Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The windows exploded from the heat of the fire. Each lick of the flames rising higher as the destructive force grew. 

The screams of the woman who had been stuck in the home resounded in the hero’s ears. Eleven minutes. It took Eleven minutes for support to arrive. The woman might have been pretty at the start of the day. Her wide green eyes and softly rounded face the only clues to what once could have been a person. Soot covered most of her body now. Charred flash was still cooking even as healers attempted to put out the embers residing in her flesh. No… not flesh anymore. What could be seen under the soot was an angry red. Blood seeped out of every pore and a white film was attempting to form on some of the areas that the healers had finally managed to put out. Who knew that fire could continue burning even without visible flames. 

What was most painful for the detective wasn’t the sight of the woman or the smell of her burning skin - not even the screams of agony that pierced the air at certain intervals. No, it was the pleading. 

“My son. Please, my son. Izuku! He was in his room. You have to get him. I locked him in to protect him. Please. Izuku, my son!” Her plea’s sounded desperate, guilty. They were broken up only by the short but intense screams that rattled her body when the healers touched some part of her that miraculously still maintained nerve function. 

The three heroes on scene cringed at her cries. They couldn’t do anything. The fire was too volatile. Any attempt at nearing the flames would only lead to further causality. They needed to wait for someone better suited for this job. Someone with stronger water-based quirks. At this point, however - if there really was a child in that building - he was probably already dead.

The cause of the destruction was being led away, handcuffed and muzzled for the protection of the officers transporting the fire-breather. He had no mark on him - immune to his own flame. His face beyond the muzzle seemed shocked. Awed at the destruction he had caused. Most domestic abusers never actually meant to cause such devastation, after all. They only acted out for control. To maintain and monopolize on their power in the home. If they went overboard, well… look at where the fire-breather was now. Locked in chains and headed to a secure facility to await trial. All control lost in a single instance of overzealous rage. 

Mama was going to be upset at him if he didn’t get back soon. He had been away for too long. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep on the park bench. Really, he hadn’t. 

Daddy was just yelling so loud and no matter how hard he covered his ears, the screams still bled into his mind. He just wanted to escape for a little bit. Mama’s cries were so hard to hear and he couldn’t help her until the morning anyway. 

Getting out of his room wasn’t hard. It hadn’t been for a while. The tree near his window had been climbed many times by now. Kacchan had helped him to learn to climb trees before everything started to get bad… 

Turning the corner, the bright light of the burning building came into view.

What was happening? Mama was in there! Daddy was in there! Why was the house burning so much? The fire trucks that surrounded the home weren’t doing anything. In fact, the fire just seemed to get bigger with each of the small boys steps. 

“Mama! Mama!” the wide eyed child cried out as he neared the line of police cars. 

An arm snaked around his stomach, immediately stopping the child from going closer to the danger area. 

“Whoa kid! How the hell?” The man seemed to be at a loss for words. His dark eyes wide as he took in the child that was now in his arms. 

“Mama! My mama! I want my mama!” The child wailed. The little body squirmed and tried his best to be set free but the detective tightened his hold and refused to let the kid down. 

“Kid! Kid! Are you Izuku?” The detective asked urgently. 

The kid stopped struggling for a moment and turned back toward the man that wouldn’t allow his escape. His wide green eyes shone with tears and snot ran down from his nose. An All-Might onesie draped loosely over his petite form. The child nodded slightly.

Detective Tsukauchi breathed a sigh of relief at the confirmation before focusing on calming the small child. He had almost succeeded when another scream tore from the woman still being triaged.

“My son! Please!”

The little boy began squirming again and this time, the detective could not keep his grip on the child. Tsukauchi raced after the little form but was unable to keep him from seeing the sight of his half-dead mother. Honestly, Tsukauchi wasn’t even sure if the kid would recognize her. 

The world did not exist anymore. Only pain and anxiety permeated reality. She knew she was screaming. She knew she was begging for her son but no one seemed to answer her. Her ears were ringing. Maybe she just couldn’t hear them?

A cold and small ‘something’ touched her arm. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it was familiar. Even with her body screaming, she knew that touch. 

Inko hadn’t realized her eyes were closed until she had to force them open. Swirling lights and color blurred her vision but Inko finally found him. He was safe. He wasn’t hurt. Her son. Her Izuku. 

“Baby… I’m so glad you are okay.” She cooed weakly. The fight left her body for the first time since her husband had first hit her that night. “I’m so sorry, Izuku. I’m so sorry.” 

Deja Vu permeated her less than together mind. How many times had she said that to her son in the last two weeks? How many times had she apologized as she watched her child cry over his shattered dreams. She couldn’t let that be the last thing he heard from her. She had to tell him - even if she didn’t see how it was possible. 

“Izu….” It was hard to breathe. “Izuku…” Everything hurt. “You can, baby.” Why was he crying? Was he hurt? "I lied before.” The world wasn’t hurting so much anymore. Everything was fading to black. “You can be a hero.” She wasn’t really sure if the last words even came out.

“His name is Midoriya Izuku. Four years old.” Detective Tsukauchi whispered to the older woman standing in front of him. 

Her hair was tied back in a tight bun and she scribbled on a clipboard as he spoke. They both stood near the door of the hospital room, as far from the bed as they could get without leaving the room. The small boy did not stir as he slept on the hospital gurney.

“We were lucky to find him after a domestic violence incident ended in a major fire. His mother died at the scene. His father is awaiting his prison sentence.” The detective gave her a moment to write down the information and only continued speaking when she glanced up at him. “We assume that he escaped through his bedroom window earlier that night via the tree in his yard. Probably to get away from the fighting”

“You assume?” the woman spoke softly. Her voice was gentle but firm. 

“Ah, yes. He hasn’t spoken since… He…” Tsukauchi took a breath before continuing, “He hasn’t spoken since watching his mother die at the scene.”

The woman sighed but continued writing on her clipboard. She had probably seen plenty of similar cases and no longer reacted in the same way the detective did. 

“Any signs of obvious physical abuse on the boy?”

“Yes. The child has healed burn marks along his back and shoulders. The doctors took some x-rays and there are multiple signs of old fractures and breaks in his arms, legs, and ribs. It does not appear to have been treated by medical personnel. Currently, he only has slight bruising to his abdomen and wrists...”

“Are there any records at the police station for domestic violence situations with this family?”

“Yes, there are four previous calls to emergency services in reference to domestic violence. Two made by concerned neighbors. One from a family friend. And one from Midoriya Inko - the boy’s mother. It seems she only called because her son had come up missing after a particularly harsh beating. He apparently left the home often when his parents fought.”

“Was the child removed from the home at that time?”

“No. Midoriya Hisashi - the boy’s father - had left the home. Inko-san told detectives that it would be the last time. She was apparently very good to her child. He didn’t have any marks on him and, after a visit to a child psychiatrist, was deemed to have never received any physical abuse. It was decided that he would be safe with his mom.”

“Obviously not.”

“No… obviously not.” Tsukauchi rubbed the bag of his neck.

“You said the child was four? Are there any signs of a quirk or has it not developed yet?”

“No. No signs of a quirk. In fact, his medical records have him listed as ‘diagnosed quirkless’ as of two weeks ago.” 

The woman faltered for the first time since their conversation started. She glanced over at the small, pale, sleeping child in the hospital bed. “Are you sure?” She asked.

Tsukauchi nodded, handing her the small folder containing Izuku’s medical records. 

“That is rare for nowadays… it will be much more difficult to have him adopted now.” The woman shook her head sadly before looking back up at the detective. “Either way, he is no longer the responsibility of the police department. Thank you for watching over him Detective. I have him now.” 

Both parties nodded to one another before Detective Tsukauchi made his leave.

Chapter Text

Mochizuki Jin sighed and looked down at the child clutching her hand. He had grown taller and seemed relatively healthy - if a little underweight. It had been four years since little Midoriya had entered under the state’s care. Mochizuki had a lot of experience when it came to foster children but this child was definitely one of her more difficult cases. 

The little boy looked up at her when he heard the sigh. His wide eyes were a vibrant green and the freckles dusting his face gave him an innocent look. He smiled at her shyly before bowing his head and fiddling with the hem of his shirt with his unoccupied hand. 

“Midoriya-kun,” Mochizuki spoke gently as she knelt down to his level, “Are you ready to meet your new foster parents?”

The boy didn’t make eye contact and shrugged his shoulders. Mochizuki waited patiently for a verbal reply.

“W-Wh---” The boy stopped and looked down, trying desperately to find his voice. “What if th-they don’t l-like me?” He whispered.

“Why wouldn’t they like you Midoriya-kun?” Mochizuki replied.

“B-B-Because no one l-likes me…” The boy mumbled. “I’m… I’m n-not g-g-good.”

“You are good Midoriya-kun. Sometimes it just takes a little while to find the right fit.” Mochizuki knew that the child wouldn’t believe her. She didn’t blame him, either. Too many homes had come and gone in the short four years the boy had been without his mother. 

“M-Mochizuki-san… I d-d-don’t th-think that’s true. I th-think I’m just n-not…” The little child trailed off again, tears brimming his bright eyes. “Th-This will be the s-s-seventh home, M-Mochizuki-san. Am I d-doing something wr-wrong? I’m n-not running away anymore… You s-said that w-would make them w-want me more.”

Mochizuki’s heart broke a little at his words. He was right, of course. Seven homes in four years was uncommon - especially for children so young. The boy was relatively well behaved. He was quiet and showed good manners. He made good grades in school and worked hard to get along well with others. 

Migoriya’s problems with staying in a home had been varied but ultimately came down to one factor - the child was different . 

The first and most obvious issue was that Midoriya was quirkless. In the current society, it was extremely rare for a child to be born quirkless. Even though only 80% of the world had quirks, most of the quirkless were elderly. In fact, only 1 in every 100,000 children were born Quirkless in the current generation and that number was dropping every year. 

On top of that, Midoriya had visible signs of the psychological trauma incurred by his past. The child rarely spoke and when he did, his stutter made him difficult to understand. He cried at the drop of the hat and often struggled to calm himself down. He flinched away from most physical touch and would melt down if he was snuck up upon from behind. He had an extreme but understandable fear of fire as well as intense claustrophobia. He also was hesitant around adult men and would take at least a few months to warm up to them. At least he wasn’t running away anymore. In the first three homes, Midoriya would run away when any sort of argument would occur. He always came back a few hours later but it was stressful nonetheless. It was a pity that these incidents were now permanently on his record. 

Foster parents did not like these issues. One of the hardest parts of Mochizuki’s job was finding foster parents for those in her charge. Japan heavily encouraged the foster to adopt programs for orphaned children under the age of thirteen. Unfortunately, most parents refused quirkless children right away. If Mochizuki was able to find some that would accept a quirkless child, less than half would allow Midoriya to be their ward - mostly due to his multitude of negative blemishes on his record. If they did take Midoriya in, it was only a matter of time before his other ‘issues’ became too much for the parents. A perfect example of this being his previous household. 

Mochizuki received the call at 18:43 the previous night. 

Amano-san was clearly flustered through the phone, her voice tense. 

“I don’t think that this child is the right fit for us, Mochizuki-san. He- He just won’t open up. He’s been here for five months and hasn’t spoken to Haruto at all.” Haruto was the husband, Mochizuki had mentally reminded herself, “He cries constantly but refuses to come to us for comfort. I know that he has trust issues but I’m afraid we are hurting him more than helping.”

“That is very common for a child who has been in his situation. We spoke about this before you agreed to take him on.”

“I know. I know we did. It’s just…” The line was silent for a moment, “Do you know that he is being picked on at school again? This is the second school that I have transferred him to since he has been living with us. The other children refuse to accept him. He hasn’t made any friends. The teachers have been informed about his past but still struggle with him. They can’t handle his breakdowns. They think he is actually just doing some of these behavioral things for attention and I… I’m starting to believe them…” The last part was whispered and Mochizuki could tell that the woman on the other line was now quietly crying.

“Amano-san,” Mochizuki had interrupted, “It has only been five months. He may just need a little more ti-”

“No. You aren’t understanding. This child is terrified. I’ve been stopped by two pro hero’s on separate occasions while out shopping due to his behavior in the past week. It is obvious they think that we are the ones abusing him. What will I do if the child lies just to get away? I will never have another chance at adopting. Mochizuki-san, all I want is a baby that I can call my own. But I want that baby to want me too. I can’t force this child to stay in a place where he obviously isn’t happy nor can I chance the idea that he may ruin my chance at a family. So please, Mochizuki-san. Please just come pick him up. I’m sorry.” 

The call had pretty much ended there. Mochizuki had told Amano-san that she would pick Midoriya-kun up the next morning. 

“Midoriya-kun,” Mochizuki began after a moment to think, “I want you to do something for me this time, okay?” 

The small boy looked up into her eyes again, listening intently. 

“I want you to try your very very best to talk to your new guardians. I think it might help them get to know you better.” 

Midoriya nodded silently, 

“I also want you to try your best to not cry all the time. It is okay to be sad and scared but you are a big boy now. Big boys shouldn’t cry that much. Do you see heroes crying on TV?” 

Midoriya shook his head. “No… H-Heroes are st-strong.”

“That’s right Midoriya-kun. All Might is your favorite hero right?”

The small boy nodded.

“Then I want you to try to act how All Might does whenever you feel like you are about to cry. Do you want to practice?”

The young child wiped his eyes and gave a wobbly smile to Mochizuki. “A-A-All Might always s-smiles.”

“That’s right. Very good, Midoriya-kun. Now, do you want to knock on the door or do you want me to?”

“A-All Might would kn-knock. So I w-w-w-will.” With that, a tiny, trembling fist gently tapped three times, and Midoriya was introduced to his seventh set of foster parents.

Izuku knew that he had to make this home work. Even if Mochizuki-san tried to hide it from him, Izuku had overheard her talking with her boss. After this home, he would be shipped off to a group home or an orphanage. Most likely the latter due to his young age. No one else would take him. This was his last option. So Izuku had to try his best. 

The Okabe household was very similar to his previous homes at first. They welcomed Izuku with open arms and cheerful smiles on their faces. Izuku tried really hard to return their smiles and conversation. Really, he did! It was just hard to talk sometimes when he met new people. 

His throat became dry and a heavy lump settled in its base. His mouth would clamp shut and even when he did his best to make a sound, nothing would come out. 

The Okabe couple didn’t mind at first - no one ever minded at first. They let Izuku stay in his new room and didn’t push him hard. Izuku appreciated that. Okabe Mai - his foster mom - wasn’t difficult to speak to. The mothers never were. Izuku was able to speak to her within two days. Eventually, after about two weeks of trying really hard, Izuku was able to get out a ‘good-morning’ to Okabe Daichi - the man of the house. He felt pride when Daichi-san smiled happily at him over his paper. 

In all honesty, Izuku thought that maybe this might actually work out this time. At least he did at first. 

A month in, something changed. Or maybe, Izuku had changed. He had dropped his glass of milk when a loud noise sounded from outside. Izuku didn’t mean to. He didn’t want to cause problems.

Mai-san had been stressed out that day. Izuku thought it might have been his fault. He was probably being a hassle again. Izuku knew it was his fault when he saw the look on Mai-san’s face after the glass shattered. 

“I-I-I’m s-sorry.” Izuku stammered out. He reached for the paper towels and carefully started cleaning up the mess - weary of the sharp glass that he was moving into a pile. 

“You need to learn to not be so clumsy, Izu-chan.” Although the words weren’t mean, Mai-sans tone was cold. He has never heard her like this before. Izuku didn’t know how to respond so he just apologized again. Mai-chan told him to go to his room. She would clean it up before anything else was broken. 

From then on, Izuku wasn’t allowed to use any big-boy cups. He was given a sippy cup with a lid. He hadn’t used a sippy cup since before he still lived with mama. Yet, here he was, eight years old and being treated like a toddler. The kids at school though it was funny when he even got a sippy cup in his lunch box. He came home with a few bruises after that. 

A few weeks later, Izuku had been outside. When he came in, mud was tracked into the foyer. Mai-san told Daichi-san about it over dinner and it was decided that his punishment would be no outside time for a week. Izuku didn’t mind too much but it was really hard to not do anything else wrong when he just wanted to move . It had always been hard to stay still but this punishment made it a lot harder.

Izuku still struggled to talk clearly. He was getting better slowly but Mai-san would get frustrated with him when he couldn’t just ‘spit it out already’. The first time he cried because of his frustration, Mai-san had slapped him across the face and told him to go to his room. But it was okay, because she came in a little later to apologize. She was just ‘overwhelmed’. She didn’t mean it. Daddy never apologized. Izuku should just try harder to not cry. 

Daichi-san was a good person but he didn’t tolerate disorder. When Izuku left his school book on the kitchen counter, Daichi-san threw it in the garbage can.

“If you don’t put it away, then I will assume it is trash.” He had told Izuku. Izuku got in trouble with his teacher the next day for not having his homework. When Izuku took a bathroom break while playing with his All Might action figure that mama had gotten him (he was glad he took it with him the night of the fire since it didn’t burn up like everything else), he left it on the couch. Daichi was upset with him and took the toy away. Izuku never got it back. 

Around the six month mark, Izuku’s class figured out that he was quirkless. Izuku had tried to keep it secret but that can only happen for so long. Izuku started coming home with more injuries. They made Mai-san and Daichi-san sad. They told him that he had to stand up for himself. They told him that it was obviously his fault if he got hurt when the other kids hit him. If he just tried harder. If he was just better . 

When Izuku ended up in the hospital after being pushed and hitting his head really hard, Daichi -san decided to send him to a new elementary school. Kacchan was there. But Kacchan wasn’t like he used to be. Kacchan found out that Izuku was quirkless. Izuku became Deku. Deku started to realize that he really was just useless. 

Daichi-san and Mai-san were not bad people. They let him take some self defense classes when he moved to Kacchan’s school. Izuku practiced really hard to make Daichi-san and Mai-san proud of him. Daichi-san said he made it really far in karate when he was little. Izuku prefered Judo moves so Daichi-san let him take a mix martial arts class to help with his confidence. When Izuku was hugged from behind in one of the classes, he messed everything up. He tried really hard to smile like All Might but his chest had squeezed up. He could feel his skin burning even though nothing was actually happening. Daichi-san was not happy to have to put him in individual classes and ultimately stopped taking Izuku at all. Instead, Daichi tried to teach Izuku at home. Daichi wasn’t the most patient teacher. 

Izuku did his best to follow all the rules but would mess up sometimes. Each time, the punishments got worse or would last longer. Izuku knew he probably deserved it. 

The first time Mai-san hit Izuku without prompting, he had just turned ten. By the end of the year, Daichi san had also started hitting Izuku as well. 

One day, after both Mai-san and Daichi-san had kicked him around a little, something snapped inside Izuku’s brain. 

He wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. He was only aware that he had fought back and managed to get out. Izuku never fought back before. Was he bad now? Was he a villain for hitting the people who had so kindly taken him in? 

Mai-san and Daichi-san probably never wanted to see him again. They were going to give him up. He would end up in the group home or the orphanage and not be cared for anymore. Did he deserve to be cared for though? He had caused so much trouble to everyone around him. Maybe it was better if he just disappeared. Maybe… Maybe it would be better if he just didn’t go back.

So he didn’t. 

Chapter Text

It took three weeks for missing person’s posters to appear around town for Izuku. The news talked about his case for about three days. It didn’t take too long for everyone to forget that he existed after that. 

It was really hard at first. Izuku didn’t know where he would sleep. He didn’t know where to find food. He was filthy and hadn’t showered in what seemed like forever. But, this is what he deserved. 

Eventually, things became a little easier for the eleven year old. Izuku had found a few hiding places that would provide a few hours of sleep. He learned to scavenge for food behind restaurants and he would wash himself off the best he could in the river at the park nearby. Izuku could do this. This way, he wouldn’t be a burden to anyone. Even if Izuku was worthless, it was better than being a burden. 

The biggest problem that Izuku faced didn’t appear until after he had settled into this new routine. You see… Izuku was bored.

He didn’t go to school anymore and his mind was aching to gather information. He had always been good at analyzing things. He was constantly searching for new things to learn and this monotonous lack of information was driving him up the wall. 

He needed stimulation. He needed to learn. 

So Izuku became a regular at the local library. It wasn’t hard to trick the receptionist. The best lies always held some truth after all.

“I’m quirkless so mama thought it would be best to homeschool me. I’ll be reading and doing school work while she is working during the week. I promise not to cause any trouble.” he had told the lady when she questioned him. The woman had accepted his tale and left him alone after that. It was easy to make people leave you alone when they found out you were u̶s̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ harmless. 

Izuku read everything he could. He started with the more fun books like manga and fantasy novels but quickly figured that he should be doing something more useful with his time. Every week, he would choose a subject to study. Maths, Science, Literature, English, technology, engineering, quirk studies, etc. It wasn’t too hard to teach himself. There were a few road bumps where he would have to ask for permission to use the computer to understand a concept, but overall, Izuku did pretty well by himself. 

Izuku took an old practice test at the end of the school year to see if he was advancing. The library held previous copies to help kids study. Izuku did well and altered his education plan to further encompass the subjects he struggled with. 

Izuku had been living on his own for about eight months when it happened. He had been walking around the back of the restaurant he liked to visit when he heard the woman scream. His body froze and his ears strained to pick up more noise. 

Another scream. 

Izuku ran. 

Towards it.

'This is a stupid idea' he thought to himself.

The woman was being attacked by a relatively short and stocky man. His features were covered up by an oversized hoodie. The man was running his hands up the woman’s shirt and attempting to pull down her skirt. The woman was trying to fight back but her arms were glued to the wall she was leaning against with some type of brown substance. Izuku reacted before he could think. 

The man was lying on the ground in an instant, having been pushed over by the relatively small boy. Izuku scrambled to help the woman out of the substance but was tackled to the ground by the man. 

“That is my prey!” the man snarled. His face inches from Izuku’s. The man had pincers for his nose and mouth. His eyes were black bulges and the brown substance dripped from his face. 

