So he has no other choice. He could vaguely hear something else behind him, but he ignored it as his blasts sped up. Until a hand gently touched his shoulder.

“Izuku…” It was Hizashi, who was sitting on his ankles. “Honey, what are you doing?”

“I’m… it’s a hazard.” He echoed Shouta’s words but his trance was slowly breaking. “I’m making it right.”

“It wasn’t wrong, baby. Maybe we should’ve put them somewhere else, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of them.” Hizashi spoke softly, gently pushing him to face him instead of what was left of the balloons. “You and I worked so hard to make these. I thought it was your favorite part?”

“It is- was, but D-Dad didn’t like it so…” Izuku turned back around and put his hand up again, ready to shoot, before  Hizashi pulled it back down and to his side. 

“Look at me, sweetheart.” Hizashi cupped the side of his face and forced him to tear his eyes away. “Dad didn’t mean it, he’s just tired and a little grumpy. He didn’t mean to make you upset.” 

“I-I’m not upset.” Izuku’s lips wobbled as he stared down at the massacre. It was his favorite part. He liked the different colors and different drawings he and Hizashi drew on. Faces, animals, little messages. They were nothing but small shriveled up pieces of rubber now. Because Izuku couldn’t keep his head straight. He could feel another tear drip from his eyes. 

Hizashi gave him a pitiful smile before wiping the tears away with his thumbs. “It’s okay if you are. He wasn’t exactly being nice.”

Izuku sniffed a few times before letting his guard down and letting his tears fall with it. He hiccuped and wiped his eyes with his wrists as Hizashi pulled him in for a hug. “I-I just wanted him to…to like it.”

“He does, baby.” Hizashi kissed the side of his head as he let out a shaky cry. “Because you made it for him, and he loves you.”

“No- I spilled, too, and the kitchen’s messy and-” Izuku hiccuped through as he shook his head.

“Well, let’s go talk to him. Together, I promise.” Hizashi gave him a small smile, guiding him so they could both stand up. Izuku seemed reluctant, but he stood anyway. He let Hizashi guide him back through the hall where Oboro was walking their way. “Headin’ out?”

“Yeah, Nemuri’s gonna think I ditched her.” Oboro said with a nervous chuckle while scratching the back of his head. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, we’re going to talk it out right now.” He nodded slowly, as he rubbed small circles on Izuku’s back.

Oboro’s gaze flicked down to the boy clinging close at Hizashi’s side, his lips pressing into something that resembled a smile. “That’s good. Call if you need anything.”

Hizashi nodded before they gave each other a quick hug. Izuku received a singular pat on the head before Oboro slipped out the door. It took a small nudge for Izuku to finally move forward again and they reached the living room a lot quicker than he wanted. His knees shook stepping down but that didn’t stop him from rushing past the couch where Shouta sat. Instead, he opted to settle a few feet away, lowering himself stiffly to the carpet. He sat on his ankles, back straight, fists resting neatly on top of his legs like he was bracing for judgment.

He didn’t look up. He couldn’t. His eyes stayed glued to the floor between them, where the rug’s pattern blurred under his watery vision. The silence weighed heavy, stretching long enough that his shoulders started to curl in, like maybe he could make himself smaller, less noticeable.

Izuku couldn’t tell if he was being ignored or simply… observed. The thought only made his chest tighter. He wanted to speak, an apology, an explanation, anything, but the words stuck like stone in his throat.

Hizashi sat in between the two on the floor, but he didn’t intervene yet. He let the silence sit, let Shouta feel just how small Izuku had made himself. Until long enough was long enough.

“Izuku, what’s tearing you up so much?” Shouta spoke in a warm but quiet voice.

“I-I spilled.” He said it as if he were admitting to a horrendous crime. His shoulder began to shake at the thought of it, but his fist tightened even more to try to stop the tear from escaping. “I was cleaning up, but I-I’m fine.”

Shouta blinked slowly, his brows pulling together as he studied him. That couldn’t be all. There was something else, something woven discreetly in the words. The way he refused to raise his head told him he wasn’t as fine as he said he was. Shame, maybe fear. He couldn’t exactly place what it was, but he didn’t want to say the wrong thing again.

Izuku’s head shifted just slightly, eyes darting past Shouta’s shoulder to the clock on the wall. His lips wobbled before he managed to whisper, “C-can I go to bed now, please? It’s bedtime.”

Hizashi tilted his head, concern knitted into his expression. “Honey… why are you trying to duck out all of a sudden? You were just talking to me in the hall.”

“I’m not!” Izuku shot back too quickly, his fists curling tight in his lap. His shoulders shrank inward even more before speaking much more quietly. “I just…I just wanna go to bed, that’s all. Please?”

The two shared a worried look before silently agreeing to just let him go. Hizashi reached over and patted his knee. “Alright, baby. Go get yourself in bed, I'll come up in a minute.”

Izuku pushed himself up, head bowed as he stood. Just before he turned to leave, Shouta’s voice rumbled low from the couch. “Good night, kid. Sleep well.”

It should’ve been enough, but the soul crushing thought that tonight Shouta was here, finally back home, but not coming to tuck him in made it hard to realize that. Izuku’s lips pressed into a thin line and his head nodded ever so slightly.

“Night.” he said just above a whisper before taking himself upstairs.

And for the first time since he’s been here, he shut his bedroom door behind him. He stood in the quiet, staring at his socks as he let all his thoughts run at once, there were so many he couldn’t focus on a singular one. Frozen in front of the door for over a full minute before his feet finally carried towards his bed. He lifted his blankets, half expecting to see Twerp underneath and fully disappointed when he didn’t. Still, he crawled in and curled onto his side facing the opposite of the door. 

It wasn’t long until Hizashi found his way up the stairs. His chest felt heavy from the conversation he just had with Shouta after Izuku left, and from the uncertainty of what this would be like. When he reached the top landing, he stopped short. He expected to follow the light that always flooded out his door, but the door was closed and the hall was dark and quiet. Eerie.

Hizashi’s hand hovered over the handle, debating whether he should knock or leave the boy be. Eventually, he chose to knock gently while cracking the door open. “Hey, sweetheart, it’s just me. Is it alright if I come in?”

Izuku didn’t say anything, but he let out a small, affirmative hum. Hizashi slipped inside silently, leaving the door open ajar behind him. He knew Izuku hated his door being closed, and if he wanted to shut it himself then fine, but Hizashi won’t. Not unless he asked him to. Risking him being even more uncomfortable wasn’t something he wanted to do. His eyes softened when he found Izuku already curled up under the blankets, back to him and breathing steady like he was already asleep. Hizashi moved quietly across the room, sitting on the foot of the bed carefully so as to not shift the boy too much.

“Is… there any particular reason you decided to shut the door today?” He asked softly.

Izuku wrapped his blanket around his shoulders even tighter and pressed his face deeper into his pillow. “I’m just…tired. I didn’t realize… sorry.” 

“No, no, it’s okay. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I-I said I’m fine, didn’t I?! Can I please just go to sleep now?” Izuku all but growled.

Hizashi could only blink at the sudden lash out, not exactly in surprise but something close to it. “Alright, if you insist. Sorry for keeping you up.”

The blanket was pulled up over the lower half of his face, but that didn’t stop Hizashi from standing up, leaning over, and placing a small kiss on his cheekbone. He whispered his good night, making sure to tell him just how much he loves him before gently patting his shoulder. There was only a whispered ‘Night’ in response, but Hizashi wouldn’t let it get to him. Izuku was going through something he wasn’t ready to talk about just yet. 

“Do you… want me to close your door, or leave it open?” Hizashi called out softly.

Izuku tightened his hands around his blanket and did his best to keep his voice calm and steady. “Open, please.”