Izuku tried to kick the man off but he wasn’t strong enough. He glanced at the woman to see if she was okay and was glad that she was still struggling to get out. She continued to scream for help while Izuku was punched a few times by the bug-man. 

Izuku tried to scream too but his throat had closed up, his chest had tightened, and his mouth had clamped closed again. Damn it. Sometimes he really hated his selective mutism. Screw anyone who said it was a choice to not talk. 

It didn’t matter though, because within only a few seconds, white bandage wrapped around the bug man, relieving Izuku of his weight. 

Izuku slowly sat up to find the man tied tightly, unable to escape from the bindings. A tall man with stringy black hair was checking on the woman. The man turned to Izuku once he assured that the woman was okay. 

“Hey kid. That was a really stupid stunt you pulled just then.” the man grumbled. 

Izuku did his best to open his mouth but no sound came out. He decided to nod to show that he had heard. 

“You okay, kid?” The man asked as he knelt down to inspect Izuku. The man didn’t touch him, which Izuku was grateful for at that moment. “Kid?”

Izuku looked up at the man, meeting his eyes for a second before looking away. He couldn’t cry. He had to be like All Might. A wobbly smile graced his lips to show the man that he was fine. The man didn’t seem convinced. 

It had been a long night already. The school day had seemed to drag on as his class acted up. He swore that these kids purposefully wasted his time. He couldn’t even catch any sleep due to their insistence at making noise. Then, he had the graveyard shift for patrol. It was quiet which just made Eraserhead more tired. Having been awake for 72 hours was no easy feet. Curse his insomnia. Just as he was about to start running laps to help wake up, he had heard the scream. 

In an instant, Eraserhead had taken off towards the noise. As he got closer, he saw a small figure run headfirst at the man who was seemingly attacking the screaming woman. The kid landed a solid hit on the man before being overpowered. The man was beating the kid shitless, yelling about his prey when Eraserhead was finally close enough to wrap him in his capture weapon. 

The woman was fine but stuck to the wall. Eraserhead assured her that everything was safe and showed his hero license as proof. She was shaken but unhurt. A quick call to the police later and then Eraser turned towards the kid who was just now sitting up slowly. At some point during his phone call with the police, the woman had lost consciousness, probably from shock and exhaustion. He checked her over again but couldn’t do much with her glued to a wall. There was still another victim to handle as well. 

The kid must have been only twelve at the most. He was small and skinny and purple bruises were already forming on the kids right eye and jaw. 

Eraser tried to assure that the kid was okay - and to tell the kid that he was an idiot - but the kid did not make a sound or look up in his direction. 

“Kid?” He asked as he knelt down to be eye-level with the child. Maybe the beating had been worse than it looked. Maybe the kid was concussed or in shock. 

The boy finally looked up and made eye contact, a pitiful smile gracing his lips. It set Eraserhead on edge a bit - though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why. 

“You okay kid? I’ve got police on the way. Do you need an ambulance?”

The boy shook his head violently, his eyes going wide as he started to back away from Eraserhead. 

“Okay. Okay. No ambulance. Fine.” Eraserhead grumbled something under his breath about stupid brats but then began looking over the boy once more. “I need to make sure you aren’t concussed. Come here and look into this light.”

The boy stopped moving away and allowed Eraserhead to shine the light in his eyes. When Eraserhead went to tilt the child’s head to the side to inspect his injuries, the child flinched back. 

“I’m not gonna hurt you, kid.” Eraserhead sighed. “I’m a hero.” 

The kid nodded slowly but still backed up when Eraserhead moved towards him again. This was getting ridiculous. 

“Can you talk?” 

A nod. 

“Why aren’t you?”

The kid shrugged his shoulders.

“Can you sign?”

The kid shook his head.

“Well… I’m gonna need you to answer some questions and so are the police so we will need to figure this talking thing out.”

The kid panicked again and stumbled to stand. Eraserhead grabbed him by the arm before he could run. The kid froze and his legs buckled as he yanked his arm out of Eraserhead’s grasp. Eraserhead pinched the bridge of his nose. 

This kid was obviously abused. Eraserhead had seen too many victims to not know the signs. He would need to tread lightly. This was not his forte. 

The kid slowly pulled his tattered bag from behind his back and took out some used paper and a pencil. He wrote something quickly and passed it to the hero. 

‘ I’m sorry.’

“You don’t have to apologize kid.” Eraserhead sighed again. How many times had he done that in the last few minutes? The kid took the paper back and scribbled more words.

‘ I’m a selective mute. I can’t help it. I’m sorry.’

“That’s fine kid. Are you hurt? Other than the obvious?”

‘ I’m fine.’ Eraserhead must have given the kid a look because the kid quickly began writing again. ‘ Really! Just a little pain in my face but that’s probably from being punched. Thank you for helping us Eraserhead.’

“No problem… it’s my job.” Eraserhead paused for a moment and looked at the kid again. “How’d you know my name? I only showed my license to that woman.” He tilted his head towards the woman who was still stuck to the wall. She was still unconscious. 

The kid smiled for real this time and pulled a separate notebook from his bag. It was old and most of the pages had been pulled out but it seemed well cared for beyond that. The kid flipped to a page and showed the hero. 

Pro-Hero: Eraserhead

True Name: Unknown

Status: Underground Hero

Rank: Undocumented 

Age: Unknown

Quirk: Erase. Can erase the quirk of anyone he looks at. Unknown time limit. 

Support Gear: ...

The page went on for a while. It listed basic information and some details were scribbled in - most of it accurate. A detailed drawing of his hero costume was also supplied. The page was about half full. Eraserhead flipped a few pages and found other heroes written in. Most of the others had more information than his page but they were also more well known and stood in the spotlight more often. Eraserhead returned the book to the kid. 

“That’s pretty impressive. You like heroes?” The kid nodded. “Well, good. You’re probably gonna be spending the rest of the night with one.” The kids eyes went wide again and he shook his head, scribbling once more. 

‘ I’m okay, honest. I’ll answer your questions about the attack but then I really gotta go. ’

Eraserhead thought for a moment. “Okay. I’ll take you home once we are done here then.”

The boy grimaced. His hand hesitating over the page. 

‘ You don’t have to. I know my way.’

“It’s my job to make sure you’re safe. You shouldn’t have even been out so late in the first place. Don’t you have school tomorrow? What are you, ten, eleven?”

‘I’m eleven. And I’m homeschooled so it’s fine.’

For the first time in the conversation, the child gave Eraserhead a petulant look. 

‘What questions do you have? I’ll answer and then I’ll leave.’

“The police will be here in a moment. You can talk to them. 

‘I’m not stupid and I know you aren’t either. I’m not talking to any police.’

“Tough luck, brat.”

The boy stood up then and took a few steps back from the hero. His eyes narrowing in distrust. 

“N-No.” The boy spoke for the first time. 

“No?”

“I-I’m not g-g-gonna.” 

“You don’t have much of a choice.”

The kid scribbled once more in his notebook. Then, the sirens sounded in the nearby alleyway. Eraserhead looked up and then behind himself towards the noise. When he turned around, the kid was sprinting away. Eraserhead moved to go after the kid when he realized he couldn’t just leave the woman and villain here. He groaned and then noticed a ripped piece of paper lying on the ground. 

‘Thank you for helping. You don’t need to worry about me though. I won’t be stupid again.’

Below the note were basic details of what happened for the police to write in their notes. Eraserhead could have kicked himself for letting the brat get away. 

Izuku was screwed if the police figured out who he was. He couldn’t go back in the system. He couldn’t be a burden anymore. So he ran. Again. 

He knew he was probably still causing trouble for Eraserhead - even if it was just extra paperwork - but in the end, he was being much less of a hassle this way.

Chapter Text

Izuku didn’t have any issues with the police in the following week. Eraserhead was also nowhere to be found. He continued on in his daily routine.

It was three days after the attack that Izuku started learning sign language. Eraserhead had a point. If he couldn’t speak, it would be helpful to at least have some form of communication other than pen and paper. Most pro heroes were required to know sign language in order to help people on the job or communicate with one another in silence during a sting operation. It wasn’t hard to find free classes being offered and supplemental books and videos to aid in his new endeavor. 

During his second JSL class, Izuku learned of some free self defense classes as well. One good thing about this part of town was that there were plenty of free services in place to try and help the community. Heroes couldn’t be everywhere. So the country did its best to supply the less fortunate areas.

By Izuku’s thirteenth birthday, he was relatively fluent in JSL and had become significantly better at his self defense lessons. 

He would be lying if he said that he hadn’t caused anymore trouble. But, it was to be expected in this part of town. Especially when you lived on the street. He was lucky enough to not be caught by any pro’s but he knew his luck would run out soon. 

Izuku didn’t purposefully go looking for fights. Really, he didn’t. They just had a way of happening when he was around. Izuku could not stand by when someone was in need. And now… Now he could actually help a little bit. He was useless in everything he did but at least… when someone could be helped… 

He had managed to save a few people. Simple robberies, attempted rapes, gang fights gone wrong. It was common stuff that was often left unnoticed in this part of town. Some of the people he had helped had asked for a name and the only thing Izuku could think of was Deku. So eventually… Deku became more well known. 

Deku was stronger than Izuku was. Deku helped people. Deku was a hero. It only took two more incidents after his meeting with Eraserhead for Izuku to start carrying around a mask, tinted goggles, and a hoodie. He didn’t want to be caught after all. In the end, what he was doing was ultimately illegal. He was fighting bad guys when he should have been calling the police. He was involving himself in trouble. Even if he wasn’t using a quirk - he was still doing hero work illegally. 

Izuku tried not to think about it that way. It wasn’t like he could ever become a real hero - being quirkless. He had too many other issues anyway. So, he just did his best. It couldn’t be bad to want to help people, right? And this way, he stayed out of the way. This way… he was actually doing something worth while. Or at least, Deku was. 

After all, Izuku wasn’t the one who went looking for fights - that was Deku. 

If Deku was in a normal situation, he would be starting to study for high school entrance exams right now. But he wasn’t. Instead, he was crouched on the roof of a corner store. Waiting. Listening. 

He had gotten a tip that some drug deal was going down in the alley below. By gotten a tip, he meant he eavesdropped as Izuku. But that was beside the point. Deku worked hard to stop the spread of drug use here. He didn’t know if he was actually doing a good job but it appeared that fewer drug-related deaths were occurring in his territory. That was a gold star in Deku’s mind. 

Three men walked into the alley-way below. Deku thought he saw a flash of silver on one of the men’s hips. A gun. Shit.

Deku took out the knives he had scavenged and tied a clear string to the end of a few. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do. Deku waited patiently for a few more minutes. 

A nervous looking person stumbled into the alley, shyly greeting the three thugs who were already present. Deku knew this man. Saichu-san. He was a heavy user who struggled to pay his debts. Deku groaned quietly and rolled his eyes when he saw him. That idiot. He had promised to go clean the last time that Deku had to save his ass. 

Deku didn’t really blame him though. Saichu-san used to ease his quirk. Saichu-san had a quirk dubbed ‘Share’. Any person he touched would immediately share any pain they felt with Saichu. It wasn’t able to be turned off. The pain that Saichu experienced from other people lasted anywhere from a day to two years, depending upon the severity of the person's pain. If he wanted, he could share his own pain as well, but that also required touch and would essentially just increase his own amount of pain so he didn’t bother. He couldn’t afford quirk suppressant drugs that some people used to ease the pain that some quirks could cause. Thus - the drugs. 

Deku couldn’t quite hear the whispered conversation occuring between the four people but he understood the process. Saichu-san handed over a small wad of cash and curled in on himself a bit when his hand accidentally brushed one of the thugs hands. The man didn’t notice and started to count the money immediately. 

“You’re short.” The words were the first clear piece of conversation that Deku had heard. Saichu-san mumbled something and put his hands up in a show of peace and submission but this only caused the other three to laugh. Deku inched closer to try and gain more information. Maybe he should look into getting an enhanced hearing aid so that he could amplify the sounds and hopefully hear conversations better. 

“-oss said… 200,000Yen or el...”

“I promise to have the rest by tomorrow.” Saichu-sans voice was a high squeak.

“There won’t be a next time Saichu-san.” the only man who had yet to speak - the one with the gun - stated clearly. Before Saichu-san had a moment to reply, the gun was pulled and a shot rang out. 

Deku almost hadn’t reacted in time. Luckily he had understood the tone of voice that the man spoke with. Deku was good at understanding people. He analyzed situations, quirks, people, and anything else he could on an almost constant basis. He was already skilled before his time on the streets but his ability had enhanced exponentially since. It was forced to. 

Deku had thrown the knife tied to the string quickly, hitting his target with practiced ease. The knife pinged against the gun, causing it to fly from the man’s hand. Deku pulled the string and his knife came flying back quickly. He couldn’t lose one of his only weapons, after all. 

The three men froze when they realized what had happened and began looking around warily. 

‘Run ’ Deku thought urgently towards Saichu-san. The man didn’t move. Deku could have punched him for his stupidity. 

Deku could hold his own in a fight but he wasn’t stupid. Three grown men who most likely had quirks against a malnourished and quirkless teenager were not good odds. It didn’t matter that Deku probably had more training and fighting experience - if he had to fight, an injury was pretty much guaranteed. 

One of the men seemed to get the idea that Saichu-san was the one who had stopped the gun. The man’s shoulders squared and he took a defensive stance.

“That wasn’t a smart move, dumbass.” He called towards Saichu-san. This man was blonde and had an overall buff appearance. He seemed to be the muscle. He most certainly wasn’t the brains. This became obvious when the man took off his jacket and shoes, revealing gorilla-esk arms, hands, and feet. His muscles bulged and he went after Saichu-san. 

Deku threw another knife, this time letting it stick to the opposing wall. The gorilla-man clotheslined the nearly invisible string and landed on his ass. 

“The fuck?” The man who collected the money called out. “What the hell is your quirk?” Saichu-san shook his head as he finally started backing out of the alley. 

“I-It wasn’t me! I swear!” 

The money collector snorted and then started to move toward Saichu-san as well. He was more cautious than his friend. The man placed his hand on the wall of the building and suddenly the alley-way was closed off to the street. 

Brick or stone manipulation? A weak form of reality alteration?

Deku grit his teeth as he thought through a way to get Saichu-san out of the situation without getting himself hurt. That moment of thought was short lived when the Gorilla-man stood again. 

Before he could stop himself, Deku was pushing Saichu-san out of the way of an incoming fist. Side-stepping the Gorilla, Deku took out the man’s feet with a swift sweep. Deku elbowed the man in the face to allow time for him to locate the pressure point on his neck. It was a new technique that he was learning and it only worked a portion of the time. If you didn’t hit the pressure point just right, nothing would happen. Deku seemed to luck out, however, and the Gorilla-man’s body slumped in relaxed unconsciousness. 

The man who had closed off the valley was on Deku’s back in an instant. His arms wrapping around the small boy in a choke hold. Deku froze for an instant as past traumas lit up in his mind but he shook his head quickly. He was Deku right now. Not Izuku. Deku didn’t have past trauma. Deku wasn’t around then. 

Deku leaned back, towards the man. This not only threw off the man’s balance but also allowed Deku to take a much needed breath. The small boy grappled at his own pockets, pulling another knife. He swung his arms up towards the man, making sure to only knick his cheek. 

If you aim a sharp weapon in the direction of someone’s eye, they are likely to let you go. 

The man stumbled back, cursing. 

“You’re Deku.” The man stated as he wiped his cheek of blood. Deku didn’t respond. “Our boss would love to have your head on a platter you little shit.” 

“I’m sure many drug dealers would like my head.” Deku replied hastily. No stutter present on his voice. Izuku was the one who stuttered. Not Deku.

The man dug into his pocket and threw a bunch of small objects at the ground. Deku jumped back out of the way. Small pieces of metal littered the cement. They were partially made cubes. Some had only two sides and others had three to four. They didn’t look like explosives, nor did they look sharp. Deku paused for a moment, confused as to their purpose. 

“Was that supposed to do something?” Deku asked after a moment. The unimpressive display being a little disappointing. 

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” The man lunged at Deku who dodged, only to fall to the ground, a sharp pain in his ankle. The partial cubes were moving. The unclosed edges connecting to other cubes. Two cubes now held Deku’s ankle trapped and connected to the wall. The tight grip bruising him almost immediately. 

“That… was actually really clever…” Deku praised. “Is this part of your quirk?”

The man threw a punch at Deku but he managed to duck and hit him in the stomach. 

“What is it? I thought it might have been brick or stone manipulation at first.” The man managed to slap Deku, the cubes releasing his ankle and causing him to fall. Deku rolled with his momentum and stood again, the pain in his ankle dulled by adrenaline. “But that doesn’t quite fit. You would be using the ally more if that were the case.” 

Another first aimed at him and once again he dodged, only to run head first into a metal plate that was connected with the wall. Ouch. 

“That wasn’t very nice.” Deku teased, rubbing his nose as he backed away from the man. “I think I’m starting to figure it out though. You can connect openings? Like the opening in between the buildings? Corner connection? But it seems to only work at 90 degree angles.” 

The man froze and then laughed. 

“So it’s true. You may be a brat but you’ve actually got some smarts. Pity it’ll be gone by the time I’m done with you!” The man yelled as he targeted Deku once again.

Deku jumped this time, using the walls of the buildings to jump around and over the thug. 

How to get out of this mess? What to do? He already called the police on his burner but they weren’t expecting the alley-way to be closed off. He needed to knock this guy out. Deku turned and lunged towards the man’s back, hand outstretched - hoping to grab his inner elbow. 

Then, pain exploded in the boy’s shoulder.

Shit. 

“The little bird forgot about me. How sad. I thought you were smart.” The third man - the gunman - swaggered over to Deku. His gun was back in his hand and he had it aimed carefully at Deku’s head. “Little Bird didn’t pay enough attention to his surroundings.” The corner-connecter grabbed Deku’s arms and held them behind his back. Deku squirmed in his grasp, crying out from the pain it caused his shoulder. 

“Not so tough now, are you Deku?” Corner-connector whispered in his ear. 

“Make sure he is secure, Hitch.” The gunman drawled. “We don’t want the little bird to fly away before we are done having our fun.” 

The corner-connecter - Hitch - obliged his companion. He used a few of his cubes to create make-shift handcuffs that bit into Deku’s skin and then connected him to the wall. Deku was left kneeling on the cement with his arms tied behind his back. This was bad. Deku was screwed. Izuku began coming to life in Deku’s mind. Tears began to burn in his eyes. His throat began closing up. 

“Little bird. Watch.” Deku looked up at the gunman’s words. 

The gunman pointed his gun at the cowering figure of Saichu-san who knelt in the corner - attempting to become small. Gunman cocked the gun and smiled down at Deku. 

“Wait!” Deku shouted out desperately. “You don’t have to kill him! I mean… your boss would be fine with just me, right? Why waste a bullet?” The plea was a long shot and the Gunman knew it. Saichu-san whimpered in the corner. 

“Oh? It is no waste. You see… I enjoy it. Looking at the beautiful holes that I can cause. Just look at this one.” The gunman knelt down and unzipped the hoodie Deku was wearing. He pulled the shirt aside and inspected the bullet wound in Deku’s left shoulder. “Isn’t it wonderful?” He cooed. 

“Sure.” Deku bit out. “If you’re a crazy lunatic, I’m sure that it looks delightful.”

The gunman chuckled. “I’m not so different from you, little bird. We are of the same ilk. We are both criminals. I just have more fun with my time.” The gunman stuck his finger in the bullet hole. 

Deku screamed. 

“We got a call that there was a drug deal going down in an alley nearby. He has never been wrong before. Hopefully, he has stuck around so we can finally stop him. Helpful or not, vigilantism is illegal.” Detective Tsukauchi spoke with Eraserhead. 

The detective had been on the case of the vigilante Deku for only three months, but the illegal hero had made an impact on the man. The vigilante had become a relatively well-known name in the area. His territory spanned about twenty blocks and crime rates had plummeted. Or at least - deaths from crimes had. The vigilante never left anyone more injured than necessary - the worst being a few broken legs, shallow stab wounds, and the very common concussion from being knocked out. There were never any life-threatening injuries to any of his victims. 

The vigilante had apparently been around for a while but his debut was unknown - or the citizens in the area refused to tell the cops, anyway. Law enforcement was not trusted here. In fact, the few people they had managed to talk to about Deku were on his side. Even some of the villains he had captured. He only targeted small time criminals. The vigilante rarely went into a situation that he struggled with. His goal seemed to be making the streets as safe as he could. In all honesty, he wasn’t doing half bad. With the underground heroes working on the larger issues in the area, Deku helped them by taking care of the lesser crimes that often took up the heros’ time. What the vigilante was doing was still illegal, though. He had to be stopped and taken in. 

The vigilante was most likely male but his slim figure caused doubt. Those who told of the vigilante firmly believed he was a young adult - early twenties most likely. However, he was tiny. Most likely an effect of his quirk. 

His quirk, in fact, was still a mystery. It was debated as to whether it was a stealth type quirk or a mental one - either way it wasn’t flashy. But in the end, it’s better to be underestimated when working on this side of town. 

“I’ll search from above and see if we are missing anything.” Eraserhead told him before taking off, up toward the roof of the building. 

The detective notified his fellows and continued searching the area on foot. 

A gunshot sounded from afar, making the detective jump. He rushed towards the sound quickly, pulling his own gun in the process. 

Eraserhead was jumping the roofs of buildings on the western side of the territory - searching for any unusual activity when he heard the gun go off. The sound seemed to come from the opposing side of the radius and Eraserhead sprinted in that direction - praying he wouldn’t be too late. 

As he neared the area - a scream echoed in the air, pinpointing Eraserhead to the correct alley. The narrow gap between buildings had been closed off leaving a narrow hallway filled with 5 people. 

One cowered in the corner, closest to the road. He seemed unharmed but afraid. A large man lied a few feet away, knocked out most likely. Eraserhead wasn’t overly concerned about those two. No, it was the other three that drew his focus. 

A petite figure was knelt on the ground, his arms held securely behind his back by some type of metal attached to the wall. A man stood to the side, grinning at the captive as the one kneeling in front of the small form dug his finger into what looked to be a shoulder wound. Bullet induced, most likely. 