“Of course.” Hizashi said with a smile that he couldn’t see. “See you tomorrow, sleepyhead.” 

Izuku forced himself to stay silent. Normally, he would’ve reminded Hizashi about his medicine. Or asked if he could bring Twerp back in before bed. But this time he just stayed quiet.

A hushed, guilty groan escaped Izuku after he heard the footsteps recede into nothingness. His stomach twisted, heavy and sour. He hated lying. He hated it even more when it was to them. Which is why he never did. But he wasn’t brave enough to tell the truth. Izuku never wanted to talk it out with Shouta, he isn’t tired, and mostly, he isn’t fine.

All he wants is to return the love and comfort that Hizashi and Shouta constantly shower him with. From the day they brought him here from the hospital, he swore to himself that he would be the best version of himself he could. He wouldn’t complain or argue. Be grateful for each and every single thing given to him. He’d keep his head down, be quiet, and be the perfect son. Everything Inko… trained him to be.

But he fought with Shouta about staying home, and he ended up hurt. Then in the hospital, Izuku’s voice alone caused him to go through the horribly terrifying and painful process of waking up. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the next day he threw his bag of new activities directly on his side where his wound sat. He tried to make it up to him by making his homecoming special, like how he'd always made him feel. 

Yet, that was messed up too. Shouta had called out his mistake of causing a tripping hazard by the front door. He hadn’t even acknowledged the signs that they had worked so hard on. Then, he hovered over him instead of giving him his space when he clearly needed it. Izuku thought he was far enough, the entire couch length, but he was apparently wrong. 

Spilling tea across the floor was his final straw. He deserved the burn it painted across his knuckles. He deserved for Shouta to get mad and punish him like Inko would. His chest ached when he realized how ungrateful he was when Shouta said good night to him. He’d been selfish for wishing he could tuck him in and kiss him good night. It was impossible for him to convince himself he deserves more than he’s been given.

An idea forced itself into his mind, and suddenly Izuku found himself out of bed and slowly moving across the hardwood. One hand reached for the doorknob, twisting it while pushing the door shut silently. The anxiety nestling in his chest jumped at the sight of it, but he forced himself to walk away. Every instinct screamed at him to open it again, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. He stood there trembling, nails biting into his palms, whispering to himself that this was right. That the comfort of the open door wasn’t his to have. Not after today. Not after everything.

Next his hands found the blankets that draped over his bed. He silently shamed himself for finding comfort on the soft fabric as he folded them meticulously the way Shouta had taught him. He stacked the two blankets carefully on top of one another and lowered them onto the floor. His pillows followed, pressed together and pushed underneath the bed. Two small towers, banished.

Izuku crouched there for a long moment, staring at them with his lip caught between his teeth until the sting of iron filled his mouth. Then, with a push of both hands, he slid the stacks underneath his bed, hiding them away.

Then his eyes landed on Amaterasu’s tank. The dark blue light that shone into his room, forever keeping him out of the dark seemed brighter than ever before. He stepped closer to it, watching Amaterasu swim up to the glass from her temple shaped house. 

“S-sorry. I’m not doing this because I’m mad at you.” He whispered to the glass. She swam in a circle in front of where his eyes sat. “At least you don’t have to sleep inside. You can sleep in your leaves, if you want.”

His hand hovered over the switch. He knew fish were supposed to rest in the dark anyway. Hizashi always reminded him to turn the light off when he slept in their room. That made it easier. Made it sound like the right thing. Still, his stomach churned as he flicked the switch down.

The tank went dark, and with it, the last sliver of comfort in the room disappeared. Izuku crawled back into bed, curling onto his side without a blanket, forcing himself to breathe.

He told himself over and over that this was for the best. For Amaterasu. For Shouta. For Hizashi. For everyone. They gave him so much already, and here he was, always wanting more. Wanting a light to chase away the dark. Wanting warmth from blankets he didn’t deserve. Wanting soft words, kisses on the forehead, tucking-in rituals like a child.

How selfish.

There was something so terribly familiar about the way the dark completely swallows him entirely. How it seemed to seep into his chest and fill the deepest part of his soul. How the cold soaked into his bones. For just a moment, it really felt like he was back in his old room. Like he was lying on his blood and dirt ridden mattress instead of on the brand new, clean-sheeted one. 

Then it was longer than just a moment. Then longer again. The lines blurred together.

Izuku’s convinced he can hear Inko’s voice screaming at him from the other side of the door. Her words were clear and precise. His heart slammed against his ribs, but he didn’t dare let himself move. Didn’t even breathe too loudly.

It scared the shit out of him, of course, but he didn’t do anything to stop it. He didn’t reach for his blanket, didn’t turn the light back on. Didn’t run to Hizashi and Shouta for comfort. He only curled tighter, pressed his nails into his palms, and let it eat at him.

If anything, he invited it in. Egged himself on. Forcing the memory to be sharper, crueler. Daring himself to remember every sound, every word, every beating. Because if he could survive it again, even in his head, then maybe he could even out the punishment he deserves from Hizashi and Shouta but will never get.

Maybe.

But each time he thought he had a grip on the present, her voice clawed its way back, dragging him down into that tiny locked room all over again. 

Until, finally, the slightest bit of daylight broke through under the curtains. At first, it didn’t seem real. His mind insisted it was still that other room, still locked in the dark. But when the light stretched across the floorboards, he realized he’d been awake the entire night.

Despite the exhaustion, Izuku forced himself to stand. After taking a moment to let the dizziness fade, he crouched to the floor and pulled out the pillows and blankets he hid from himself. Placing the pillows meticulously and straightening the blankets to perfection. Just how Shouta taught him. 

His eyes darted to the door, still shutting him away from the rest of the house. He wanted to open it. To leave it cracked open just how Hizashi left it for him. But he didn’t dare. He may be feeling a little more in control than he was during the night, but not that much. 

Instead he shuffled across the floor, sliding in his socks, to Amaterasu’s tank. The light flicked back on, now white instead of the deep blue it shines during the night. She seemed to have listened to him before, because she swam out from a jungle of leaves in the back corner and up to the glass. For the first time since Shouta came home, Izuku smiled. 

It was like she knew who he was, and was just as fascinated with him as he is with her. She almost always approached the glass when he did, showing off her fins in intricate dances. When Izuku would put his finger on the glass, Amaterasu followed, adding spins and flourishes. Just like she did now.

Izuku let out a small giggle when she followed the star pattern he repeatedly traced over the glass, unable to contain how happy watching her swim made him. 

“You’re smart.” He whispered. 

Only a few moments later, a knock quietly came from the door. It inched open slowly before Shouta’s voice carried through the room. “Izuku, you up?”

“Yeah.” Izuku squeaked, eyes glueing back to the tank in front of him, but his hands nervously wrapped around themselves.

The door opened wider and Shouta stepped in. He looked confused at first, staring at the empty, made bed before he finally found him in front of the tank. “Can I come in?”

Izuku let out a small hum, nodding his head once. He watched Shouta out of the corner of his eye, moving across the room slowly before finding his desk chair and sitting with a quiet huff. 

“How’s Amaterasu?” Shouta asked with genuine interest.

“Good,” Izuku whispered. “I was just about to feed her.”

Shouta nodded, leaning back in his chair while Izuku shakily opened the food container. His eyes followed the boy's hands as they opened the top of the tank and gently shook flakes into the water. As he watched, he got the familiar feeling of pride he always got when he looked at him. The way Izuku stood on his tiptoes, moving with such delicate precision, made it obvious how much care he put into every movement.