The man to the side was lighting a cigarette and the small form was tense  - eyeing the flame of the small lighter. It was odd considering the amount of pain he must be feeling from the man irritating his wound. 

The crouched man who was still twisting his finger in the bullet wound seemed to notice and motioned for the other to pass over the lighter. 

“Little Bird. Are you afraid of your feathers getting burned?” The man lilted. He clicked the lighter on and the captive - who Eraserhead was pretty sure must be the vigilante Deku - winced and tried to back away. 

“Ha! How pitiful! How the hell did someone so weak cause such distress to the boss? We took him down like it was nothing!” The standing man laughed.

“Shut it, Hitch. I’m trying to enjoy myself.” Said the kneeling man. Hitch grunted and rolled his eyes, turning towards the man cowering in the corner. 

“Fine. Then I’ll go play with Saichu-san while I wait for you to finish.”

“N-No!” The vigilante called out. “Leave him alone. He said he would pay you back. Just give him a chance!” The voice sounded young. Eraserhead tucked that away to be investigated later. 

“Little Bird. Who are you to be worrying about someone else when you are in such a position?” The lighter was moved closer to the vigilante boy’s face. The child backed away as much as he could. “You always wear that mask. I wonder if it’s fireproof. What a fun way to find out who you really are.” 

Before the lighter could reach the cloth, Eraserhead acted. His capture weapon springing into action, his quirk activating. In a matter of seconds, the two aggressors were wrapped up, the one called Hitch having lost consciousness when his head hit the ground after the capture weapon was used on him. The wall closing off the alley disappeared and the boy fell forward, his bindings released. 

“If you move,” Eraserhead called out to the child below, “I’m gonna get pissed.” 

Chapter Text

Deku was saved. He was also in a world of trouble. Of course it had to be Eraserhead to come to his rescue. Why couldn’t it be someone who owed him a favor. Or another vigilante? Why was the world so fucking cruel at times. 

“Not like I really have the choice to move or not Eraser.” Deku called back. Deku would have sworn Eraserhead rolled his eyes - even beyond his goggles. 

The pro-hero put a hand to his ear and murmured something - most likely speaking through an ear piece - and then jumped down. 

“The hell happened?” Eraserhead drawled.

“Saichu-san over there was being an idiot and trying to cheat drug-dealers of their money. Then he was an even bigger idiot when he didn’t take his chance to run.” Deku said this all in the direction of the still cowering man. 

“I-I’m sorry, Deku. I’m sorry. I know I promised and…”

“Yah, yah. I get it. Just run the next time there is a distraction. Don’t just fucking stand there in awe. I’m good but I’m not worth risking your life to watch.” 

“You shouldn’t be risking your life either.” Eraserhead said. “You aren’t licensed. Doing this work is illegal.” 

Deku didn’t respond.

At that moment Detective Tsukauchi appeared in the entrance of the alley with a handful of cops. 

“You caught them, Eraserhead! Thank you.” the detective walked towards Deku and Eraser whilst the other cops began handcuffing the other four in the alley-way. The detective stopped and crouched down to be on level with Deku. “I’ve been searching for you, Deku. You’ve become pretty popular around here.”

Deku snorted and rolled his eyes, though his tinted goggles covered it. 

“Hm. You look a lot younger than what the reports have been saying.”

“He sounds younger too.” Eraserhead supplied. “I’d put him as a young teen based on his voice.” Detective Tsukauchi jolted in surprise and then peered curiously at Deku.

“You take my mask off and I will bite you.” Deku spat out when Detective Tsukauchi moved his hand toward his face. The detective was smart enough to back off at that statement.

“Don’t be a pain, brat. The detective needs to know who you are - especially if you are under age. He will either do so here or at the precinct. Either way, you’re found out. Don’t fight us.”

“Who said anything about going to the precinct?” Deku questioned. “I’m just hanging around until I see a chance to escape. You put me in any of your squad cars and you won’t see me by the time we arrive at the station.” 

“Is that your quirk? Can you teleport or something?” the detective questioned. 

“No. I’m just really good at picking locks.” Deku supplied, not caring if they believed him or not. Deku’s shoulder was starting to really pound and the uncomfortable sticky liquid seeping into his clothes was becoming a nuisance. 

“Let me check out your shoulder.” Eraserhead said as he also knelt down next to the detective. 

“I’m fine.”

“Bullshit.”

Eraserhead went to inspect the wound but Deku grabbed his arm in a death grip.

“Do I need to spell it out Eraserhead? Don’t fucking touch me or my stuff. I’ll be fine. I always am.” Deku refused to let go of Eraserheads arm until he answered. 

“Fine.” the older man conceded after a moment. “At least use this to apply pressure. You look like you are bleeding a lot.” Eraserhead took some gauze out of his pack and passed it to Deku who did as he was told. 

“Sir.” One of the policemen spoke to Detective Tsukauchi. “We have secured the scene and are ready to transport the villains.”

The detective nodded and then turned back to Deku. 

“You need to come with us. Eraser and I weren’t lying about you coming to the precinct.”

“Am I under arrest Detective-san?” Deku asked quietly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You have broken the law, kid.” Eraserhead supplied. “Multiple times according to the detective.

“I’ve broken the law by helping people?” Deku questioned. 

“Vigilantism is illegal, Deku. You are smart. You should know that.”

“Even if I never used a quirk?” That made the two men in front of him pause.

“You never used a quirk?” The detective asked uncertainly. 

“Never had to use it.” Deku supplied. “If you can’t prove that I used a quirk, am I still under arrest Detective-san?”

“W-Well… No. But you are still needed for questioning.” 

“Ah. Okay. Well I guess that is fine then. Let’s go.” Deku got up from his spot on the floor slowly. Weary of his injury. 

Eraserhead was immediately on high alert. There was no way this kid was going to come willingly. The kid was up to something. A moment later, his theory paid true.

As the boy stood, a few things fell from his pocket. Two small balls rolled to the ground - one shot out a bright light, blinding both the hero and the pro and the other let off a cloud of smoke that burned the eyes of everyone in the vicinity. Eraserhead immediately went to higher ground to scout for the boy. The kid was an idiot if he thought Eraser wouldn’t be able to catch him running off after such a petty trick. However, the kid was nowhere to be found. 

As Deku trudged through the sewers he was mentally scolding himself. He had gotten caught. He had used some of his only defensive weapon on the ‘good guys’ and had now managed to reveal one of his escape routes. He would never be able to use the pipes again if Eraserhead found him in the future. 

His shoulder ached with each step and slow tears slid down his face as he slowly began transitioning from his Deku persona to his Izuku persona. It hurt, okay, and that usually meant Izuku would quickly rise to the surface. And it wasn’t like he could very well go to a hospital. Thirteen year olds don’t just show up with gunshot wounds without being questioned. It would be a long couple of days while his body attempted to heal. Thank god he wasn’t hit anywhere more detrimental. Thank god the shot went all the way through too. Pulling out a bullet on your own was never a fun task. Deku knew this - he had done it before when he had been shot in the leg a few months ago. 

Fucking villains and there fucking illegal guns. 

Fucking druggies. 

Fucking cops. 

Fucking Eraserhead. 

Fucking Deku.

So useless. 

And there he was. Izuku was back in charge. 

The healing process for his shoulder was a nightmare. It became infected within a few days and a fever spiked in the young boy’s body. He was unable to really fend for himself much and ultimately just slept through the process. Izuku later thought that he was lucky he didn’t die. Maybe some deity was looking out for him after all. 

Izuku - or Deku rather - may as well have just given that deity the middle finger as he went right back to his vigilantism the moment his body allowed him to. 

The first night was relatively quiet and Deku soon went about searching for food. It had been a while since he had found anything worth while to eat and his body was still weak from the fever he had had only a few days before. Most of the restaurants around now kept a lock on the garbage cans to discourage scavengers but Deku didn’t let that stop him from picking the lock and taking a look. He was digging through his third bag when he felt the presence behind him.

“What are you doing?” Eraserhead asked calmly. Deku tensed as he analyzed the pro hero in front of him. Eraserhead was calm and his hands were no where near his capture weapon. Deku didn’t let that keep him from being on guard. 

The small boy slowly backed out of the dumpster, a mostly eaten sandwich and half a bag of chips cupped in his hands.

“Getting dinner.” He replied slowly. “Nothing illegal.”

Eraserhead cocked an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure picking the lock to privately owned dumpsters is illegal.” He said. 

“Well… it shouldn’t be. If I eat it here or go to the dump, what’s the difference when the thrown away food is eaten? At least this way it is easier to find and not nearly as old.” The boy supplied. 

Eraserhead couldn’t argue with that. 

Deku took a step back from the man even though he made no move towards the boy. 

“I-I’m gonna go now.” He said. “Please don’t follow me.”

“Fine.” Eraserhead said - actually making the boy pause. “I won’t follow you. You aren’t doing anything overly illegal right now anyway.” 

With that, Deku ran away. He was sure that Eraserhead would give chase anyway but was pleasantly surprised when he was left alone. 

A few days after the garbage can meeting - as Deku now called it - Eraserhead appeared again. 

Deku was patrolling the area via the rooftops when he spotted the man on an opposing landing. Deku groaned when he saw him and sprinted away. Eraserhead, once again, did not give chase.

About a week later, Deku was sitting in one of the open alleys that he used to sleep in. It was relatively spacious and there were multiple exit options. It was also situated right in the middle of Deku’s territory. Deku was wrapping his wrist up after a particularly nasty sprain due to his most recent fight. 

The woman had been pickpocketing people for weeks. She even tried to get at Izuku a few times when he was in his civilian clothes - though there was never anything in his pockets. Her quirk allowed her to elongate her fingers - making the job much easier than it would be for other people. 

Deku understood what it meant to be desperate for money. Hell - he was still desperate for food and shelter a majority of the time. But he couldn’t allow the woman to keep taking from the people under his protection. If she was in need, she could figure it out without ridding others of their much needed money and supplies as well. Every one around here struggled to some extent. It was cruel to take from people who already had so little. 

So Deku had set up a sort of sting operation. He dressed up in a slightly nicer hoodie and made sure to drop one of his five yen pieces while passing her usual scouting spot. He had filled his pockets with metal that would jingle similar to if he had a pocket full of change. When he passed back by the woman’s spot about twenty minutes later, he confronted her while her fingers were clearly still in his pocket. 

Grabbing her wrist and jerking her forward, Deku had a stern talk with the woman. She didn’t appreciate that much and lashed out. Apparently, he elongated fingers were capable of an impressive amount of strength as she was able to twist Deku’s hands behind his back - causing the sprain. 

In the end, he managed to get her to listen to him. He promised to bring food by her spot twice a day so long as she stopped picking the pockets of the local citizens. The two compromised that heroes and cops were okay to steal from since she was taking a risk. If the pro’s couldn’t fend for themselves - even after the training they received - that was their fault. She also had to return his five yen though. Money was money after all and he now needed it more than her if he was to supply them both with food - even if it was taken from the garbage. 

So, Deku was now sitting in the alley, wrapping his wrist tightly when the now familiar figure of Eraserhead once again appeared. 

“I’m starting to think that you are stalking me Eraserhead.” Deku greeted. 

Eraserhead snorted and tossed something at the boy. It was two packs of onigiri. Deku looked up in shock.

“So you and that woman don’t have to eat trash tonight.” Eraserhead supplied. 

Deku looked at the package distrustfully before glancing back up at Eraserhead. 

“Why?” the boy questioned.

“Do you prefer eating out of the garbage?”

Deku wrinkled his nose, though Eraserhead couldn’t tell. Deku tucked the packets into one of his pockets for later, already planning to give them both to the long fingered woman. 

“Thank you.” Deku said after a moment. Eraserhead shrugged and then left.

From then on, Deku often found packets of food lying in his frequently visited spots.

The next time Deku saw Eraserhead, he was actually off duty as Izuku. It was only 21:45 and Deku wouldn’t start his patrol until midnight tonight. It had been quiet for the last few weeks and it put Deku on edge. He heard whispers in the streets and was pretty sure that something was about to go down. The most likely time for trouble was between the hours of 01:00 and 04:00 so Izuku had changed his schedule a bit to make sure he would be patrolling then. 

As he walked along the street he glanced up when he thought he saw movement. Eraserhead was crouched low along the rooftops, running in the same direction that Izuku was headed. He didn’t appear tense so Izuku wasn’t worried. He was most likely just patrolling the area just as Deku would do later that night. 

To Deku’s surprise, nothing happened while he was on patrol. The streets were quiet and calm. It made Deku nervous. At 05:00 when Deku was heading back to the warehouse where he was currently sleeping, he decided to take a break and enjoy the sunrise from the top of the tallest building in the area. 

Deku forced himself to relax and brought the Izuku persona back to the forefront. Although he spent a majority of his time as ‘Deku’, Izuku was his real self. Deku could be exhausting from time to time and, if Izuku was being honest with himself, was most likely taking a negative tole on his mental health and stability. 

Distracted by his thoughts, Izuku jumped nearly a foot in the air when a bento box slid over and bumped into his thigh. 

Eraserhead snorted at his reaction and Izuku grimaced. 

“W-What the h-h-hell?” Izuku ground out, his stutter firmly in place now that his guard wasn’t completely up. Eraserhead tilted his head to the side.

“You never stuttered in our previous meetings. Did I scare you that badly?” 

Izuku blushed and was thankful that his face was covered. He signed a quick ‘fuck off’ in the direction of Eraserhead just to calm his own nerves a bit and give a moment for the Deku persona to catch up with the present. 

“You are usually more aware of your surroundings, Deku. Are you tired or something?”

“Anyone would be tired after the graveyard shift. Then again, maybe exhaustion doesn’t affect insomniacs.”

“Who said I was an insomniac? I sleep all the time.”

“The bags under your eyes don’t match with your words, Eraser.” 

“Well, if you worked two jobs at opposing hours, your eyes would look like this too.” 

“Two jobs?”

“I teach at UA during the day. I’m surprised you didn’t know that already.” Eraserhead snorted.

“You aren’t the easiest person to collect data on, you know.” Deku mumbled.

The two sat on the edge of the building in silence for a while, watching the sun peak over the horizon. 

“I’m going to need the bento box back once you have eaten the food. My roommate will be pissed if I don’t bring it home.” Eraserhead said after a moment. Izuku slid the box back over to the man without taking a bite. Eraserhead sighed. “You need to eat, kid.”

“I do eat. I get food every day.”

“What I give you isn’t poisoned.”

“I never suspected that it was.” The lie was a little too obvious so Deku continued, “...After the first few meals anyway.”

It was silent again for a few minutes. 

“I always give the food you give to me to Yua-san. She needs it more than I do.”

“Yua-san… that’s the pickpocket.” It wasn’t a question but Deku nodded in affirmation anyway. “She took Detective Tsukauchi’s wallet the other day.” Eraserhead said. 

Deku laughed. “Serves him right for not paying attention around here. For a detective he isn’t very observant.” Eraserhead seemed to agree. 

“Kid,” Aizawa began cautiously, “If you ever need help, just call. I’m usually just around the corner. You can even come to UA if you really need me.”

Deku blinked and wearily faced Eraserhead. “Why are you trying to help me?” he asked quietly.

“Because you’re just a kid. Kids need help.”

Deku bristled at this. “I’m hardly a kid!” He spat out.

“Oh? Then how old are you? If you aren’t a kid then I’ll stop babying you.”

“I’ll be 14 in July, thank you very much!” Deku declared proudly without thinking too much about his words. 

“Hmph. How very grown up you are. Fourteen in just two more months” The sarcasm dripped from Eraserheads words and Deku tensed angrily. “How long have you been on your own?”

“None of your business.” 

“At least a year if my timeline for your vigilante debut is correct.” Eraserhead supplied. “Though I think you might have been on the streets for longer than that.” Deku remained quiet. “It must be hard. To be on your own so young.”

“I’ve always been on my own. The only difference is this time no one is pretending to give a shit.”

Eraserhead sighed and stood up. “Are you sure you don’t want the bento?” 

“Give it to Yua-san if you see her.”

“Okay.” Then Eraserhead left. 

Eraserhead hated his current life. It has been challenging for Eraserhead lately. After Deku got away from him after the drug deal fallout, he had been pissed. He went home fuming, slamming the door just a bit too loudly for his husband not to notice.

“Shota?” His husband had questioned as he sleepily stumbled into the room. “What’s going on? Rough night?”

“You don’t know the half of it, ‘Zashi.” the black haired man had grumbled back. 

Aizawa Shota, AKA Eraserhead, lived in a small two bedroom apartment with his husband and fellow pro-hero Yamada Hizashi - Present Mic. The two had been together since highschool but had only recently married three years previously. Few people outside of their day job colleagues knew of their relationship. In fact - most people would have denied such opposing personalities to ever be together, even if the relationship were put on display for the whole world. 

Yamada was loud, energetic, and was constantly found in the spotlight whilst his husband preferred to remain quiet, observing from the sidelines and staying out of the public view. Somehow, though, they complimented one another. Aizawa prided himself on his ability to think rationally but in certain circumstances - such as when dealing with a particularly young vigilante - it was Yamada who took on the more logical role whilst Aizawa’s thoughts were clouded over with emotion. 

Anytime kids were involved in something reckless or potentially harmful  - Aizawa struggled to distance himself: a trait that Yamada found quite endearing about his husband. 

For the past few weeks, Aizawa had been working to gain Deku’s trust - an idea of Yamada’s - but he did not think the work he was putting in was paying off in the slightest. So, for what felt like the hundredth time, Aizawa slumped into the kitchen, disappointed with his interaction with the kid. 

The coffee was already brewing and Yamada was busily gathering papers and personal items for work. Aizawa made himself a cup of the strong caffine and silently sat in his chair, pondering the last few hours. 

“What happened this time, Shota?” Yamada asked a bit too loudly for the early hour.

“Nothing. Just like every other time I see the kid.” Aizawa closed his eyes and rolled his neck. 

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. You look more content than normal.” Yamada was behind Aizawa, his hands finding their way to his husbands shoulders and massaging the tense knots that had formed throughout the night.

“Hm…” Aizawa hummed. “The kid is thirteen. He can’t even legally hold a job yet.” Yamada waited patiently for his husband to continue - one of the few times in the day that he would be silent. “How the hell did a thirteen year old kid land in that situation? He’s been a vigilante for about a year and had probably been alone on the streets far before then. How the hell does the system let these kids fall through the cracks like this?” Aizawa’s tone was harsh. He was angry at the system. He was angry at the world. Hell, he was angry at the kid for not trusting him. Ultimately though, he just wanted things to be okay and knew that it would take a long time for that to occur. 

“You’re coming so far with him Sho.” His husband provided. Aizawa snorted.

“Oh yah. Plenty far. I now know that his vigilante name is Deku and that he is 13. I could write a book with all that information.” 

Yamada couldn’t hold back his smile at the pitiful sight in front of him. He was glad Shota had his eyes closed or else that smile might have landed him on the couch. 

“Shota. You have been studying this kid for weeks. You know more about him than probably anyone else. You know that he is intelligent and prides himself on his analytical skill. You know that he uses his analysis of quirks to aid him in winning fights. You know that he has become significantly better in the past year when it comes to fighting style - proving that he probably works extremely hard to better himself.”

“Yah. But anyone could guess that.”

“Then list the other multitude of facts that you have learned.” 

Aizawa groaned and put his head in his hands. “No matter how hard I try, the kid just won’t open up. You know that he hasn’t eaten a single one of the meals I’ve left for him? He still thinks I’m out to poison him or something.” 

“I thought you said he was sharing his meals with that homeless thief…”

“Yah. He is. He told me to take the bento to her today when I saw him. It was obvious he was hungry too.”

“Hm…” Yamada hummed. “So he trusted you to feed a person that he is caring for.”

Aizawa blinked his eyes at his husband. “What?”

“Well… This is a kid who places himself in danger on a nightly basis to protect those around him - even those who cause him harm. Do you think he would let someone he doesn’t trust give food to one of the only people that he spends time with on a daily basis?” Yamada paused, gaging his husband’s reaction. “If a different hero, say Snipe, were to give the kid food. What do you think he would do with it?”

“He’d probably toss it in the river.” Aizawa muttered.

“Exactly. Now stop being so goddamn hard on yourself. You are doing something that most would deem impossible. This kid doesn’t trust anyone from what you have told me. He is secretive and scared. Yet you have gained a bit of his trust - more than anyone else.”

“You’re really laying it on thick there, Hizashi.” Aizawa drawled, finally seeming content.

“Well, I have to. Or else you would end up digging yourself a self-pity hole so deep it could be your grave.” Hizashi smiled down at the sleep deprived man and gave him a small peck on the forehead. “Now hurry up and change, we have to leave in ten minutes to make it to our classes on time.” With that, the happy moment was over and Aizawa Shota once again hated his life.

With his husband’s encouragement, Aizawa continued seeking out the boy and building a relatively stable relationship. They usually met on the rooftop of one building or another every few days to catch up. They even worked together a few times - though Eraserhead left out Deku’s involvement in the official reports. 

After another half a year, Aizawa finally seemed to be making clear progress with the kid.

Deku still refused to accept any of the food Aizawa brought him - no matter the quantity. Instead, he would give it away to the other homeless people in Deku’s territory. Aizawa came to realize that the kid did this, not because he didn’t trust to eat the food himself, but because he was simply that good natured.

“Why take something that can be given to someone who needs it more?” Deku had said one night. “Sure, the stuff I eat isn’t fantastic, but at least I have the skills to find it. A lot of the people around here, don’t.” 

Deku slowly began telling Aizawa of his life before his vigilantism as well. It came in short segments, often followed by a few days of the boy avoiding him. In the end, Aizawa was able to piece together a relatively difficult past. 

The boy had lost his parents when he was a toddler - or before entering school, at least. No more information was given on the topic but Aizawa could tell that the memories of whatever happened still haunted Deku. Following this, Deku had been passed around quite a few times. Aizawa wasn’t exactly sure how many but he had managed to distinguish at least five separate families from the memories Deku shared. Two in particular stood out. 

The first was the source of Deku’s happiest memories. A young couple had taken him in when he was around six. Deku spoke of his first day of the first grade with pride. He had apparently been given a bright yellow backpack to tote around a few notebooks and crayons as well as the All Might toy that was his only possession from when he lived with his biological parents. He had kept that backpack until it literally fell apart at the seams about a year into living on the streets. That backpack was the reason yellow was still one of his favorite colors. Aizawa still wondered what made the family give Deku away but knew better than to ask. The following week, Aizawa had his normal supply of prepackaged food in a bright yellow backpack instead of the normal shopping bags. Deku hadn’t mentioned it but the cheery bag was now a staple of his vigilante ensemble and one of Deku’s defining features as noted in the police files for his case. 

The other family had not left such fond memories behind. Aizawa surmised that it was most likely the last foster home he had lived in before becoming homeless. Deku had an odd habit of speaking fondly about the people. Slipping in small pieces of information referencing both physical and mental abuse but always claiming it was his own fault. Aizawa’s heart ached every time Deku would defend their actions. When it came to this family, Deku still seemed to love them. Or at least, respect them. 

“They were good people. It was just hard having a fucked up kid. I should have tried harder to follow the rules. If I had been good then they wouldn’t have had to punish me.” He had signed one night - exhaustion making his tongue loose. Deku often opted to sign instead of speak when talking of his past.

“Punish you?” Aizawa questioned wearily, aware that the prying may lead to another week of Deku ignoring and avoiding him. 

“Yah. Just little things. A few slaps and kicks. The rare punch. I think the closet was the worst though. I didn’t like the closet.” Deku had replied openly - much to Aizawa’s surprise. 

“Those… don’t seem like small punishments.” Aizawa said softly, encouraging Deku to explain further.

“Don’t push your luck, old man." The boy had said out loud "That’s all I’m giving out. And I told you before, Eraser, I wasn’t the best kid. I deserved everything I got. They really did try with me. I’m just too useless to effectively receive help. I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now.” Then Deku had laughed softly - sadness permeating the usually sweet sound. 

Aizawa had let the subject drop then, heeding Deku’s warning not to pry further. Aizawa made sure to compliment Deku anytime he helped on the job or did something positive from then on whilst still being careful of not praising his vigilantism directly. 

Aizawa had also learned that Deku was incredibly self-motivated. The vigilante had apparently been mostly self taught via self-help books and personal training. The kid, of course, gave all the credit to the free self defense classes around town but Aizawa knew that his level reached far beyond what those classes could have taught him. Aizawa correctly assumed that Deku had used the basic instruction to aid in his training and bettered himself through trial and error and pure force of will. The child wasn’t much more gifted intellectually than other children his age, but his dedication to his studies supplied him with a multitude of information. Aizawa only wished he would focus his interests on more normal subjects for fourteen year olds than on quirk and battle analysis. 

The most pressing point of interest in reference to the boy was the split personality that Deku had apparently developed to help him survive. The personality that was most familiar to Aizawa was Deku: the confident, sometimes foul mouthed boy. ‘Deku’ was quick witted and sharp-tongued. He found solace in teasing those he battled and making them give off information about their lives (and most hopefully, their quirks). Deku was rarely trusting but always looking to put himself out to aid others. 

The other personality - the one that hid behind the confidence of ‘Deku’ - was much more child-like. It was shy and nervous and prone to crying. When this personality came out, the boy seemed to shrink in on himself. His words were mumbled and a very obvious stutter formed. Very rarely did the boy speak when this personality was at the forefront - opting to sign instead. However, this personality was also kinder, and to Aizawa’s surprise, happier than ‘Deku’. ‘Deku’ hid his anger and vitriol towards the world behind a carefree persona. But this other personality didn’t seem capable of being angry. Instead, it found positive features in every aspect of the world. Even the darkest subjects were made brighter by the thought process of this other persona. Very child-like indeed. This personality, 'Other One', seemed familiar to Aizawa - like a lost memory just waiting to be brought up.

Aizawa wasn’t sure which one he preferred, to be honest. ‘Deku’ was who he was used to. A petulant brat who refused help but who was also a reliable partner with a skill set more capable than some of his own students. Of course, ‘Deku’ had plenty to learn but he was willing to become better - willing to listen to constructive criticism. The ‘other one’, as Aizawa dubbed the altering personality, was more foreign. It was whiny and unable to hide it’s emotions, putting off a weak vibe that would be taken advantage of by anyone with a cruel heart. But ‘other one’ was also light and always left Aizawa in a good mood. ‘Other one’ was a ball of sunshine just waiting for the opportunity to be set free. 

Chapter Text

Izuku didn’t know which was worse, the rain or cold. They were both uncomfortable and left a sick feeling in his stomach and mind whenever they persisted. As of right now, Izuku was facing both. Izuku was stuck inside to keep from being drenched but still faced the extreme cold that permeated the beaten down building he was currently squatting in. He had moved from his prefered warehouse to this broken down apartment building when the streets began to flood. The boy didn’t have much stuff and couldn’t risk losing it to the elements. The cold was worse here than in the warehouse - it seemed to seep into the very walls and floors of the room. The blankets that Eraserhead had given him helped a little at first but were soon realized to be too little. Izuku couldn’t run around to warm himself nor could he start a fire. Izuku laughed a little at the idea. He could only imagine lighting the match and then panicking at the sight of the licking flame. Fire was still off limits for him. It even made ‘Deku’ run away.

The icy winter rain was flooding the streets of his territory. The local library was closed until the weather subsided. No criminal in their right mind would be caught dead in the swirling mass of water and lightning outside the doors, and Yua-san had fled to higher ground a few districts away, leaving Izuku alone, again. 

It isn’t like Izuku actually has any friends but he always loves interacting with others - even if he is socially inept half the time. So when he finds himself completely isolated for almost a week, the thoughts in his head begin to swirl and life becomes much harder for Izuku to live. 

After five days of almost nonstop rain, Izuku had had enough. His mind couldn’t focus and his legs couldn’t stop pacing from one side of the room to the other. His skin was crawling with the need to get out and he would be damned if he didn’t listen. 

Biting the bullet and wondering if maybe he had a death wish, Izuku put on his ‘Deku’ uniform and headed out into the storm. 

Deku didn’t actually expect anyone to be out in this weather. No one walked along the flooding streets, leaving Deku to his own devices. He dared not travel via rooftop for fear of the lightning. So, Deku was left trudging through the ankle high water that was overflowing the sewers. His feet were numb in less than a minute.

After only walking about three blocks, Deku was cursing himself for going out. He was soaked to the bone and there still wasn’t any company to be had - be it of a positive or negative nature. So he turned back around and started heading back. 

A small noise caught his ear about a block from his current residence. The cry was soft and tiny. A small mewl among the thunderous noises of the storm. Izuku made his way towards the sound and came upon one of the many dumpsters that he usually scavenged from. Peeking inside, Izuku saw them. Three tiny kittens, their eyes and ears still closed to the world, lie next to a very dead, mama cat. 

Deku hadn’t switched back to Izuku so quickly in quite a long time. The teenager’s breath hitched and a few tears immediately slid down his cheeks at the sight. He carefully picked up the three kittens and sheltered them as best he could in his coat - running home to get them to safety. 

Once in his temporary shelter, Izuku wrapped the kittens in a multitude of dry blankets. Their mewlings growing louder as they warmed. Izuku didn’t bother changing as he knew it would be pointless considering his next step. 

Izuku had a problem. Izuku didn’t have a warm shelter, or food, or milk, or even any money to buy any of the stuff needed for the kittens. So Izuku would have to go to someone who did. 

Izuku needed to help these kittens. They were under his care now and he would be damned if he let any of the creatures in his territory come to harm when he was capable of doing something.

In the back of the boy’s mind, he wondered if he were using these pitiful creatures to his advantage. An easy excuse to seek out the company of other humans. Izuku shut that voice down quickly with a shake of his head. 

No. He was a hero. He was Deku. These kittens were in his territory so they were his responsibility. He knew he had to do everything in his power to help them because of that. Izuku had found a couple helpless lives and was now in charge of their safety.

So, the curly haired boy grabbed the small, microwave sized plastic storage container that he used to store his stuff in and dumped all that he owned onto the floor. He stuffed what he could in his bright backpack and then hid the bag under a loose floorboard. No reason chancing his stuff getting nicked. He placed Eraserhead's gifted blankets and kittens inside of the now empty bin and then closed the lid. The crack that ran along one side of the box would be plenty to keep air circulating for the kittens but was still closed enough to keep them relatively dry and hopefully warm enough to survive the forty minute sprint to his next destination. With his new charges safe, warm, and secure - Izuku set off into the storm again. 

Aizawa was very rarely called away from class by the principal, but when he was, it was usually due to an emergency. However, the tone of voice the principal had used was off. It wasn’t urgent or rushed. It wasn’t even the cold seriousness that Nezu took on when figuring out an almost unsolvable mystery. No, his tone was light and amused. It had Aizawa on edge more than anything else. 

When he turned the corner to Principal Nezu’s office, Aizawa was slightly surprised to see Yamada standing at the doorway in shock. The door was open but the blonde was not entering. Instead he seemed at a loss for words and actions. Only when he noticed his husband did the blonde react. 

“Shota… Did you? Is he?”

“Hizashi, if you are going to ask me questions, I’m going to need more than just the first few words.” Aizawa reached the open door as he ended his sentence.

There, standing in the middle of Principal Nezu’s office, was Deku. 

The child was dripping from the rain, his clothes completely soaked through and his mask - that normally remained tightly on his face - was shifted to the side so that he could breathe without inhaling the water dripping from it. In his arms was a clear plastic container filled with what looked to be the blankets that Aizawa had given the child about a week before. 

“H-H-Hi.” The child said simply, his lips blue and trembling from the cold. 

Izuku did not think this through. The thought didn’t hit him until he saw Eraserhead before him, shock coloring every feature of the black haired man’s being. 

Izuku had known it was stupid when he originally left his shelter with a box of kittens in tow but now… now it was hitting him as to just how stupid it was. 

Izuku stood in the principal’s office at UA high. The top hero school in the nation that was staffed with a countless number of pro-heros. Izuku, who was currently dressed in his vigilante clothing, was soaked to the bone and only had the very basic tools necessary for his safety. Izuku, who could be captured at any moment, could not currently call upon the bravery of Deku. Izuku, who carried a box of three helpless kittens could only utter a single word when faced with the person who his mind had immediately sought out. 

“H-H-Hi.” he mumbled, unsure if the stutter was due to the cold or just his normal self. 

“Deku?” Eraserhead questioned. 

“Um… I f-f-found these. I d-didn’t. Um. I c-c-couldn’t take care of them. A-And I know y-you have o-one because of th-the wh-wh-white fur on y-your u-u-uniform.” Damnit, if only his hands were free to sign.

Instead, Izuku opened the lid of the box, scooping one of the kittens up to show Eraserhead. 

“I-I didn’t kn-know what else t-t-to do. S-so I brought th-them to y-y-you.” 

Eraserhead stood in the doorframe, seeming unsure of what to do.

“Well Aizawa-san,” the small white mouse, bear, rat thing began, “This child was knocking on the front gates asking for you. So I thought I might bring him inside.” The intelligent creature chuckled for a moment. “I don’t think I have ever seen you so unnerved. Should I send him back home?” 

“W-What?” Eraserhead murmured, his brain trying to catch up with the sight. “No! Of course not!” With that, Eraserhead strode into the room towards Deku (no, it was ‘Other One’ this time) and the small box of kittens. The other man, who Izuku was pretty sure was Present Mic, stepped in as well and shut the door of the office behind him. 

Chapter Text

Aizawa scooped up the tiny grey fluff ball that Deku held out for him. The poor thing was only two weeks old at most. Aizawa inspected the cat and then the other two before tucking them back into the safety of the warm blankets. 

‘Other One’ was standing awkwardly, still dripping onto the floor of Nezu’s offices. A continuous shiver ran through his body as the cold air wracked his small frame. 

“Where the hell did you find them?” Aizawa asked, motioning towards the box.

The boy told Aizawa about the dumpster and the dead mother cat. Aizawa had looked disapprovingly at the sopping child before him for having been out in the storm but the look was ignored in favor of the kittens.

“I’ll be straight with you kid, I don’t know if any of them will survive without their mother. They are really young.” 

‘Other One’ sniffled for a moment and looked down into the box. “C-Can you t-t-try at least?”

Aizawa internally groaned. “I’ll have to take them to the vet after work. I’ll pick up supplies to care for them while they are checked out.” Aizawa said after a moment. A wave of warmth spread through Aizawa at the genuine smile that grace the child’s lips.

“Th-Thank you, E-Eraserh-head-san.” 

“Well, it’s not like there is much of an option. We can’t just leave them to die without giving them a chance.”

“Wh-When…” ‘Other One’ trailed off, becoming frustrated. He looked around the room and tilted his head at Hizashi. “C-Can you?” He asked, holding the box towards the blonde. Hizashi took the box without question, cooing when he saw the three puff balls inside. 

‘When can I check on them? How long until they are big enough to eat real food? When can they come home?” ‘Other One’ signed, his hands shaking slightly.

“Deku…” Aizawa started slowly “I’m not even sure if they will last the night. Let’s just get through-”

Deku began signing again, ‘I know they will make it. They are strong. So when will I be able to have them back? I don’t want them to be too little to survive but I can care for them once they are a little bit bigger.’

Aizawa sighed, eyeing the kid in front of him. “These cats… If they survive. They will have been raised in captivity. They can’t exactly ‘go back’ to you.”

‘Other One’ tensed for a moment before cocking his head to the side towards Aizawa. 

“I-I’ll take them back when they are bigger. I c-can care for them.” The boy’s stutter was significantly less obvious this time around as he began transitioning into ‘Deku’. 

Aizawa sighed. “You can’t even feed yourself, kid. I’m not giving you three cats to take care of.” 

“I can feed myself just fine. B-Besides, cats are smart, they can find their own food once they are bigger.” The child glanced at Yamada who was still holding the box, and then Nezu who was looking highly amused. ‘Deku’ began looking visibly uncomfortable with their presence, his hands fidgeting to his sides where he normally kept his weapons.

Yamada-san, perhaps you can come with me to help find some towels to dry off this young man.” The mouse-thing looked towards Deku with a grin, “Don’t leave until we get back. It would be burdensome to have to clean up the puddles that you created on our own.” Deku deflated slightly at those words.

“Um… O-Okay.” Deku said, unsure of how to really respond. Yamada set the box of kittens on the Principal’s desk and gave Aizawa a small smile before following the intelligent rodent out of the room.

“The grey one’s name is Kage. The completely black one is Kuro, and the black one with the white left ear and feet is Chotto.” Deku supplied after a moment. “I will be taking all three back when they are big enough.” He said firmly. 

“No. You won’t. You brought them to me to care for, didn’t you?” Aizawa asked.

Deku nodded.

“Then that is what I’m going to do. You already confirmed that you don’t have the resources to care for them; so the vet, any foster or adoptive parents, and I will be making sure that they are safe and healthy.” 

“I don’t give you permission to give Chotto, Kuro, and Kage up for fostering or adopting.” ‘Deku said at once. “Besides, I said that I don’t have anything to take care of them while they are little. They’ll be fine once they are grown up.” 

“When cats are raised in captivity, they are much more likely to die if put back on the streets. It’s not like their mom is around to teach them how to hunt and fend for themselves. It would be better to just give them to people who will take care of them.”

“And what if they don’t? What if those people just hurt them. It's better if I watch out for them. Then I’ll know they aren’t being hurt.” Deku countered.

“I’m not gonna let these cat’s be adopted by animal abusers, kid.”

“You don’t know a person’s true nature once their door is closed.” Deku’s hands clenched into fists. Aizawa couldn’t deny that the kid made a good point.

“We aren’t putting these cat’s back on the street.”

“Why not? They’ll be fine there if I’m watching out for them!”

“It’s irresponsible and illogical to force these creatures to be on their own.”

“They won’t be alone!” Deku called out, his voice raising. “They were born in my territory so I’ll make sure that they stay safe!”

“I wasn’t aware that you looked out for every animal in your territory. That dog that is chained down by the diner could really use your help then, Deku.” The small boy bristled at the words. 

“Don’t be an ass, Eraser. You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t think I do. You really believe that kittens raised in captivity could adapt so easily to suddenly being thrown on the streets?”

“I did.” The boy retaliated loudly. A heavy silence filled the air between the two while Deku tried to catch his breath which was now hitching in his chest.

After a few moments, Aizawa spoke again, careful of his words. “Do you really want these creatures to suffer in the same way?”

The air in the room became ten times heavier as the weight of the words just spoken washed over the two. Deku shook his head and wrapped his arms around his stomach, almost as if trying to hug himself. The small boy shivered more violently for a few moments.

“What if… What if the people you give them too decide they don’t want them anymore? What if they give them away and the poor things are passed from home to home? Wouldn’t it be less cruel to keep them in a single place - where they are familiar with their surroundings?” The child walked over to the box and peered down at the kittens.

“Deku…” Aizawa trailed off, groaning as he rubbed the headache out of his temples. “Cats are not children. They won’t go through the same things that you did.”

“I never said anything about me.” The boy snapped.

“Don’t be an idiot, kid.”

Both were quiet for a few minutes. Deku ran his hands along the backs of the three mewling kittens in quiet reprieve.

“What if they get lonely without me.”

“Go visit them if you are really that concerned - when we are no longer in the middle of a monsoon, of course. I’ll give you the contact information of their new homes. But Deku. Like I said before, we haven’t reached that point yet. They are still really young and-” 

“What if they die and no one thinks to tell me?” Deku interrupted, knowing what Eraser was about to say next.

“I’ll tell you.”

“But they are mine. I found them.”

“Living beings don’t belong to anyone.”

“But they were in my territory.”

“What did I just say?”

“Don’t just take them away forever because you are upset with me. I know I shouldn’t have gone out in the storm. That’s on me and it was dumb. But I found them and couldn’t just leave them! I just hoped that you would want to help them too.”

“Yes, it was very stupid to be out in this weather but I’m not upset with you, kid. I’m just telling you how it is. Be rational. It’s best for these cat’s to be adopted by a loving family.” 

“But…” Deku trailed off for a minute. Aizawa’s head began pounding with the never ending sea of questions the kid was asking and the heavy emotions those questions were evoking in the pro. “I want them. I-I d-d-don’t w-want to be a-a-alone.” The statement was whispered. Deku went back to hugging himself and seemed to shrink a little, transitioning once more back to ‘Other One’.

Principal Nezu suddenly chuckled from behind the two as he walked through the door of his office, Yamada was close behind sporting a large stack of towels. 

“If you don’t want to be alone, then maybe you should let us take you to a shelter or...” Yamada said gently - cutting off at the look on his husband’s face. Deku bristled for a moment and eyed Yamada carefully. 

“Fuck off old man. You don’t know shit.” Suddenly, all signs of loneliness and uncertainty - all signs of the child - vanished. The boy stood up straight, his stance alert. He inched his way to the open door. 

Deku, Aizawa realized, was slightly panicked. Something he had only seen when Deku felt his freedom was on the line. “I’m sorry for leaving a mess, Nezu-san. I’ll owe you a small favour in the future I guess.” Deku said, making sure to remain facing the three adults. “And you are right, Eraserhead. I apologize for acting like a child. Do what you want with them.” Deku nodded towards the box of kittens. “Just make sure you leave that box on the roof of the corner store. It’s the only one I’ve found with a matching lid.”

“You can’t leave!” Yamada shouted. The boy flinched away and took a few more steps towards the partially open office door. 

"Yah, kid. It's storming. Mic didn---" Aizawa was cut off.

“And who are you to stop me?” Deku questioned with a low tone, addressing all three of the adults in the room. “Unless you plan to initiate a full lock down, you’ve got minimal chance.” He said, very pointedly talking to Nezu now.

“Me? Oh, I have no interest in chasing after a child. However, I won’t stop Aizawa or Yamada from giving chase. And who am I to stop them? They are pro-heroes. It is their job to protect citizens.” Nezu laughed gleefully at the scene.

Deku turned his head towards Yamada and then to Aizawa, cocking it to the side in question. The boy slowly inched his hand around the edge of the door causing Aizawa to grasp at his capture weapon.

“Of course we aren’t letting you leave and walk around in that monsoon outside, little listener. You just said you didn’t want to be alone, anyway.” Yamada screeched. Aizawa groaned internally, knowing that Deku would not take that well. Aizawa slowly pulled at his capture weapon, readying to release it quickly.

Deku tensed and crouched in a defensive stance. “You don’t know me, Present Mic. But if you try and stop me, you’ll just be disappointed in yourself for letting a child slip through your fingers. Best to just let me go in peace.” the small child said. “And if you wrap me in that fucking scarf, I’ll make sure you never lay eyes on me again once I escape.” Deku bit out in Aizawa’s direction. 

“Don’t be melodramatic, kid. We just don’t want you out in that storm. Yama - Present Mic didn’t actually mean that we would be taking you to a shelter or anything. You know I wouldn’t do that by now. So just relax. You can wait here or in an empty classroom with the cat’s until school lets out and we can drive you back to your territory.” Aizawa took a moment to assess the kid. Deku seemed uncertain if he could trust him or not. Aizawa couldn’t blame him. Sure, he knew that Aizawa meant no harm but people changed when other people were involved. The kid probably wasn’t sure how Hizashi and Nezu would play into his decision making. “You knew this would happen if you came to UA so don’t be a brat about the situation you put yourself in.” Aizawa spoke calmly without a hint of bite in his tone. “In fact, it could be much worse. I thought you were smarter than to trapse into a building full of pro’s.” Aizawa teased, trying to get the kid to calm down and hopefully bite back with the jovial tone he used when he wasn’t feeling threatened..

“Of course, Eraserhead-san.” Deku seemed to relax at his words, his voice like honey all of the sudden; but Aizawa knew better than to let his guard down. This was how Deku often tried to escape. Lower a person’s guard by looking as if you lowered your own. Escape at the confusion from the shift or once everyone else relaxed and dropped their guard. 