Shouta found himself hoping that this was a mirror of how Izuku felt under his care. That the steadiness, gentleness, and attention Izuku gave Amaterasu was born from the way he felt treated himself. He wanted so badly for that to be true, for Izuku to know he was cherished beyond any measure.

“You’re good to her, bub.” Shouta said as Izuku closely watched the way she bobbed up to the surface to take bites. “She’s lucky she has you.” 

Izuku’s cheeks flushed pink, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes stayed glued to the tank, but instead of focusing on his fish, he stared back at himself through his reflection. Seconds were dragged by the silence until Shouta pushed his chair closer to the bed. “Come sit, love. I want to talk to you.”

His breath hitched, but he slowly shuffled from the tank and to the foot of his bed. But instead of sitting on it, he kneeled down with his ankles under him and tight fists placed onto his thigh. Exactly like he did last night. 

“No, none of that. You don’t have to kneel for me. Hizashi either.” Shouta reached forward to pat the bed, urging him to get up. “We talk together, face to face.”

Izuku blinked at him, confused, almost frightened, like he’d done something wrong. Still, he pushed himself up and timidly climbed up onto the bed. His form was still proper, stiff and straight, but that didn’t stop Shouta from catching his hands and holding them firmly in his own, thumbs rubbing slow circles over the back of them. He frowned slightly when he felt the roughness along Izuku’s right knuckles. A faint, angry little mark where the hot tea had caught him the night before. Shouta didn’t call attention to it, but he made his light touch even lighter.

“I owe you an apology.” Shouta said after another long stretch of silence. Izuku shot up at that, frantically shaking his head. He tried to pull his hands back, waving them in denial.

“No- no! You don’t, I do!” Izuku tried, but Shouta quickly shut him down, tightening his grip just enough to keep Izuku grounded without trapping him.

“Stop.” His voice was firm, but still gentle as ever. “You don’t owe me anything. Last night, I screwed up. I should’ve been more careful with my words, and I definitely should’ve come up to tuck you in. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

As he spoke, Izuku’s shoulders shrank in more and more. “I… I made you upset. I messed it all up-”

“You had a rough night.” Shouta interrupted quietly, his voice heavy and serious but still warm. “Truth is, so did I. I’ve been in a lot of pain these past few days, and the meds they sent me home with last night… they had me more out of it than I wanted to admit. But that doesn’t excuse how I acted. No matter how beat up I get, it’ll always be my job to make sure you're well taken care of, inside and out.”

Izuku’s fingers twitched restlessly against Shouta’s hands, his eyes darting anywhere but his face. He wanted to believe him, he really did, but the part of him that kept him awake all night whispered it was a trick. That if he let himself give into the warmth, Shouta would finally snap and show him just how angry he really was.

“We’ve been out of sync these past few days, and I know that’s been hard on you. It’s been hard on me too. But none of that changes the truth. You’re still my son. Still my sunshine. You always will be. And I’m going to do better to make sure you feel that every single day, I promise.”

That finally made Izuku freeze, letting his words finally sink in. The use of his newest nickname made his heart squeeze regardless of if he felt he deserved it or not. He clenched his jaw as he tried to stop the tear that's beginning to well up. 

“You know what’s been the hardest part of all of this?” Shouta prompted quietly. 

“It… hurts?” Izuku guessed, voice barely above a whisper.

“No. Not even close.” Shouta rose from the chair, tugging gently on Izuku’s hands until the boy followed. “The hardest part is I haven’t gotten a proper hug from you in days.”

Before Izuku could argue, Shouta pulled him into a firm embrace. His long arms wrapped securely around the boy, one hand cupping the back of his head. For a split second Izuku froze, worried he’d press too hard against Shouta’s injuries, but the steady tightening of the man’s hold told him it was okay. It was safe. Slowly, he let himself sink into it.

Then Shouta bent to one knee, an unspoken reminder that they stood on equal ground, no matter what. He stayed there, steady and patient, until Izuku’s arms finally crept up and locked tight around his neck. Shouta let out a quiet breath, almost a sigh of relief, and pressed a kiss into his temple.