In less than a moment, Deku was gone. Seems the kid went for the ‘confusion at the shift’ strategy this time. The kid was fast and had turned the corner of the door quickly, sprinting out into the hallway. Aizawa immediately followed suit, gaining on the kid quickly. Even if the kid was good, Aizawa was a trained Pro. This kid held nothing to Aizawa’s expertise and experience. Not only that, but the kid didn’t exactly know where he was going. He had never been to UA before and the halls were a maze to those who were unfamiliar with the buildings. 

The tired man almost allowed the kid to escape, thoughts of the child's rejection spinning circles in his mind. It had taken so long to gain the boys trust and here he was, about to flush it down the drain. But in the end, the kid’s safety and health came first. Aizawa wrapped the kid in his support item and pulled, causing the boy to fall back on his butt.

“Fuck you, you asshole!” The boy screamed. “Let me go!” 

“I will once school lets out, you brat.” 

Deku spat at Aizawa’s feet, glaring up at the man now towering over him.

“Oh! Shota… You actually caught him. My god, Little Listener, you sure are fast.” Hizashi puffed as he finally caught up to the two. He only received two glares in return.

Chapter Text

Deku was beyond pissed. He was livid. His skin felt on fire from the intense emotion and he itched to hit something. Of course he couldn’t move his hands in his current situation. Eraserhead had dragged him back to Nezu’s office, still wrapped in the capture weapon. It did not seem as if the sleep-deprived man had any plan to let him go. 

Even though he knew it was pointless, Deku struggled against the bindings. He used multiple methods to try and wiggle his way out but they only left him panting and fatigued.

The adults were talking but Deku wasn’t focused enough to pick up on the conversation. Deku didn’t want to focus on the conversation. They were going to call the cops. He just knew it. The detective would come in and question him. Then they would either lock him up in Juvie or send him back into the system. Today sucked. He really wished he hadn’t gone out. 

Lost in his thoughts, Deku didn’t notice his breathing start to escalate. His head was fuzzy. He just wanted out. Everything was too tight. It was all wrong. He just wanted to help. He just wanted everyone safe. He wanted the cats safe. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He wanted out. He didn’t want to be passed around again. He didn’t want to stop being ‘Deku’. He needed to get out. He needed-

“Kid. Hey kid. Calm down.” A voice was very close to his ear. He knew that voice. It was Eraser, that asshole. 

He didn’t want to hear it right now. He wanted to be in the warehouse where he slept a majority of the time. He wanted to cuddle up in the nest of  blankets, cushions, and pillows he had made with the stuff he found. 

“Kid. I need you to breathe for me.” Eraser spoke again. “You’re hyperventilating. You are gonna pass out soon if you don’t calm down.” 

Fuck him.

“Hey Little Listener. Open your eyes. You’re safe.”

Bullshit. Pain started to spread throughout Deku’s head as his breath continued to hitch and oxygen started to become less available. Maybe if I keep hyperventilating, I will cause enough brain damage from lack of oxygen to just not wake up again. That would be better than going back.

“I’m going to let you go, Deku. I need you to calm down so don’t try to fight me.” 

In an instant, Deku could move his arms. He forced his eyes open and swung his fist at the first face he saw. Eraser easily blocked the attack and redirected his body weight towards the ground. 

Deku still couldn’t breathe right and sitting up from the ground was really difficult. He felt like he was dying. A sob sounded from somewhere in the room. Was that him?

“You are okay, Deku.” A different voice, Mic? A hand touched his back and Deku turned sharply to slap it away.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” He screamed out. Another sob. It was definitely him. Fucking Izuku. Not now! He was in danger! He was dying! Izuku couldn’t protect him!

The two adults that were trying to calm him backed up and gave him space. Deku would have slumped in relief if his nerves weren’t making his muscles knot together. 

Deku knew he wouldn’t be able to stand unless he got his breathing under control so, instead, he curled in on himself. A small ball of a human, leaning against the wall of an unfamiliar office. With a moment to himself, Deku immediately began thinking clearer. 

He was having an anxiety attack. Izuku was better at handling these attacks. When Deku had one, the anger prevented him from calming down. He had to let Deku go. He had to let himself be Izuku again. 

Another loud sob echoed in the room as the small boy started rocking back and forth. 

It’s okay. Izuku thought to himself at last. You’ve done this before. You aren’t dying. Breathe in. Breathe out. 

Izuku shoved his hoodie and beanie off his head, not caring that it revealed his green tinted black curls. He had to calm down. Screw it if Deku was found out. 

Name something you can feel. The cold tile. There is a crack in the floor under my pointer finger. Izuku half signed with his unoccupied right hand in answer to his own thoughts. He took a moment to feel the cold ground seep into his skin.

Another thing you can feel. Izuku moved his left hand up to his hair. My hair is wet. Izuku now used his left hand to sign to himself, no longer needing to feel the ground. I think all of me is wet. 

Name something you can see. Deku opened his eyes and peered around him, keeping his head down but his hands available to reply to his thoughts. My shoes .

Be specific. 

My red shoes. They are still red even with the goggles on.

Name two more things you can see. Breathing was getting easier as Izuku distracted himself. There are puddles of water on the floor. There is a blue and yellow symbol on the opposite wall. UA?

Yes. He was at UA. He had forgotten for a few moments. That’s okay. It’s okay to forget sometimes. Now name two things you can hear.

I think someone is crying. You are crying and that is okay. I hear myself crying. 

One more thing you can hear, Izuku. Izuke strained his ears but realized he would need to calm down just a little bit more to hear anything over his sobs. 

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I can hear my heart beat. In my ears. Good. That is just more proof that you aren’t dying. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. 

After a few more moments to collect himself, Izuku looked up to see Eraserhead-san, Present Mic-san, and Nezu-san on the opposite side of the room. Nezu-san had a small smirk gracing his lips. Izuku didn’t understand why but wasn’t really bothered by it much. Present Mic-san looked like someone had just broken his favorite toy. One hand clutched the hem of his shirt and the other nervously played with his own hair. His face was red as if he was holding his breath - trying not to make sound. Eraserhead-san was still. Relaxed but alert. Like when they were patrolling. Waiting for trouble but not expecting any. If you expected it, it would happen. 

Izuku didn’t realize it, but he was mumbling these thoughts to himself, outloud. His mind and body still working to calm down. These were observations. He was good at observations.

“I-I-I th-think I’m g-g-going to th-throw up.” He said a little louder after a moment, his stomach already lurching. Eraserhead quickly brought him a trashcan and backed off again. Not as far this time. Eraserhead crouched down as Izuku coughed up stomach acid. 

When Izuku finished gagging and spitting up the water and stale bread he had eaten that morning, along with copious amounts of stomach acid, he slumped back against the wall. 

“Are you done, kid?” Aizawa asked quietly after a minute. Izuku only nodded, his eyes closing. 

He felt awful. He was wet and his limbs were shivering but he felt like he was in the desert. His skin was hot to the touch and his mouth was dry. Sweat dripped into his eyes - the stinging sensation the only sign that it wasn’t the rain water still dripping from his hair. Izuku wasn’t as wet as when he first entered UA but he still looked like he had gone swimming, fully clothed. 

A soft cloth was being carefully pushed into Izuku’s hands. A towel? No. A blanket. A soft mewling could be heard coming from it. 

Present Mic was gently presenting the kitten to him.

“Our cat, Neko, always helps Shota calm down.” He said softly. Eraserhead lightly slapped the voice hero across the back of his head. Izuku smiled slightly and took the blanket housing the tiny cat. 

“Th-Thanks.” His mouth must have cotton in it. He was used to stuttering but his words were slurring now too. The two adults kneeling in front of him a small distance away glanced at each other in concern. Izuku didn’t notice.

Aizawa had not expected the kid to have a complete meltdown. He had hardly ever seen the kid cry. So when the child began hyperventilating, Aizawa had hesitated a moment, thinking that it might be a ploy to escape. 

It wasn’t as if Aizawa was going to call the police on the problem child. He just wanted the kid to stay put until he could ensure that he made it back to familiar territory safely. He had already been telling Nezu that he was going to go ahead and take the kid back when he had noticed the child’s heavy and aborted breaths in the first place. 

Aizawa had tried to calm him down, even letting him go when he realized that the kid probably felt claustrophobic, but the attack only worsened with each passing second. The kid had lashed out at him once he was free and Aizawa had easily dodged, redirecting the children’s hand to the side. It wasn’t forceful so when the child fell to the ground and was unable to sit up easily, Aizawa felt a sick feeling start to enter his stomach. When a sob was wretched from the child’s mouth, Aizawa immediately began damage control. 

He had started to back up, hoping to give space when his well-meaning but incredibly stupid huband tried to pat the boy’s back comfortingly. The boy had lashed out again, voice breaking with another sob and Aizawa had quickly pulled Hizashi back up with him. 

The boy had curled into a ball then, sobs only growing louder and more ragged as his body began to tremble mercilessly. The small boy looked like he was falling apart at the seams. 

“Give him some space.” Aizawa murmured, backing up some more but still keeping a steady watch on the panicking boy. Nezu walked up beside the two men and tilted his head.

“Oh my. I think we might have broken him.” The rat had said, a smile gracing his mouth. It made Aizawa shudder. At that, the boy started rocking back and forth.

A few moments of this and the sobs had died down a little. The child reached up and pulled his hood down and his hat off, revealing a wet curly mass of black locks that gave off a green tint in the light. Aizawa was a little surprised that the boy had done this considering how secretive he usually was about his identity. But, the pro supposed, the boy probably didn’t care about that right now. Panic attacks were awful. Aizawa had had plenty in his life to understand that the child probably felt like he was dying at the moment. 

After another few minutes of rocking with one hand clutched in his hair and the other pressed tightly against the floor, the child began to sign. Or at least it looked like he was trying to. The kid only used his right hand, his left still placed flat against the cool floor of the office. Then, as quickly as the signing started it stopped and his right hand went right back into the kids hair. Another few beats of rocking and then the kid had signed something with his left hand. Whatever the kid was doing, however, seemed to be working because his sobs grew quieter, even though his body continued to shake.

Both arms were then wrapped around the boy’s legs, his hands hanging open, something the child normally did when thinking about what to sign next.

Red Shoes. And then something about goggles. Another pause and then the kid pointed at the floor and signed, ‘water puddle’. Immediately after, the child had raised his head some, another soft sob escaping his lips as he looked around. 

Blue and Yellow were signed and then the letters UA. 

“He’s grounding himself.” Nezu supplied. Aizawa and Yamada didn’t respond, not quite understanding. 

Eventually, the sobs stopped and a soft murmur filled the room as the child looked around. He commented on each of the other three in the room, not seeming to realize that he was speaking out loud. 

And then, “I-I-I th-think I’m g-g-going to th-throw up.” The child had said clearly in their direction. Aizawa quickly passed him a trash can and waited patiently for the kid to finish his heaving. Hardly anything came up - water and stomach acid being the main substances ejected from the small boy. The kid obviously hadn’t eaten much of anything, much to Aizawa’s dismay. 

Hizashi had brought the kid one of the kittens and made a stupid comment that Aizawa responded to with a light slap but it made the kid smile, which relieved Aizawa. 

“Th-Thanks.” the kid slurred, his body tilting slightly to the side.

Aizawa glanced at his husband, having a silent conversation with him before scooting closer to the kid. 

“Deku?” ha asked. The kid only tilted his head in Aizawa’s direction. “I’m going to check you for a fever.” 

“Hm’kay.” The kid whispered. 

Aizawa gently moved the hair and placed the back of his hand to his forehead. Deku flinched back at the touch but made no move to stop it beyond that. 

“He’s burning up.” Aizawa told the two occupants in the room. “We should probably take him to Recovery Girl.”

“I think that is a wonderful idea, Aizawa-san!” Nezu cheered. “You go ahead and do that. Yamada, this has taken up enough of your time, please go back to your class. The school day is only halfway through after all. I expect that you will adapt Aizawa’s classes into your schedule along with the other teachers. I will clean up here.” The Principal then picked up a towel and dropped it to the floor to start soaking up the water puddles. 

Aizawa let the kid know that he was going to pick him up but received no reply - having lost consciousness in the last few seconds. When he was almost at the door, Aizawa remembered the cats and turned back around to find Nezu holding a towel with all three kittens snuggled inside, sleeping. Nezu placed them on the kid’s stomach with a wink to Aizawa, and then turned back to his task. 

“Oh, Aizawa. I hope you don’t mind. But after that display I think it imperative that Detective Tsukauchi is called. I’ll wait until the morning to give the call but I wanted to warn you.” 

Aizawa grunted and continued out of the office. 

Chapter Text

The first thought to filter through Izuku’s head was that it was comfortable. He hadn’t been comfortable in so long. 

The second thought to filter through Izuku’s head was that he was probably in trouble. He hadn’t been comfortable in so long because he didn’t belong in comfortable areas. 

The small boy groaned as his body became more alert. A sharp pain pierced his head as he started to come to. 

“Wh-Where…” Izuku trailed off as his eyes began adjusting to the light. He was in a hospital bed. A thick curtain was pulled around, blocking him from the rest of the ward but bustling noises and low murmured voices confirmed that he wasn’t alone in the room, even if his little section was closed off. 

Izuku attempted to sit up but his body refused to let him. It was strange, being somewhere so comfy and still feeling fear and panic rise up in the base of your throat. 

Izuku tried to steady himself and lifted his hands to his face, only to find that they were cuffed to the bed. This… this was not good. 

Tears began welling in the child’s eyes as sobs began to shake his petite form. He tried to keep quiet, though. The people on the other side of the curtain didn’t know he was awake yet. If he could figure out how to get these cuffs off, he might still have a chance at escape. He just needed to calm down. He needed ‘Deku’ but that side of him could only come out if he was calm, lest he melt down from anger instead of fear. Anger was always much harder to control. 

A few deep breaths later, Izuku managed to pull his ‘Deku’ persona up into place, masking Izuku’s true fear of the situation.

As soon as Deku started messing with the handcuffs to see if there were any weak points, the curtain slid back.

Izuku was faced with a very short, elderly woman. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun and she leaned on a cane that looked more like an enlarged syringe. 

“Ah, you are awake again. You seem much more focused this time. Can you tell me your name, sonny boy?” 

Deku didn’t respond for a moment, taking in what he had heard. He had apparently woken up before then but his lack of memory lent to the idea of him suffering from a concussion or a similar ailment. Not only that… But he was pretty sure the woman in front of him was Recovery Girl: The Youthful Heroine. This made no sense though. Recovery Girl was the lead medical personal at UA, she had been for the past 15 years. Why would she be in a regular hospital. Was she training new staff members? No, that can’t be it, she would have had students following her around if that were the case. Maybe he had been injured and they needed her to heal him? But why would they call on Recovery Girl for a useless Deku? Either way, the hospitals around his territory weren’t fantastic but most of the doctor’s still had healing quirks. There should be no reason for her being here. If he was injured enough to need he powerful healing, then he would have probably been dead by the time she arrived at the hospital anyway, what with the time it would take someone to find him and then call an ambulance and then…

“Ah. So you are aware. That’s good to know. I still need you to tell me your name, though.” Recovery girl cut off his muttering. Deku’s face grew red with blush. He had been muttering. He rarely did that anymore as Deku. He must be really out of it. 

“You already know who I am.” He replied instead of answering her question. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have me cuffed.”

“Hm. I’m not the one who cuffed you. That was Detective Tsukauchi. I do apologize for that, I told him to leave my patients alone but he claimed that you were a flight risk.” 

Deku tensed at the name, suddenly becoming aware that he was not in uniform. His face was exposed and he had obviously been changed into a hospital gown. 

FuckFuckFuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

“Now, now. That enough of that. You are too young to be using that sort of language.” Recovery Girl scolded. “Aizawa tried to prevent the detective from entering but he was ultimately told to stand down. You are a wanted criminal, after all. He nearly cried when the detective handcuffed you to the bed.”

“Aizawa. You mean Eraserhead? Eraser doesn’t cry.” Deku said simply.

“Hm. No, I suppose he doesn’t do it often. But you can tell when he wants to on the inside. His face scrunches up slightly and his right eyebrow quivers. It’s been that way since he was a boy. Now enough about that grouch of a man. I need to make sure that you are doing okay. It seems your memory is a little foggy but that should clear up in a few minutes. It is a common side effect of the antibiotics that I had you on.” Recovery Girl began bustling around his hospital bed and came back with a blood pressure cuff. When she went to place it on Deku’s arm he jumped back, as far from her as he could manage. 

“Don’t touch me.” He growled out at her. Recovery girl only shook her head and took a breath.

“If you don’t let me check your vitals willingly, I have no qualms about sedating you again. You are my patient and I will heal you whether you fight me or not.” She moved to place the cuff on his arm again but Deku lunged at her, snapping his teeth threateningly. 

The little woman tumbled back, falling off the stepstool she had used to reach his height.

“I told you not to touch me.” He ground out, unable to keep his voice from wavering. The woman groaned as she struggled to stand. Her shaking body relying heavily on her cane to help her up. It took her at least a minute to rise from her position where she promptly battered herself off and then glared at Deku. 

Deku would be lying if he said he wasn’t immediately sorry for making her fall over. She really seemed to struggle at standing up and guilt wracked through his chest watching her plight. But he had warned her. In the end, Deku was just glad she didn’t appear injured. 

Her glare when she had finally righted herself sent a shiver down Deku’s spine and he once again attempted to back as far away as possible - the handcuffs making that distance extremely short. He yelped when one of the cuffs dug into his skin wrong and cut him. 

Recovery girl sighed and tutted at him. Replacing her stool and climbing back up to his level.

“Are you going to snap at me again?”

Deku didn’t answer.

“Very well, lets try this again. I am going to put this cuff on your upper arm. It is going to take your blood pressure so it may feel a tad uncomfortable as it tightens. Then, I am going to put a bandaid on that cut you gave yourself from pulling on the handcuff. Any objections?” 

“P-Please don’t.” 

Recovery Girl stopped what she was doing and looked at Deku expectantly. Deku took a breath and dropped the mask, allowing ‘Izuku’ back in place, figuring he may have a bit more luck with the stubborn woman. 

“I-I just… I d-don’t like p-people to touch m-m-me. E-Especially when I-I don’t know wh-where I am or what’s g-g-g-oing on. S-So please don’t. I’m trying r-r-realy hard not to p-panic. B-but I will i-if you k-k-keep pushing.”

This seemed to have the desired effect and Recovery Girl backed down. 

“You seem in a much more open mood now. Is this the ‘Other One’ that Aizawa was talking about?” 

Izuku didn’t know how to answer that so he remained silent. A bandage was slipped onto his bed, near his cut wrist.

“Are you able to place that on the cut, deary?”

Izuku nodded as he awkwardly twisted his arm to put the bandage in place. It ended up lopsided and tugged at his skin some but that was fine. The open wound was covered up at least. 

“Do you know my real name?” Izuku asked after a moment. 

Recovery Girl eyed him suspiciously but shook her head, “I’m afraid not, sonny. But it would be appreciated if you told me. I don’t think calling you Deku will help keep this kinder version of you around.”

“No… Deku is fine. I w-won’t get mad at y-you again.” Izuku murmured as he shifted in the bed, pulling his knees to his chest. In a brief flash of pain in his head, memories started to come back to him. The rain, the kittens, Eraserhead-san and Present Mic-san. The threat to call the authorities, the panic attack. Izuku groaned.

“Are you alright, kiddo?” Recovery Girl questioned softly.

Izuku nodded. “I h-had a p-p-p-panic attack. But that d-doesn’t explain why I p-passed out and am now h-here, ch-ch-chained up.”

“You were running an extremely high fever. Exhaustion and malnutrition can do that. You probably had a temperature before you even went out into the storm. The panic attack only amplified it. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for the past two days. My quirk doesn’t work on fevers, only physical injuries so I could only monitor you and provide you with medication.”

“W-What was it? My t-t-temperature?”

“Your highest temperature was 40.3C.”

“I don’t r-remember waking up at a-a-all.”

“You were suffering from symptoms of delirium. Calling out, hallucinating. Don’t worry, you didn’t say anything to give away who you are. Though with a clear look at your face, it is only a matter of time until Detective Tsukauchi figures it out. Here, put this under your tongue. I might as well check your temperature again.” Recovery Girl handed Izuku who obligingly stuck it under his tongue, having to lean down toward his chained wrist to place it there. 

Izuku handed it back once it had beeped, not really caring what it read. 

“36.8C, normal.” 

“Wh-where’s Eraserh-h-head-san? I th-thought he w-w-would have b-been here.”

“He is sleeping out in the hallway. He’s been there any chance he’s had since the detective cuffed you. He seems to think you won’t want to see him but has still kept close by. He mumbled something about betraying you trust.” 

Izuku flushed and looked away from Recovery Girl. A single tear ran down one of his cheeks and he cursed that he couldn’t even wipe it away. 

Detective Tsukauchi was thrilled. He had finally solved the mystery of Deku and was nearly skipping on his way up towards the UA infirmary. 

Midoriya Izuku. The kid was a little more difficult to find than he would have liked but Eraserhead’s information on his past experiences as well as the confirmed age had been a big help. 

At last, this kid would get the help he needed. 

Detective Tsukauchi viewed Deku in a similar light to how Eraserhead did. The vigilante was just a kid trying to get by and do good in the best way he knew how. It wasn’t like he ever caused any lasting harm to the villains he caught, nor did he leave any major property damage, so the kid was doing better than most pros in Detective Tsukauchi’s book. However, he was still committing illegal acts. The sooner he was stopped, the fewer charges he would have to face. 

The detective had immediately come running after he received the call from Nezu. The kid had walked into UA of his volition and then promptly collapsed in fever after a short tussle when he tried to escape. Tsukauchi couldn’t help but chuckle at his reasoning for entering such a highly guarded establishment - three kittens. It almost seemed like the kid was too pure for this world. 