“I’ve missed this.” He murmured into his curls, each word true as steel. Izuku only nodded, but it was enough. They let the hug stretch on, neither daring to let go first, until they naturally eased apart. Shouta searched his face for a moment, brushing a stray curl back from Izuku’s forehead.

Then, almost like it had just crossed his mind, Shouta reached back and grabbed something off the desk. “Actually, there’s one more apology I owe you.” 

In his hands was Twerp. His big glittery eyes staring at Izuku, like it missed him just as much as he missed it. “I should’ve given Twerp back last night, but I guess I…forgot. I’m so sorry for keeping him from you.”

Izuku’s breath hitched the second he saw him. He all but lunged forward, wrapping both arms around the plush turtle, pressing his face into its rounded shell. The relief that washed over his face was almost painful in its intensity.

“It’s okay,” he mumbled into the fabric, voice muffled.

Shouta let his hand settle on Izuku’s back, rubbing gently between his shoulder blades. 

“No, it’s not. But it’ll never happen again.” His voice was quiet and firm, like a promise he had no intention of breaking. He got a subtle nod as a response from the boy who was too busy squeezing the turtle with all his might. “How’d you sleep?”

Izuku’s throat bobbed, his gaze sliding away. “...My eyes were closed.” He mumbled.

“Mm. You know, I’ve seen enough all-nighters to recognize the bags under someone’s eyes. Especially yours.” He brushed a thumb lightly under one of Izuku’s eyes before leaning back with a sigh. “Come on, kid. Help me make some breakfast before Dad wakes up and eats someone.” 

“Okay.” Izuku giggled at that as he followed Shouta out the door. The shift to the kitchen was quiet but easy, like slipping into an old rhythm. Shouta cracked eggs while Izuku lined up the pans, moving around each other with practiced familiarity. The smell of sizzling butter slowly filled the air, mixing with the faint scrape of utensils and the soft clink of dishes being set out. For a while, neither said much. There was just the sound of cooking, the warmth of the sun shining in through the kitchen window, and a steady, calm energy they both desperately needed. 

“Mmm, somethin’ smells good,” Hizashi said with a stretch while shuffling into the kitchen, his glasses sliding down his nose. He leaned into the counter with a grin, watching the scene unfold like it was better than any morning show.

“Sit. We’re almost done,” Shouta muttered, pointing a spatula at him.

Hizashi saluted lazily and obeyed, flopping into his chair with an exaggerated sigh. ““Man, I must be the luckiest guy alive! Two chefs cooking breakfast just for me!”

Shouta shot him a look over his shoulder. “You’re not lucky, you’re just useless in the kitchen. And your son deserves a real meal, not the microwave disasters you keep feeding him.”

“Whatever,” Hizashi waved him off, already leaning forward to sniff at the plate Izuku set down. “We’re eating good now!”

“Hell yeah we are, baby!” Oboro barged in through the door, uninvited but not unwelcomed. 

Shouta arched a brow at him, deadpan as ever, while setting the last of the food on the table. “Do you even remember where your own house is?”

Taking the lack of rejection as an invitation, Oboro dropped into the empty chair across from Shouta. “I do, I’m just dropping by to check on you guys. Didn’t feel like walking home from Nemuri’s last night so I’m heading back now."

Hizashi smirked as he leaned back in his chair. “Didn’t feel like walking home, or didn’t feel like leaving Nemuri’s bed?”

Oboro snorted, dropping his head. “Bold of you to assume she even let me stay in it.”

“Is she still mad?” Hizashi pressed, grinning like he already knew the answer.

“Mad doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Oboro rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish but not weighed down. His gaze caught the boy, confused and looking for an explanation. “When I left for that six-month mission, we were already in one of our stupid spats, and I didn’t even tell her I was going. She hasn’t exactly let that one go yet.”