Detective Tsukauchi hated cuffing the kid but knew better than to not. He was an escape artist and his quirk, at the time, was still unknown. It was better safe than sorry but the detective knew that Eraserhead was highly against it. Their relationship may be strained for a while due to it. 

The detective turned the corner towards the infirmary and saw the tell-tale sleeping bag of Eraserhead, settled right outside the doors. Eraserhead was awake, sitting up and drinking from a juice packet.

“Good evening, Aizawa-san.” Tsukauchi said quietly in greeting. Aizawa grunted in reply. “Has he woken up yet?”

“Recovery Girl just came out and said he woke up about an hour ago. He’s waiting for the handcuffs to be removed so that he can eat properly.”

Tsukauchi grimaced at that but nodded, moving to open the doors. In an instant, Aizawa was next to him, holding his wrist.

“The kid probably doesn’t want to see you. I know it’s your job to question him, but don’t stress him out more than necessary. If he tells you to get out, then you should. He’ll be here tomorrow. No need to make him sick again.”

The detective nodded and smiled kindly at Eraserhead. “I’m on his side, Aizawa. Just like you are. My goal isn’t to stress him out, but as you said, I still need to do my job.” With that, Eraserhead dropped his hand from the detective's wrist and allowed him to enter. 

The curtains were drawn around the bed that currently housed the child and the detective was slightly relieved by this. He truly didn’t want to cause more stress and he figured the kid wouldn’t necessarily like to see his face without any warning. 

Recovery Girl was healing a student at another section of the infirmary. Tsukauchi waited patiently for her to finish and send the student on their merry way. 

“Can I help you?” Recovery Girl asked.

“I heard he was awake from Aizawa. I know who he is now. I just have a few questions. Could you ask him if he is up for a conversation?” 

Recovery Girl thought for a moment and then nodded. “I see no problem in asking him if he is ready to talk.” She disappeared behind the curtain for a moment before reappearing. 

“He said no.”

“Okay. I know I said that I wanted you to ask, but I meant for you to actually just let him know I was here. I have to speak to him today, no matter what.” 

Recovery Girl sighed and led the man out the dorr of the infirmary. Aizawa was once again sitting on his sleeping bag, his back leaned against the wall with his eyes closed. The detective knew he was listening though, attentive. 

“I don’t think it is wise for you to question him right now, Detective.” Recovery Girl started. “He has refused any physical contact - even of the medical variety - and is hardly speaking. The kid is terrified of the situation he has found himself in.”

“I understand, Recovery Girl, but I must at least attempt to speak with him.”

“Yes. I of all people can sympathize with your plight. You’re lucky that Deku-kun can too. He said he would talk to you but he wanted to see Aizawa first.” 

At this, Aizawa’s eyes flew open and he stood.

“You can stand out here until I fetch you, Detective.” Recovery Girl said before leading Aizawa into the room. 

Deku was sitting upright in bed, his curly hair tangled from sleep when Aizawa walked beyond the curtain. His head was bowed, eyes downcast towards his lap, a small frown formed on his lips. The kid was located on the furthest bed, closest to the window so the setting sun was shining on him, making his already pale skin look even paler. 

“Hey kid.” Aizawa said softly. Deku flinched but didn’t move beyond that. Aizawa waited patiently for the kid to speak.

After an eternity spanning only about seven minutes, Deku looked up. 

Piercing green eyes met Aizawa’s dark gaze. Something flickered behind them and the kid sat up a bit straighter.

“Hey, Erasure.” 

The two fell into silence, neither knowing what to say to the other. 

“I don’t blame you. It was my fault for going out with a fever and being caught.” The kid supplied after a bit. 

“You really gave me a scare when you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you that much trouble.”

“Right. You only meant to cause me a small amount.” 

Deku’s lips quirked up in a small smile and he let out a little laugh. “Yah. I guess.”

“The cat’s are doing okay so far. Chotto is having a bit of trouble but the vet doesn’t seem overly worried. The other two are thriving.”

“Thanks for taking care of them.” The boy moved uncomfortably on the bed, his arms moving but being cut short by the cuffs. He scowled down at them.

“Those will probably have to stay on for a bit.”

“I’m aware.” the kid grumbled. “That is unless I can figure out a way to get them off.”

“Kid, even if your quirk was ‘escape’, you wouldn’t be able to get those off. They are suppressants.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t find a way to pick the lock.”

“I’d love to see you try.” 

Deku chuckled again.

Another few minutes of silence.

“Did the detective tell you anything yet?”

“What do you mean?”

“About me…”

“No.”

“It’s probably why he is here. He most likely found out who I am. He saw my face... Not that hard to figure it out after that...” Deku whispered, his voice growing meek. “But… I wanted you to hear it from me.”

Aizawa took a breath and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, problem child. You don’t have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No. I need you to know. So that when the detective comes and asks me questions, you won’t be looking at me with the same greedy glint that you have in your eyes right now. I don’t like the detective. It’s not going to be fun to answer his questions. But I can tolerate you…” Deku trailed off.

“Alright. I understand.” 

“Good… I guess I’ll start then. My name… My name is Midoriya Izuku. I’m fourteen years old and I was born quirkless. It’s nice to officially meet you.”

Chapter Text

“We can not allow this child to be let off without any consequences, regardless of his past. The child has been breaking the law, nightly, for over a year.” The blonde officer said, sipping on his lukewarm coffee. Aizawa scoffed.

“He is still a child, though. What do you want to do, lock him away for ten years?” Aizawa grumbled out.

“He at least deserves a stint in Juvie.” The blonde replied, eyeing the hero nervously. 

Detective Tsukauchi raised his hands placatingly. “Midoriya-kun was abused and then left on the streets. Plus, it's not like we can charge him with illegal quirk usage because Midoriya-kun doesn't have a quirk.”

“He chose to live on the streets, Detective. And actively sought out to do police and hero work without government authority” the blonde, Officer Watanabe, countered. 

“He was misguided. Don’t judge a person’s actions unless you have been in their place. What is that english saying? ‘You must first walk a mile in their shoes’?” Nezu spoke up. 

The group of seven had been going back and forth for the past hour, not making any progress on deciding the fate of the vigilante, Deku - now known as Midoriya Izuku. Do they charge him? Do they let him off? What would the even charge him with? Is he placed back into the system? Would he stay if he were placed in another home? These were only a few of the questions the group had discussed yet none had been answered. 

Tsukauchi sighed as his eyes traveled around the room again. Himself, and two officers named Officer Watanabe and Officer Nakaya had been the leads on the Deku case and were present for the meeting. Eraserhead had also joined due to his rapport with the boy. Nezu was present due to his ‘curiosity on the case having been peaked’ - or so he said. A state judge, Judge Sakai, and her assistant, Umiyama-san, were also present for the meeting. Neither had spoken much however, as their only job was to be briefed on Midoriya-kun’s past and decide on a fair punishment should the police department decide to press charges against his actions.

The two officers were against letting Deku off - suggesting locking him up to prevent his return to vigilantism - whilst Eraserhead was hellbent on letting the kid go free. Detective Tsukauchi and Nezu seemed to agree on a more ‘middle of the road’ plan but disagreed on how that would play out. 

“Perhaps,” Judge Sakai stated softly, her hands clasping in front of her in contemplation, “It would be best to bring in the child and his representative. In the end, I am the one who will decide what will happen with young Midoriya but I feel that more insight is needed on his past and his thought processes. The simple overview at the beginning of this meeting is hardly enough to make a decision on such a complicated case.” The assistant nodded along with the judge, writing notes on a clipboard. 

“In order to meet with the problem child, the handcuffs are gonna have to be removed.” Aizawa said.

“There is no reason to do such a thing. Handcuffs don’t prevent him from making a presence.” Officer Watanabe said with a snort.

“I understand your protectiveness of the child but he is still a flight risk. We can’t remove one of our only lines of defense against his escape. He has slithered through our grasp too many times to take that chance.” Officer Nakaya said more calmly than his partner. 

“Maybe, but the kid won’t talk if he is uncomfortable. And by locking up his hands, you take away his second form of communication as well.” 

Detective Tsukauchi shifted uncomfortably. He remembered his conversation with the boy only the day previous. He had consistently switched between proud and volatile to a more timid and quiet disposition. When he became quiet, he would sometimes freeze and try to move his hands to sign. Alas, the cuffs prevented this and multiple minutes of tense silence and, at times, tears followed. It had been difficult to keep up with Midoriya-kun’s ever changing moods. 

“Eraserhead.” The judge started. “Perhaps the officers would be more comfortable if you took charge of him during our meeting. Of course, should the boy escape, the consequences will lay on your shoulders.”

“Now hold on! If the kid gets away we will be the ones responsible for tracking him down again!” Officer Watanabe cried. “Need I remind you for the hundredth time how difficult the kid is to catch? Should I bring up the photo’s of my black eye? Or maybe the video of the child jumping out of a moving - and supposedly locked - cop car?”

“Or maybe we could show the video of him kicking you in the nuts from the last time we tried to get him.” Officer Nakaya laughed out quietly. Officer Watanabe glared and his face turned a faint red. 

“All I’m saying is that I’m tired of taking the brunt of having to go after this kid. He should not be given any opportunity to run. Eraserhead has a soft spot for him. If he lets him get away…”

“I’m not going to let him run.” Erasure growled out, cutting off the officer. 

And once again, the group was put back on a circling conversation.

“I got the cops to uncuff you but if you make a run for it, you are going right back into more secure restraints.” Aizawa said to the small boy. Deku looked up at him and smiled cockily as he rubbed his newly released wrists.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Erasure.” 

Aizawa rolled his eyes, half regretting his insistence on freeing the kid to this extent already. The exhausted man led Deku into a separate and larger meeting room, making sure to keep him in his sight at all times. The room was situated in the middle of the building and thus, had no windows. Deku sat on the opposite side of the room from the door to keep him from making a quick dash. 

Within 10 minutes, the room was almost completely filled with the members from the previous meeting. Only Officer Watanabe and Midoriya’s case worker weren’t present yet. Officer Watanabe had been tasked with picking up the social worker, Mochizuki-san.

Aizawa noticed the change in Deku before he noticed the woman who entered the room.

“Hello Midoriya-kun.” The woman said softly once she laid eyes on him. 

The freckled faced boy turned his head away from her and refused to reply. His body seemed to shrink in his chair at her presence, not out of fear… but out of shame. 

“It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see that you are safe.” Mochizuki-san said, her voice smooth.  The woman’s hair was a dark brown but was graying at the roots. Her face bore signs of frown lines and her eyes were aged with all that she had seen. 

Midoriya nodded slightly and shifted uncomfortably. He moved slightly away from her when she sat to his left. 

Officer Watanabe looked at the boy curiously, having never seen him look so meek. 

“Shall we begin?” Judge Sakai asked once everyone was seated. A few murmured ‘yes’s’ and the meeting began. “To begin, I would appreciate a more in depth overview of Midoriya Izuku’s past as it pertains to the State.” 

“Of course.” Mochizuki-san said, taking a breath. “Midoriya-kun came under the care of the state at the age four, after a fire that ended in his mother’s death.”

“I understand that his father was the culprit and has been in Tartarus since the incident.” The judge stated.

“Yes. That is correct.” 

“Alright. Thank you for confirming. The next part is what I am more interested in, however. I have,” The judge shuffled some papers and then lifted one from the table to show what she was looking at, “On page 6, that Midoriya Izuku went through seven foster homes in four years. Could you explain the high volume of transfers?”

Aizawa paused at that. Seven homes in four years was absurd. The problem child had only told him he had been in care for a while. Aizawa knew he had been in a multitude of homes but hadn’t thought that they would have occured in such a short amount of time.

“Yes…” Mochizuki-san hesitated and glanced at the boy next to her. He had clenched his fists and straightened some, Deku beginning to make an appearance now that his nerves had settled a bit.

“It’s b-because I’m quirkless. No-one wanted a k-kid so useless.” He grumbled. Mochizuki-san’s eyes softened. 

“Now, that isn’t tru---”

“Bullshit.” Deku spat out, lifting his head to meet her eyes. Mochizuki-san jumped back in her chair from the venom in Deku’s voice. 

“I will not have that type of language used during this meeting.” Judge Sakai stated. 

“You are here to determine your disciplinary consequences of some of your more irresponsible choices. Don’t make this worse by being disrespectful, boy.” Officer Watanabe said, more comfortable with this version of the boy. Deku glared at him and then smiled a sly smirk.

“What’s the matter, officer? Pissed that a quirkless kid got away from you so easily? Maybe you need to reassess your methods.” 

“That’s enough. Please continue Mochizuki-san.” The judge said, her eyebrows knitting together. 

“R-Right.” Mochizuki-san said, surprised at Deku’s actions. “Midoriya-kun went through so many homes for a multitude of reasons. The first four homes asked for his removal due to his habit of running away.”

“He ran away. Even at such a young age?”

“Yes. It was a habit developed when he lived with his parents. Anytime they would fight, he would sneak out of the home for a while. It seems this was encouraged by his mother in order to keep him safe from his father. It continued into the next few homes. He only seemed to run away if the foster parents showed anger towards each other or towards him.” 

“I see. How old was he when he went into his fifth home?”

“Midoriya-kun was six. This home was his longest stay before the last. It lasted a little more than a year.”

“And why was he moved if things were going well? Did he run away again?”

“No.” Deku said, earning a sharp look from the judge, Aizawa, and some of the cops in the room. He was smart enough not to continue. 

“No… he did not run from this home. His… His foster parents… they had a child of their own. The child was a year younger than Midoriya. The child developed a difficult quirk that required the foster parent’s full focus. They feared that Midoriya would be in danger since he was... unable to defend himself.” 

Deku snorted. 

“It is not unusual for foster parents to fear for the safety of a quirkless child in their care. It can be stressful. Midoriya-kun was not wrong in suggesting that quirkless children had a harder time. Quirkless children are four times more likely to be moved from a foster home than children with quirks. But it is not because you are useless, Midoriya-kun.” Mochizuki-san ended her words with a look towards the boy who was now glaring at her. 

Deku glanced at Judge Sakai, his eyes asking for permission to speak. The woman sighed and nodded permission. 

“You’ve always been kind hearted, Mochizuki-san.” Deku started, careful of his tone. “But the rest of the world isn’t like you. To them, being quirkless is a death sentence. To them, being quirkless just means that you are useless.. Where the fu-” Deku cut himself off and took a breath. “Where do you think the name Deku came from? I didn’t give it to myself.” 

The room fell silent for a moment before the judge continued, awkwardly. “And the next home?”

“The Amano family had Midoriya-kun for five months. They called me after he had a breakdown at the supermarket. They were stopped by pros who were concerned for Midoriya-kun. He had severe psychological symptoms due to his past that made him prone to melt downs at the time. His foster mother was concerned that she could not give him a happy home as he did not show affection willingly. She was also concerned that he may ruin her chance at adopting a child in the future due to the suspicion she was brought under from his actions.”

“It is my understanding that Midoriya’s final home was supposedly deemed a successful match.”

“Yes. The Okabe family. They had Midoriya-kun for three years before he ran away the final time. It is still unknown why he ran away.” Mochizuki-san looked at Deku in question. He had bowed his head again, transitioning back to his meeker self. 

“He left because they were abusive.” Aizawa provided. The other’s in the room looked at him in a mixture of shock and disbelief. 

“I-It wasn’t quite…” Izuku trailed off. Not really sure what to say. The Okabe’s were good people. They just…. Izuku was the problem. Izuku was always the problem. Being quirkless. Being broken. They didn’t do anything wrong. Izuku just had to learn not to be trouble. They tried really hard.

“If they weren’t abusive, then why did you run away?” Judge Sakai asked. 

Izuku jolted in his seat and blushed a bit, knowing he had been mumbling. Again.

“I-I just…” Izuku didn’t really know what to say. “B-Because I h-h-hurt them.”

“Ah, yes. One of my staff, Ishiyama Ken - better known as Cementoss, was on patrol when the attack was called in.” Nezu spoke up for the first time since the meeting began. 

“I do not have any record of an attack.” Said Detective Tsukauchi. 

“Neither do I.” Said the judge. “Please, enlighten us Principal Nezu.”

“Of course.” Nezu passed a small stack of papers around the table - one was even provided to Izuku. Each packet from the stack consisted of 6 double sided pages. The full detailed report of the incident, it seemed. “When the call was received, an officer - who is now retired - as well as Cementoss went to assess the situation. Upon arrival, Cementoss reported that the man of the home sported bruises to his face and chest as well as injuries to his fists. The woman appeared unharmed but was hysterical. The story they told police was that a robber broke into the home and attacked the family. When Mr. Okabe fought back, the robber ran, only taking a small amount of cash with him.”

Izuku scooted further into his chair. That story was a lie. 

“According to Mrs. Okabe,” Nezu continued, “Their foster son, Midoriya-kun, ran when the robber arrived - seemingly afraid of the situation. This set off a search for the boy that amounted to a dead end. It would seem, however, that this story is probably not the truth. As seen on page five, Cementoss noted that the story seemed unreliable due to the changing details but this was written off as shock by the police.” Nezu smiled cheerily, “Perhaps Midoriya-kun can provide us with the truth.”

All eyes turned towards the boy who was currently wishing he was invisible. Or at least that Deku would appear again. Deku wouldn’t be so nervous. But Deku couldn’t talk about the Okabe family. The Okabe family didn’t anger or scare Izuku so that persona wasn’t needed. No… Izuku was the scary one in this situation. Izuku was the one at fault. 

“I don’t want to. Just go with that story. ” Izuku signed. Aizawa translated for those in the room who couldn’t understand. 

“That is not an option.” Nezu said cheekily. “The can of worms has been opened, as they say.”

Izuku glanced at him, a small pout forming on his face. 

“I hit them. Then I left. I didn’t take any money, though.”

“Why would you lash out?” Tsukauchi questioned. “Even as Deku, you never made the first move.” 

“I messed up.”  

Officer Watanabe snorted, “That much is obvious, kid.”

A glare was sent his way as a sliver of Deku rose to the surface. 

“I-I….” a huff. “I was in the way… so”

“What were you doing before you hit Okabe-san?” Aizawa asked. 

“I… I was j-j-just writing. In m-my note-b-b-book.”

“You just lashed out for no reason, then?”

“No.”

“Then what happened while you wrote in your notebook?”

“I was in the way.”

“That’s not an answer.” Aizawa’s voice was stern. Izuku didn’t really know why he was becoming upset with him but was determined to answer to try and make Aizawa okay again. He needed Aizawa to be okay with him right now.

“Mai-san was trying to clean and I didn’t notice. I was in my own head. I knew she didn’t like that.”

“And?” Aizawa encouraged. He had never actually heard the story. 

“She got mad.”

“What did she do when she got mad, Midoriya-kun?” Mochizuki-san was speaking this time. She seemed much more comfortable with this version of the child. 

“She…” Izuku hesitated in his signing, his face scrunching up in thought. “Sh-she j-j-just… to m-make me… my fault.” 

Izuku looked up at Aizawa hopefully, wanting that to be enough. A shy smile spreading across his lips. He backtracked at the narrowed eyes staring back at him.

“She hit me.” Izuku finally signed quickly. “B-b-but I was in th-th-the way. I sh-should have m-moved. I-It was my f-fault.”

“Then you hit her back?” The judge asked. “But I thought the woman didn’t have any marks on her.” Judge Sakai looked back at the accident report that Nezu had provided. Nezu’s grin widened. 

“N-No.” Izuku said meekly. “I… I m-messed up a-again. Th-that’s when Daichi-san c-came.”

“How did you mess up?” Aizawa asked with a sigh.

“I cried. I wasn’t supposed to cry anymore.”

The people in the room stilled.

“What did they do when you cried?” Aizawa asked, his tone more angry. 

Izuku flinched back. He was messing up again. He just didn’t know how. This is why the Deku mask was the one who dealt with people. He didn’t give unsightly information away.

“Daichi-san was mad. He had just told me that morning. It was my fault. Really. And then I hit back. I shouldn’t have hit back. They were just trying to teach me. So I ran.”

More silence followed while the impact of what Izuku had signed sat in. 

“Did Daichi-san hit you too, Midoriya-kun?” Mochizuki-san asked softly. 

Izuku nodded. “B-but. Th-that was normal. I-I-It was f-f-fine. He always a-a-apologized after. H-he just wanted me to be g-g-good.” Izuke began panicking at the looks on the other’s faces. “I-It was m-m-my fault.” Izuku switched back to sign. “ I don’t really remember much. My mind blanked out. And when I came back… I was hitting him. I wasn’t safe. I was like Daddy. I wasn’t safe.” A tear slid down Izuku’s face at Aizawa’s expression. 

“P-Please don’t h-h-hate me. I-I’m sorry. I-I t-t-tr-tried to m-make up for it. I h-helped people. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Izuku pleaded with Aizawa and continued muttering apologies as he covered his face with his hands, drawing his knees to his chest. He wanted to put his mask back up. He was acting weak. He was giving too much away. He wasn’t supposed to cry anymore. That’s why Deku was put in place. To make up for Izuku’s weaknesses. 

Aizawa stayed by Izuku’s side, not quite sure what to do to comfort the boy. What he did know, however, was to not touch the kid. Unfortunately, it seemed Mochizuki-san did not get the memo.

The woman reached out before Aizawa could understand what she was doing. 

“Don’t touch me!” the small boy called out when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He jumped out of the chair and backed against the wall. “I-I-I… I’m not safe. Don’t touch me.” Izuku’s eyes flickered between shame, anger, and guilt. A war occurring in his head. These people were trying to hurt him. They wanted him locked away. They would definitely lock him away now. He had no chance. But he deserved it. He deserved to be locked up.

The tears in Izuku’s eyes dried up and the mask of Deku slipped into place. It didn’t matter if he was at fault. How could he make up for his pitiful failures if they locked him up. He had to help people to make amends. If they put him away, his debts would just grow larger. He would just be more of a burden. 

The other’s in the room gave him a strange look that Deku couldn’t decipher. It made him angry. They all seemed to be in on some secret that he wasn’t privy to. They wanted him to just go away. 

“If you fuckers are going to lock me up then go ahead and try! I’ll just get out. If you want me gone, then just let me be! I’ll be less of a fucking burden if you just let me go back! It’s not like I hurt anyone out there! Just leave me alone!” 

“Sit down, problem child.” Aizawa said, shocking Deku into silence. Aizawa could handle Deku. The brat was strong-willed and could take his naturally stern tone. 

Deku glared at the man.

“This is your fault. It’s your fault I’m here! It's your fault I had to tell them!”

“So what?” Aizawa asked. “Blame me all you want. I don’t care. But you need to sit down and chill out before we have a replay of Nezu’s office.” 

Deku eyed the capture scarf warily and sat back down, defeated for the moment.

“Don’t touch him. He doesn’t like people in his personal space.” Aizawa growled at Mochizuki-san. The woman nodded, her expression neutral. 

“Are we okay to continue?” Judge Sakai asked. The question was for Deku but aimed at Aizawa. Aizawa gave the boy an appraising look and then shrugged. 

“Maybe.” Aizawa supplied.

“Yes.” Deku said glumly, folding his arms on the table and lying his head in them.

Chapter Text

“What did you do after you ran away?” Judge Sakai asked after a short break.

“How specific do I need to be?” Deku grumbled out. Like hell was he gonna let this mask fall again. He’s already let his ‘real self’ fuck up once. It wasn’t gonna happen again. It couldn’t. 

Aizawa sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. Deku internally smiled at the action. Good. Of all people, Deku didn’t mind annoying Erasure a bit. 

“Perhaps it will help if I ask more targeted questions.” Tsukauchi offered. The judge nooded. 

“I’ll fill in if I come up with something on my own.” The judge said.

“Alright, Midoriya-kun.” Deku tilted his head in the Detective’s direction. “Where did you go when you left the Okabe house? Where did you sleep that night? The following weeks and months?”

“First… I went home.”

“Home?” The judge asked.

“To mom’s. I don’t know why.”

“The house that had been burnt down?” Tsukauchi asked.

“No, the other house where my parents never fought and flowers lined the walkway.” Had the sarcasm been actual liquid, the room would have flooded from the amount that dripped from Deku’s tongue. 

No one replied to his snarky comment so Deku continued. “It’s not there anymore. They built an apartment complex over it. I slept in the parking garage that night and then got kicked out by a security guard early the next morning. After that I started making my way towards my territory… A small section of Sector 9.” Deku tacked on the last sentence when he saw Mochizuki-san’s confusion.

“When did you start working as a vigilante?”

“My official debut, according to the civilians in my territory, was August of last year, but I’d been helping people with smaller things for months before then.”

Detective Tsukauchi flipped through some of his papers. “The first recorded sighting I have of you is last November. How did you stay off the police’s radar for three months?”

Deku laughed sadly and raised his head from his arms, cocking it to the side.

“Do you really think people in that part of town would have let on about me? Come on, Detective. You are smarter than that. I’m one of the few who did anything in that shitty ass sector. Why would people snitch on someone who helped . It’s not like heroes ever patrol there. Well, except Erasure, anyway. The only reason you caught on to me was because one of the villains I stopped ratted me out. Pretty shitty to lower the sentence of a known rapist in order to gain information on someone who was just trying to help, but I guess that’s the fucked up society we live in. You know he only got less than a year before getting off on good behavior? Doubt you’d give me that leniency.” 

The detective paled a bit and Judge Sakai fidgeted in her seat. 

“Cut it out with the language.” Aizawa warned. Deku rolled his eyes at the man. He was feeling much more confident talking about this part of his life. This part was easy. This part was one of the few times he actually did something good, something useful. Ironic that this was the time in his life when he used the name ‘Deku’ most. 

“Excuse me for interrupting, but how did you gain the skills to be this… vigilante?” Nezu questioned, his eyes gleaming in curiosity.

“Sensei taught me. Well, a few sensei’s taught me. They have free martial arts and self help courses around that were pretty easy for a kid to get into with a forged parental signature.” Deku’s eyes had lit up at this topic, “I also used books and videos as supplements. If you analyze how a person moves their body and assess and compare the needed flexibility and strength required to do the moves, it’s not all that hard. It just takes practice. It’s not like I had to go to school so I had plenty of time to train.” 

“So you never attempted to further your education?” Nezu continued his line of questioning. 

“I made sure to stay on grade level by taking sample end of term exams the library provided but ultimately I only studied what I found interesting.”

Nezu’s eyes gleamed, sending a chill down the backs’ of a few people in the room. 

“Do you think you can go into detail on what you did as a vigilante? Your nightly routine, what you involved yourself in, how you managed to escape the police so frequently.” Tsukauchi questioned.

“I’m not gonna give away all my secrets, Detective.” Deku said. “But, I’ll tell you some. At first I did small stuff, making sure people got home safe, guiding fights away from heavily populated areas of my territory, calling the police on people who overdosed. Then it escalated a little. My first major act was breaking up a gang fight. I guess that is what most people would say is my debut. Both sides were acting like idiots so I subdued them before they could cause more damage to the already falling buildings. Most of them gave up when they realized they were causing their homes harm. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation to diffuse a situation. I used that to my advantage and got away with only a few bruises from the more stubborn ones.”

Deku paused.

“You guys should really focus on training the future pro’s to de-escalate situations before running in head-first.” He said towards Nezu who only chuckled and nodded his head a bit. “Most of what I did was de-escalation. The people in my territory aren’t usually villains. They are just broke, hungry, and afraid. That leads people to do shitty stuff sometimes.”

“Kind of like you.” Aizawa said under his breath.

Deku bristled and hissed low at him, “What I did as a vigilante helped people. Sure I regret doing things to people who didn’t deserve it in my past. Hurting people when shit was my fault. But I don’t regret a single thing that I did as ‘Deku’. I never started a fight, only ended them before they could go really wrong. I never seriously maimed anyone and I never killed. That’s more than most heroes.” 

“You really don’t see your error in becoming a vigilante?” Judge Sakai asked.

“No more than you see the error in becoming a judge.” Deku responded.

“I follow this path legally.”

“I didn’t have that option.” Deku hissed. 

The judge sighed, rubbing her temples. “What possessed you to get yourself in a situation where you could be captured, then?”

Deku tensed and sent a side-eyed glance at Aizawa who only smirked into his scarf.

“There were… kittens.”

“Kittens?” Officer Nakaya asked.

“Yah, I found them during the storm. And… I couldn’t just let them die. Their mom was already deceased and they were in my territory so I h-had to p-p-protect them.” Deku ended softly, a bit of his mask falling away.

“He was also lonely.” Aizawa supplied.

Deku grimaced and would have tried to sock the hero in his face if he didn’t think the cops in the room would panic. Deku knew Erasure could care for himself and would be able to dodge but the cops would view it as a true attack. 

“Hmph, the great Deku being caught because of a couple of cute little kitties. Who’d have thought.” Officer Watanabe sneered.

“Hm. You’re right, Officer-san. Maybe Tsukauchi-san should replace you with them since they seem to be more capable.” Deku said off-handedly, knowing it would drive the other up the wall. 

“All right. I’ve had enough of this.” The judge groaned, grabbing her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such intense whiplash from talking with someone before.” 

Deku looked at Aizawa in confusion as the black haired man and the other adults in the room (with the exception of Nezu) nodded their heads in agreement. 

Deku was forced to remain in the room with Aizawa whilst the others filtered out to discuss his future. He hated having no say in what happened to him. Then again , a voice whispered in the back of his mind, it could be worse.

He slumped forward in his chair again, head resting back on his arms. He almost fell asleep while waiting for the others to come back into the room. 

“In light of your unapologetic view of the illegal acts you committed as a vigilante,” The judge began once she had seated herself, “the police department has decided to press charges against you.”

Deku’s heart sank a little and he stiffened. The judge gave him a moment to process. He knew that he would be screwed when this all started, but it still hurt. Sweat poured down his temple as he thought through his options, being careful not to mumble out loud. If he managed to escape before they put him in the detention center, he would have to find a new sector to stay in. He would have to lay low for a while, changing his hair color and wearing makeup and contact lenses to alter his face just enough to not be caught. Maybe he could bleach the curly black locks. Brown wouldn’t be too bad of an eye color, either. If he didn’t escape though… say if Eraserhead was with him all the way up to the center, not allowing for a get away… Deku might just have another mental breakdown. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Life just got a lot harder either way. 

“However, you did not use a quirk illegally and it is clear that the system has failed you in a multitude of ways. You are only fourteen and have your entire life ahead of you, still.”

Deku’s ears perked up at this.

“So… This is my ruling. I will give you the choice of two possible options. Your first option is to enter juvenile detention and remain there until you turn fifteen. From there, you will be placed back into the system. Should you resume your illegal activities, a prison sentence will be recommended in your file.”

Deku wasn’t much a fan of that option.

“Your second option is one that Principal Nezu and I have agreed upon together. Principal Nezu and I have made arrangements for you to be under the care of UA staff - your main guardian being Aizawa Shota, AKA Eraserhead. Should he accept, that is. You will be the ward of UA until you come of age or break the rules I am about to set out.

Whilst there, you will take classes with three of the courses available to find a best fit for your future, the business course, the support course, and the hero course. You will be under the watchful eye of a pro-hero at all times and will not be allowed to roam the city without direct supervision from one of your caretakers. You will be required to take a placement exam and commit to any remedial classes necessary to put you back at the level of your peers. Any and all communication with known criminals will be forbidden. You will also be required to wear an ankle monitor for a year. It will track your location at all times and will alert authorities should you exit the range of the pros that will be caring for you. Should you break any of these rules or remove the monitor, you will immediately be sent to Juvenile detention and then will be transferred to prison once you come of age. Your minimum prison sentence will be a year.” 

Deku looked at her, mouth open.

“What?”

“Is there a part that was not clear?” The judge asked with a raised eyebrow.

“N-No. But… You’re offering me a place at UA?” Deku aimed this question at Nezu. 

The bear, rodent thing nodded. “So long as Aizawa-sensei agrees to take you on. I don’t know if any of my other teachers could handle you, full time.”

Deku glanced at Eraser who was currently massaging the bridge of his nose. 

“But… What about my people?” 

“Your people?” Judge Sakai asked, face scrunching in confusion.

“The people in my territory!”

“You really aren’t in a situation to be making requests, kid.” Officer Watanabe said from his spot by the door. 

“Well who the hell is gonna take care of them?” Deku shouted at the man, anger rising.

“Leave it to the adults, problem child.” Aizawa said calmly. “We aren’t gonna let anything happen. Especially now that the area has been brought to our attention.”

“But who will feed Yua-san? Who will make sure that Saichu-san doesn’t overdose again? Who is gonna keep the drug dealers and gangs from….”

“Kid.” Aizawa interrupted. “Do you have so little faith in me?”

Deku quieted down at that, his eyes going wide.

“I can really go to UA?” he whispered.

“I wouldn’t have offered if you couldn’t.” Nezu says. 

“I can really train to be a hero? Like a real one?”

“Within reason. You are still quirkless. You seem capable enough but you will train under the other courses as well, just in case you can not keep up with the hero course syllabus. You will have a much harder time than other students. Your course load will be at least doubled and you will have little time for breaks.” Nezu spoke calmly as he walked towards Deku. 

“Holy shit.” Deku breathed.

“Aizawa,” Nezu said, “If he chooses UA, the first lesson that you will teach him will be to tame that mouth of his while using this… Deku persona… It is unbecoming of a hero, afterall.” Nezu’s eyes glinted with mischief and he continued. “Now. Which choice will you choose, Midoriya-kun?” 

Chapter Text

“Are we sure these are really necessary?” Deku asked as the Detective knelt before him, securing one of four monitors onto his right ankle. 

Unlike the bulky pieces of plastic commonly placed on criminals, Deku was being given a new and advanced version of a location monitor. The pieces looked like tight, black leather bracelets and anklets to not draw attention from the public. These devices were not only location monitors, they also served as programmable cuffs should Deku try to run. This was a stipulation that the cops had demanded should Deku be released in to UA custody. Only Nezu had access to the ‘shackles’ option as they would only be used if absolutely necessary. 

“Maybe they wouldn’t have been if you didn’t constantly threaten at running away.” Aizawa drawled out as he entered the room with Nezu.

Deku carefully rubbed at the one on his right wrist as he waited for the Detective to finish placing the devices on his ankles. 

“They look pretty harmless.” Deku thought out loud.

“You are correct, Midoriya-kun.” Nezu said. “These were not meant to cause you pain or discomfort, only to provide your location and a fail safe should you decide to renege on your agreement. Should you attempt to escape, I will enact the safety feature which will form bonding agents between the cuffs, effectively immobilizing you.”

Aizawa even looked a little skeptical at the tiny bands. “Are you sure, Nezu?”

“Hm. Well, that is what the test is for.” 

Midoriya looked at his new principal warily.  “What test?” 

“I want you to attempt to escape. I assure you that you will not be punished this time as I am giving you permission.”

The look on Deku’s face must have been less controlled than he thought as Nezu spoke again.

“Not to worry Midoriya-kun. This is a completely logical test. We must test that every system is in place. Plus… I have a feeling that you would attempt something reckless within a few weeks anyway. By performing this test with permission, we will be able to simultaneously evaluate the location monitoring system, appraise the automatic handcuffing system, and allow your curiosity to be sated. After all, we wouldn’t want you thinking that they didn’t work and then ruining your future now would we?”

“I wasn’t worried.” Deku replied, ignoring the bulk of Nezu’s speech. Of course Deku would want to try to get away at some point. It, for some reason, irked Deku that Nezu had realized this.

“Wonderful!” Nezu clapped his hands together. “You have 24 hours to make an escape. The teachers of UA have been given small devices that connect with the bands. So long as you are within one mile of any teacher or inside the bounds of UA, you will be put on ‘Green’ status. That is, you are doing what you are supposed to do. Supposedly, the moment you exit those boundaries, a notification will be sent to Aizawa, myself and a select few teachers. No need for you to know everyone who has access. You might find a way around the system if I gave you all the information.”

Deku thought that Nezu may be overestimating him a bit.

“Once you exit the boundaries, you will officially be on ‘Yellow’ status. The teachers who receive the notification have the option to keep you on ‘yellow status’ or initiate ‘Code Red’. If the teachers do not answer within five minutes, ‘Code Red’ will automatically be entered for said teacher. If every teacher does place you on ‘Code red’, it will verify that you were not given permission to be so far away. At that point, You will be counted as ‘black status. ‘Black status’ will alert the police. From there, the teachers and police may track you via the locators in the bands. While on ‘black status’, your vitals will be monitored via special electrical pulses - allowing us to read your heart rate and oxygen levels. This is to ensure that you are not in danger. Once in black status, I may initiate ‘Code Silver’, which is the cuffs. Understand?”

Deku’s head spun a bit from the information but he nodded his head. 

“As I mentioned before, you have permission to attempt to escape within the next 24 hours.” Nezu said. “The teachers and police have been notified of the plan to test this new technology.”

“Why would I try to escape if you are expecting it?” Deku asked.

“As I said before, to curb your curiosity. This is your one chance to test the boundaries without getting in trouble.”

“And if they don't work? These cuffs, or bands, or whatever? What makes you think I’ll come back?”

Nezu chuckled. “That is a risk I am willing to take.” 

That statement, for some reason, made the hair on the back of Deku’s neck raise. 

“This is your opportunity to pick up your belongings, kid.” Aizawa supplied. “And to say goodbye to anyone in your territory if you wish.”

“Once you escape and the ‘Black Status’ initiates, you will be given an hour before the cuffs are activated. Any questions?”

“No… I don’t think so.”

Deku focused his attention on Detective Tsukauchi who had a scowl on his face.

“I’m still not completely comfortable with this Nezu-san. Is it really necessary to be so… extra?” The detective said.

“Don’t fret Detective. Midoriya-kun will be fine. We must test the technology anyway. Besides, UA is known for being ‘Plus Ultra’ is it not?” Nezu laughed as he walked out of the room.

They really did it. They let him escape. Deku was exhilarated as he jumped from building to building in his territory. He had been unable to remove the bands but they didn’t seem to work in the end anyway. It had been three hours since he had snuck out of UA. The system was really not so advanced. Deku had discovered this after hacking the main security system via the computer in Power Loader’s office. 

If you were going to allow security access from a computer, don’t just man the door with a lock that was so simple to pick. Deku had discovered throughout the day that once inside UA, it wasn’t so difficult to get into places. The security seemed focused on the perimeter. Not the inside. This made sense, of course. UA was just a high school.

Once he had made the run for it, slipping out from under Present Mic’s watch (that man was a really deep sleeper), Deku had made his way straight to the broken down complex where he had hidden his backpack. He needed that if he was going to be forced back into UA custody. 

Although the opportunity to join UA was great, Deku still didn’t trust those people. No way were they being that kind because they were good people. Deku had been on the streets too long to not realize that he was either being played or being used in some way. Izuku didn’t agree but Deku pushed his more optimistic thoughts away. Deku was the survivor. Izuku used him to survive. Izuku had no say.

Once obtaining his bag, he had met up with Saichu-san to ensure that he was still clean. The man had been clean for two months now. It was the longest he had gone without using. To be honest, he wasn’t looking too hot, keeled over on his bed in pain. Deku made a mental note to send the police a memo to check on him whether Deku was caught that night or not.

When he gave a vague farewell to the man, Saichu had looked up in shock.

“You aren’t coming back, are you?”

“I got caught.” Deku let out weakly. No point in lying. “If they find me, I’m gone. If they don’t find me again, I’m still gone. I can’t stay in this territory anymore.”

Saichu had nodded and collapsed back on the bed. Izuku’s heart reached out to try and ease the man’s pain but Deku stopped it. He had other people to visit. 

Yua-san was excited to be greeted with multiple shopping bags of prepackaged food. She was pregnant now, having whored herself for some extra cash a few months previous. Deku encouraged her to seek a shelter a few districts over. If not for her sake, then for the baby’s. Deku knew she wouldn’t keep it and the orphanages in this part of town were… meager. If Yua managed to join a home, at least until the baby was born, the child would have a better chance in the slightly richer part of Musutafu. Yua cried when Deku confirmed that he wouldn’t be coming back. Deku didn’t really know how to react. It wasn’t like he and Yua had a relationship beyond food.

Deku also visited a few gang members that owed him some favors and pulled his trump card on them all. They were to be the new protectors of this district should the police not be enough. Many gang members owed it to Deku. The boy had helped or rescued many of them and their families. Those that Deku had sought out were the most in his debt. The freckled faced boy hoped it would be enough, though a tug in his gut told him that he was probably being unrealistic. 

It hurt to have to leave. But this was the real world. And the real world hurt.

So now here he was, flying across rooftops in search of a new territory. It wasn’t Deku’s fault that the cuffs didn’t work. Nezu had given him permission to use this as an opportunity to get away and Deku would be damned if he didn’t take it. 

The boy was almost in the next town over when it happened. Izuku almost cried in anger. Damnit!

Izuku felt a jolt run through his arms and legs. He cried out in shock as his arms were jerked behind his back as the bracelets connected to one another. The bands on his ankles also connected. The leather seemed to expand and join the wristlets and anklets. Deku had been mid jump and landed harshly on the next roof. His face had skid along the cement as Deku had been unable to ease the impacts with his arms locked behind his back.

Deku’s arms were straining as the binding pulled his arms towards his ankles from behind. Deku ended up on his side, breathing heavily as his body fought the restraints. The strain on his body hurt but wasn’t unbearable. In the end, Deku definitely couldn’t move. The boy did his best to right himself at least a bit but his shoulder was popped out of it’s socket from the attempt. 

The vigilante almost screamed from the sudden pain but managed to bite his tongue. That fucking hurt. But it was his fault for struggling too violently. If this ever happened again, Deku would have to keep that in mind. Find a way around it. 

Deku lied there for a few moments, breath coming quickly. He felt helpless in this state. What the hell? This was incredibly dangerous! What if the cuffs had activated right as he jumped? He would have plummeted four stories to his death! What if he had been in the middle of a scuffle? Anyone could have killed him in this vulnerable state. The once seemingly innocent bands were now much more terrifying in the boy’s mind. 

Deku began to panic as time continued to pass. What if they meant to just leave him like this? What if they never intended to let him go to UA? What if he would be forced to stay chained up on this roof for a few days. His only chance of rescue being if someone heard his cries for help and actually cared enough to rescue him. He might be left here to die from dehydration. Or maybe Heroes would come and give him food and water, only to leave him to burn in humiliation for a few days. 

Deku’s head began to spin as another panic attack began. Izuku was moving forward in his mind to do damage control. 

“Damn it kid, how the hell did you get this far in so short a time?” A voice breached through his swirling thoughts and the child could have cried in joy. Eraserhead. Thank god.

“P-P-Please let me out. I-I-I can’t…” Izuku took a studying breath. “I-I can’t b-b-b-breathe. I can’t c-calm d-d-down like th-this.”

A soft grunt sounded as Eraserhead knelt by him. 

“Nezu is coming to unlock them. He has to be within ten feet to do so. He should be here in a few minutes. We honestly didn’t think you would get quite this far.” 

Eraserheads voice calmed Izuku a little but the panic was still slowly increasing. 

“You’re all scratched up. Can I give you some basic first aid while we wait?”

“I-I-I don’t kn-know.”

If I do something you don’t like, just tell me. I’ll stop.” 

Izuku nodded, breathing deeply through his nose. He didn’t like this. He wanted out.

“I’m gonna sit you up.” Aizawa said. Izuku nodded again and Aizawa gently sat the boy up and onto his knees. It was uncomfortable but better than lying face first on the ground. 

“I d-d-don’t like this.” Izuku said

“Sitting up?”

“N-No….” Izuku paused as his breath hitched. “B-B-being restrained. I-I don’t…”

“I know, kid. I’m sorry. I’m gonna remove your goggles. They’re cracked and the shards look sharp. I don’t want them to hurt your eyes. 

Izuku hadn’t even noticed the goggles due to his panic and his eyes having been closed in relief (and slight disbelief) since Aizawa had first spoken.