Izuku’s eyes went a little wide, but before the mood could sink, Oboro grinned crookedly. “She’ll get over it. She always does. Probably the second she remembers I’m actually still alive.”

Shouta gave him a flat look. “Or the second she remembers you can’t cook for yourself.”

“Please, she’s just as bad. Why do you think I came here?” 

“You said you came here to check on us,” Izuku pointed out softly.

Oboro shot him a wink. “Exactly. And raid your breakfast while I’m at it. Free food, free company; why would I go home?”

Oboro earned a scoff from Shouta and a snort from Hizashi. Izuku had a small smile on his face while Shouta started making his plate for him. Everything felt easier from there. Oboro went home after breakfast, Hizashi walking him there for the fresh air. Shouta and Izuku sat side by side on the couch before turning on a movie, getting ready for the very lazy day that’s about to come. They both fell asleep before Hizashi made his way back.

The rest of the week moved in quiet waves. By Wednesday, Hizashi was back at work, leaving Shouta and Izuku to share a house that felt quieter but not empty. Their days were filled with calm: reading side by side, simple meals, stretches of silence that weren’t uncomfortable anymore.

Friday night brought the chaos back. Hitoshi arrived with his bag slung over his shoulder, bolting through the door just after knocking and leaving Nemuri and Oboro in the dust. Dinner was loud, chattering and laughing overlapping each other. It may have been a bit overwhelming, but Izuku quickly grew to like it.

It continued on Saturday. Nemuri didn’t usually spend the day with them, but Oboro being back changed that, and soon the house was alive again with voices, games, and the sound of the kids darting from one room to the next. The adults alternated between trying to keep up and giving up entirely, content to let the chaos play out.

Sunday was quiet again. Hound Dog arrived right on time, greeted warmly before he and Izuku slipped out into the backyard. Like always, Hizashi and Shouta stayed inside, keeping their distance to give them privacy. From the living room window, they could see the two of them sitting across from each other, Izuku’s small frame curled around Twerp in the patio chair. Their session dragged on longer than usual, probably due the extra stress Izuku had been dealing with in the past week and because he didn’t get to meet with him last week.

By the end, instead of heading straight inside like usual, Hound Dog waved for Hizashi and Shouta to join them. The two of them stepped out into the cool air.

“Is everything okay?” Hizashi asked, hand brushing over Izuku’s hair before sitting next to him. Izuku shrugged, still curled into himself and guarded, but he seemed just as confused as the two of them. 

“Oh, yeah. No need to worry.” Hound Dog nodded, glancing through his notes for a moment before closing his notebook and looking up at the three sets of confused eyes staring at him. Then he gestured to the wisteria growing everywhere around the backyard. “These are genetically modified, right?” 

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Hizashi nodded, eyebrows furrowed. “Pet and people allergen friendly. It was one of the conditions Shouta gave when we decided to put them up.” 

Hound dog nodded, taking another look at them. “I figured, I’d be sneezing my snout off otherwise."

After a moment he looked back at three in front of him and cleared his throat. “Over the past couple of weeks, Izuku and I have gotten much further than I’d originally thought we would’ve. He’s made progress, despite the setbacks you’ve all faced this week. I wanted to speak with the three of you, because I’ve made my mind up after our discussion today. A prescription for Izuku.”

Izuku’s stomach sank. “Prescription?” His voice cracked with dread. He already had more pills than he could keep track of, some he still didn’t even know the purpose of. The thought of more made him slightly miserable.

Hizashi and Shouta shared a quick, doing that silent-talking thing Izuku’s finally starting to get the hang of deciphering. They shared the same concern as him about adding more pills to his daily routine. “Ryo, we trust your judgment, but more medicine? I don’t-” Shouta started before being cut off by a hand in the air.

“Not medicine.” Hound Dog shook his head softly. “I think it’s time I prescribe Izuku a service dog.”