Aizawa wiped the gravel off his face and quickly patched up the few scrapes littering the small amount of skin that showed through the vigilante outfit. Eventually, Aizawa noticed his shoulder.

“Did you shoulder dislocate when the cuffs activated? We can fix them so that doesn’t happen again.”

“N-No…” Izuku was having a much harder time replying as tears fell from his eyes. Signing was so much easier when he felt trapped. Except… this time he was literally trapped and couldn’t move his arms.That thought only made his panic worse. 

Considering the circumstances, Izuku was a little surprised he was coping so well. Usually he would be much more panicked in this situation. It wasn’t like he had a villain to keep his focus. Maybe he could keep control anytime there was another person, not just a villain. Though that didn’t explain the attack the night he went to UA on purpose. Then again, he had had a fever that night, hadn’t he?

Sometimes; no, most of the time, Izuku couldn’t even explain his own reactions.

When the boy didn’t give further explanation to the shoulder, Aizawa looked at him skeptically.

“These aren’t supposed to hurt you physically. Just restrain. Don’t lie just to save face.”

“I-I-It wasn’t.” Izuku stuttered. “I did it. S-S-Struggled too hard.”

Aizawa nodded and checked the boy over for any more injuries. He couldn’t do anything about the shoulder while the kid was chained.   

“Anything else hurt?” Aizawa questioned.

The kid didn’t respond this time and Aizawa patted his face.

“Problem Child? They are only two minutes out. Don’t fall into a panic attack now. You’re almost out.” The kid had his eyes clenched tightly. He was grimacing and breathing harshly though his teeth. “Kid?”

No response. Aizawa groaned.

“They are so close. Come on, Deku. Snap out of it.”

“N-N-Not D-Deku.” Aizawa raised an eyebrow at that. “I-I-Izuku. O-O-Or Midoriya. O-O-Or kid. I-I’m not D-Deku when I’m… St-st-struggling. D-D-Deku’s a h-h-hero. H-h-hero’s d-d-d-don’t cry. S-so not D-Deku.” 

Aizawa was going to reply when Yamada appeared, carrying Nezu.

“Oh my.” The mammal said. “So they do work.”

“P-P-Please.” Izuku whimpered. “Off.”

Nezu tapped something on his tablet and the cuffs released, forming back into innocent looking bands. Izuku fell forward, just barely catching himself with one hand. 

The boy was shaking, though the tears had dried quickly when Nezu and Yamada had appeared.

“What the fuck?” The kid whispered. 

“I’m sorry?” Nezu asked calmly.

“Why the hell didn’t you come sooner!” Izu Deku (man was that confusing - even for the boy himself at times) screamed at the principal. “I want these off! I don’t want them! I’d rather go to prison! Get them off!” Deku jumped at Nezu and grabbed him by the collar of his suit before Yamada or Aizawa could react.

“Are you going to hit me, Midoriya-kun?” Nezu asked, a hint of humor in his tone.

Deku paused for a moment and then pushed the mammal back into the ground. Nezu stood and then straightened his tie. 

“If you really prefer prison, we can arrange it. But perhaps you should calm down and get some rest before you make that decision.”

Deku only glared.

“Um… Should we head back to school?” Yamada asked cautiously after some minutes of silence. “Are you okay with that Little Listener?”

Aizawa was glad his husband asked instead of expected. He had already learned some of the kid’s oddities in so short a time. It had taken Aizawa months to figure out the ‘ask’ vs ‘command’ issue the kid had. Then again, Yamada had always been better at adapting to emotions and people than Aizawa had been.

Deku was silent for a while. It seemed like he wasn’t going to answer with how long it took him to reply. “I can’t move my arm…” He paused as he gripped it. “Can you set it, Eraser? I can’t get off a building this tall without the added balance.

“We’ll get you down, Little Listener.”

“I don’t want to be touched that much.” Deku replied calmly. “Better to do something quick, without much contact.” The kid looked down at the roof he was still kneeling on, his body still quaking slightly. 

“Fine.” Aizawa nodded and moved towards the kid. 

Deku flinched as Aizawa got into position but didn’t pull away. Aizawa popped the shoulder back. Deku bit his lip to keep from screaming. After that, the four left the rooftop and took a car back to the UA campus.

Chapter Text

Midoriya stayed in the infirmary that night, Aizawa and Chiyo (Recovery Girl) taking shifts to watch over him. Technically, the allotted 24 hours weren’t up yet, so Deku could still make a run for it without getting into trouble, Aizawa knew he wouldn't do so, however. Not with the bands circling his extremities.

The boy didn’t sleep. He sat in the corner of the medical wing, choosing instead to alternate between rummaging through his backpack, stare at the opposing wall, and having small, pointless conversations with his guardians. 

He didn’t seem to have much fight left in him. Exhaustion and acceptance finally taking root in his mind. 

“Am I gonna sleep here every night?” The boy asked Chiyo around 03:00.

“No, sony. Arrangements are being made for a permanent residence for you, on campus. You will be the first student to live on campus, you know. UA has a small apartment building for emergency situations or when teachers need to stay the night for an early morning with their students. You will likely be given a room there. A different teacher will stay with you each night to make sure you are safe.”

Midoriya snorted, “Effectively caged, you mean.”

“You did agree to the terms.” Chiyo said as she observed the boy. He was scratching at the band on his wrist, rubbing the surrounding area raw.

“I guess… I guess I just didn’t comprehend how trapped it would make me feel.”

“The goal isn’t to make you uncomfortable Midoriya-kun. It is to provide you a safe place to grow and learn. UA is safe. It is not a villain encampment. We are not going to cause you any harm.”

Izuku scratched at his wrist a little harder, blood pooling at the surface. “Sure.”

Chiyo sighed and grabbed some gauze and bandages, sliding them to the boy. He had made it clear that he didn’t want anyone within five feet of him. “Stop that scratching. You are injuring your wrists.”

The child ignored her. 

Midoriya felt numb. Like he didn’t really exist. This hadn’t happened in so long. Not since he had been moved into the last foster home. Izuku and Deku both were silent. He didn’t know what to do without one of the personalities taking the fore. Who was he if he wasn’t either timid and shy or volatile and sly. A small smile quirked his lips when his mind thought the rhyme. Was that Izuku smiling? No… Izuku never felt numb. Izuku felt everything. 

Why didn’t this happen when he woke up in the hospital room the last time? Or when the judge had made her final decision? Why did it wait so long?

Because you thought there was still a chance, then.

He shook his head.

His shoulder hurt. Maybe he should have Recovery Girl look at it when he could get close to people again. Would he ever breach this distance? Five feet seemed so safe right now. Like a blanket. Any closer from another person and they might really break him. Deku wasn’t available to protect this empty shell. 

If he had the Deku mask available, what would he be doing? 

Probably not staring at the wall.

What about Izuku? He had never thought of the Izuku emotions as a mask before. But that’s what it was, right? What would the Izuku mask be doing?

He probably wouldn’t be staring at a wall either. 

But Izuku and Deku were him. Just different parts. If they wouldn’t be staring at the wall… then what was the thing in control right now? Why was he so motionless? Who was he again? 

I knew that separating Izuku and Deku into separate people would make me snap one day. Like a pencil being broken by the weight of it's weilder's hand.

Broken. That’s who he was. He was broken, and useless. And trapped.

Don’t make yourself panic, stupid. 

“I wish I could sleep.” 

Chiyo had retrieved Aizawa for his shift at 05:00. 

“He’s been mumbling to himself for a little under an hour. He hasn’t slept. My best guess without being able to do a physical exam would be shock. He likes you, Aizawa. Maybe you can get him to rest.” Chiyo said before making her exit to get some sleep of her own. Thankfully, the following day was Sunday and neither had classes or patients to attend too. Well, other than the problem child. 

Midoriya was still in the corner where he had left him hours before. His wrists were covered in scratch marks and bandaids and gauze lied untouched before him. His bag was settled by his hip but the boy’s attention was on the higher part of the opposing wall. 

Muttered words spilled from his mouth nonstop, Aizawa only able to catch a few fragments. 

“Are me…. Wall…. Who… control… break me.” 

Aizawa groaned and dragged his hand down his face, inching closer to the boy.

“Broken… useless…. Trapped…. So stupid…. “

Aizawa squatted about a foot in front of the boy, purposefully breaking the five foot rule to see if there would be a reaction. 

“I wish I could sleep.” The kid said clearly. It was the first sentence ha had said with conviction since Aizawa had entered the room.

“Maybe you should get your ass onto a bed then and lay down.” Aizawa said, voice monotone. He had expected the kid to jump, yell, maybe try to hit him for being in his space. Istead, green eyes slid over to meet his own black ones. 

“I think I’m dying.”

Aizawa was not expecting the softly spoken sentence. The boys voice was flat - so unlike what Aizawa was used to from the kid.

“You aren’t dying.” Aizawa said gently.

“How do you know?”

“You are breathing and talking. You’re fine.” 

“Death isn’t just a physical thing…” This kid….

“Why do you think you are dying?”

“Everything is numb. I can’t feel my thoughts.”

Aizawa rolled his eyes. “Most people can’t feel their thoughts.

The boy didn’t respond and turned his gaze back to the wall beyond the caffeine deprived man.

“I could yesterday.” The boy didn’t make eye contact.

“What was different between yesterday and today? It’s not like your situation was any different.”

“Yesterday… I wasn’t dying.” Aizawa could have smacked his head against a wall. 

“You need a lesson on logical fallacies.”

“Maybe.”

“You need to sleep.”

“Yah.”

“Get into bed.”

“I can’t. If I get into a hospital bed, then I really will die.”

“If I got you something else to lay down on, would you sleep?”

“I hope so. I’m so tired.”

Izuku woke up when the sun was passing its midpoint. His body ached and his throat felt dry. But he was awake. He was alive. He wasn’t numb.

“Hello?” He called out softly from his sleeping bag. A vague memory of Aizawa flooded his mind when he realized what he was lying on. 

No one answered so Izuku decided to get up. He had on part of his vigilante outfit. His black pants and grey tank top were rumpled from sleep. He had only one sneaker on, the other trapped inside the sleeping bag. His hoodie was draped over a nearby chair along with his backpack. His mask and goggles were nowhere to be found, though he was pretty sure his goggles had been destroyed the previous night. He didn’t have his utility belt on him but thought that it might be in his bag, where he normally put it when he was sleeping. 

Black bands encircled Izuku’s wrists and ankles. They weren’t uncomfortable but their weight never left the front of the boys mind. These things were a mobile prison. If he messed up… No, he couldn’t think about that. He just had to not mess up. 

“You’re up!” A loud, shrill voice called from behind. Present Mic was sauntering into the room with two trays of food in tow. “I had Lunch Rush make some lunch before our meeting.”

“M-Meeting? Another o-one?” Present Mic set the trays down and looked cautiously at Izuku. 

“So… this version of you… this isn’t Deku, right?”

“Izuku. Or Midoriya….” The boy paused. “I’m always Izuku… Izuku never leaves.” Except for last night. “D-Deku just… covers sometimes… wh-when I’m too w-weak.” 

“How bout I just call you ‘Little Listener’? It’s easier that way.”

Izuku shrugged. “So… m-meeting?”

“Ah! Don’t worry about that! The teachers are just being filled in on everything. They will want to meet you at some point but there is no rush. Just take your time.”

Izuku smiled shyly at the hero.

“You hungry, ‘Little Listener’? It’s been almost a whole day since you last ate.” 

At that point, Izuku realized that he was, indeed, starving. The curly faced child nodded his head and Present Mic handed over the tray. 

“Th-Thank you. Present Mic-san.”

“Yamada-sensei.” Mic Yamada-sensei corrected. “I’m your teacher now, so you can call me what my other students call me. Same with Shota. Um, I mean Aizawa. Call him Aizawa-sensei.”

Midoriya nodded as he picked at the food a bit. The amount was a little overwhelming - more than even Eraserhead… um Aizawa-sensei, had ever provided in one serving. He took a few bites, relishing the flavor, before setting the tray to the side.

“Don’t like it?” Yamada-sensei asked, his cheeks full of his own food. “I can probably get Lunch Rush to make something else.”

Izuku blushed and shook his head, hands coming up placatingly. “N-No. It was f-f-fine. R-Really great a-a-actually. I-I just… I know I can’t s-s-see her anymore… But the b-baby. She n-needs it m-m-more. And I d-don’t need m-much. I-I can just eat wh-what’s left. Plus, I’d b-be imposing. I d-d-don’t want to. Y-You might. W-With… and I don’t l-like them. S-So I can’t m-m-mess up.” Izuku began unconsciously fiddling with his wrists again as he mumbled. 

Yamada just stared at the kid. How different this version was from the ‘Deku’ who had spit and cursed at him and his husband. This kid was going to be a handful. For now, however…

“Are you talking about Yua-san? Aizawa told me about her.” 

Izuku’s eyes lit up at his words.

“No need to worry, we managed to find her a safe place to stay until her baby is born. Shota isn’t going to let her go hungry. Your… territory… it’s going to be okay. Heroes are patrolling more often - specifically underground heroes and their side-kicks, so that the citizens don’t feel threatened. We have the lower level ones helping stop the drugs and keep people safe. Like you used to do. Only this time it is legal so it won’t stop should something happen. We’ve got you kid, and everyone else. Sometimes problems just need to be brought to the heroes attention before something is done.”

Izuku was unsure of the blonde man’s words. Nothing had been done before, so why now? Was he lying? But this was a hero. So maybe? In the end, Izuku just nodded and shuffled his feet some, still not wanting to eat - hoping that Aizawa-sensei might take the food to Yua, anyway. Besides… he had plenty. It wasn’t like his shrunken stomach could hold more than a few bites at a time anyway. 

“I...um…” Izuku was uncomfortable from Yamada-sensei’s intense gaze as he observed the boy in front of him. The voice hero seemed to catch on and looked away. “D-Do you think… Shower… O-Or I c-can just… Do you even have a l-l-lake on pr-property?”

“You are not bathing in a lake, kid.” Aizawa said as he strolled in. “We have perfectly good showers for you to use. It’s no hassle. In fact it is easier for us if you use them.” Aizawa’s eyes flickered to the mostly untouched tray and his shoulders sagged a bit. Izuku was used to this reaction from all the previous times Aizawa-sensei had tried feeding him and didn’t comment.

“Um… H-how will I w-wash…”

“We have some spare gym uniforms for you to wear until we can get you some new clothes. Your old ones have just about had it.”

Izuku’s eyes darkened for a split second before Aizawa continued.

“You can still keep them. We aren’t going to take anything away from you… unless it’s too dangerous…” He added the last part as an after thought. 

This seemed to placate Izuku for the moment.

“You can shower if you eat four more bites of food. The protein.” Aizawa-sensei told him.

Izuku didn’t bother arguing. The look Aizawa-sensei was giving him was the same one Erasure used when Deku was about to step out of line with his vigilante actions. 

The shower was nice. And warm. The grime came off the boys body in rivulets as Izuku scrubbed with the washcloth Yamada-sensei had given him. ‘Izuku’s washcloth’ was what the man had called it. Fair dibs. It was Izuku’s now.

Dirt seemed to stick to his skin no matter how hard he scrubbed. It seemed it would take time for ‘his dirt’ to feel safe enough to let go… Izuku grinned at the little joke - pitiful as it was. 

Izuku quickly changed into the gym uniform and exited the bathroom. He had used the one connecting to the infirmary. Recovery Girl and Nezu were in the room along with Aizawa-sensei and Yamada-sensei this time.

“I hear you are much more talkative today, sonny.” the older woman said with a smile. 

“I stopped dying.” Izuku signed. Aizawa grunted and rolled his eyes while Yamada looked extremely confused, 

“Well. That is good to know, I suppose.” The woman said nonchalantly, as if that were a normal statement. 

“Good afternoon Midoriya-kun.” Nezu spoke up. “I apologize for bringing up a difficult topic, but I must confirm something with you. Last night you said you would like to switch out your deal. While prison isn’t an option just yet, the judge's first offer still stands. I need to know now. There will be no more changing your mind after this.” 

Recovery Girl huffed in the direction of the Principal when she saw Izuku rubbing at his wrists again.

“C-C-Can you t-t-take them off?”

“No. I’m afraid not. At least if you choose to stay at UA. It was the compromise I had to make with the police, afterall.” 

Izuku shrunk in on himself, fingers prying harder at the material that seemed glued to his skin. The same conversation that had been swirling around in his head since he woke up came back to the forefront of his mind. 

If I choose juvie, I get them off. But then it’s foster care after that or prison, if I run away. I’ll probably run away. So prison. But for how long? What would the charges even be, anyway? It wasn’t like I used a quirk in my vigilantism. My sentence wouldn’t be that long… But that would be my life. There is no hope for a quirkless person who is all alone - especially after prison. After I get out, I would probably just go right back to what I had been doing. An endless cycle of prison, homelessness, vigilantism, prison, homelessness, vigilantism. They are giving me an opportunity here. A chance to make something of myself, I could be a support worker or a business man - though that one was unlikely - or even a hero. A real one. A legal one. If I work hard enough. If I don’t screw up. What if I do make a mistake though. 

Izuku rubbed at his wrist some more. 

I don’t think I can do it. What if I had Deku up? What if I couldn’t calm him down. What if I hurt someone. I almost did. I almost threw him off the roof. And he’s the principal. I’m just not safe. Not good enough. I always mess up. I don’t want to be tied up again.

“If I might interject.” Nezu said, suddenly jolting Izuku out of his mumbling. Somehow he had ended up sitting on the floor with his knees drawn up to his chest, fingers trying to curl around the immovable leather. Nezu was now face to face with him. “I hadn’t realized how much they would be a problem for you. It was a miscalculation on my part to allow you to experience what you did all alone last night. It is rare, but miscalculations do occur.”

Izuku stared at him, unsure of what to do or say. Part of his mind was already screaming that he had already messed things up. He hadn’t even lasted ten minutes. The other part screamed at those thoughts to shut up. He couldn’t hear !

“Are you under the impression that we will be using the cuffing mechanism as a punishment, Midoriya-kun?” 

Izuku furrowed his brow. Duh. What else is it for? Was written clear across his face without him needing to speak the words. 

“That will not be happening. The cuffs are a final method of securing you. In fact, as I thought I had explained yesterday, I do not even have access to the option unless you are on ‘Black Status’. Do you remember what that is?”

Izuku nodded, confusion on his face. He didn’t trust this thing in front of him. But Aizawa-sensei was not denying the rodent's words. Izuku glanced towards the tall, black haired man. He looked bored as he leaned against the wall. Yet his eyes met Izuku's and the boy felt a little more calm. 

“What if you’re lying.” The confidence of his tone shocked him a bit. Deku wasn’t in control but he was stirring just under the surface, bravery more apparent as, for once, both sides of Midoriya’s personality worked in tandem.

“If I am lying… Then I give you permission to throw me off a roof the next time you have the chance. “

Aizawa snorted at this and Izuku blushed.

“O-Okay.”

Chapter Text

Aizawa could tell that Izuku was feeling a little overwhelmed as he stood before the teachers of UA High School. Even though he had been given the option to take time to adjust, Izuku had figured it was best to get introductions out of the way.

The teachers sat around a large table with Nezu at the head. Three empty chairs were closest to the door. Aizawa took the one closest to the door and Yamada-sensei sat beside him. Izuku remained standing, his hands fidgeting quickly, nails digging into the bands as he had been doing since the night before. 

“This is the new student I was telling you about.” Nezu said gleefully. The other teachers looked expectantly at Izuku though it was clear the boy didn’t really know what they expected him to do.

“Introduce yourself, brat.” Aizawa said lowly, no hint of any real ire in his tone. Izuku still jumped a bit.

“I-I’m M-M-Midoriya Izuku…” The small boy glanced at Aizawa and the older man nodded. “I a-also go by D-D-Deku. Th-Th-Thank you for watching o-over me?” The final line ended as a question and Izuku blushed some as a few of the teachers chuckled lowly.

One black haired woman stood gracefully and sauntered over to Izuku. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. You are so cute!” The woman squealed as she moved to hug the child. The boy stepped back a few places when she got too close. 

“P-Please don’t t-t-touch me.” He said quickly and quietly. 

The woman smiled, stopping, and bent down to his level. “No worries, kiddo. Since you asked so nicely, I won’t touch someone so innocent.” A few of the teachers behind her looked away with either blushes or annoyance. 

“That’s enough Kayama. Go sit down.” Aizawa snapped. His tone - still mostly monotone - had a more playful undertone than Izuku was used to. 

‘K-Kayama?” Izuku said, “Kayama Nemuri? The R18 Hero: Midnight? Wow! You look so different out of uniform!” Izuku’s eyes had lit up. “I’ve studied the use of your whip in battle and combined some of the subtle wrist movements into my knife work! It’s really saved my skin a few times!” 

Kayama-sensei smiled fondly at the small boy. “I’m glad I could be of help.”

Izuku looked around the room, the fact that it was filled with pro heroes finally sinking in. 

“You’re Vlad King!” Izuku said happily. “You’re really neat to watch in battle. Your blood manipulation is so versatile on the field!  Do you remember two years ago during the battle with the villain ‘Quaker’? He had a seismic quirk that could crumble buildings. He crumbled that structure over the group of school children and you used your blood manipulation to form a shield whilst redirecting the crumbling stone at the attacking villain! You knocked him out in under a second! No civilian injuries either!”

Vlad King grinned at the boy.

“And you are Ishima Ken - Cementoss! The detail you can create when manipulating cement is truly amazing! It must have taken years of practice! Though when in the heat of battle you often fall back on the simplistic structures. That hostage situation you handled a few months ago may have gone more quickly if you used a cement dummy to distract your opponent. But, I only had the public news videos to go off of, so maybe there was a reason you opted not to.”

Aizawa raised his brows at the bravery the child was showing. He wasn’t saying anything snarky and cruel, simply stating his opinion. This was a side of the boy that, Aizawa assumed, no one had probably ever seen. This was the side that Aizawa may have to look forward to as the child healed.

“And Power Loader!” Izuku said excitedly. “I’ve used so many of your old designs! The library had some of the books on the basics but the best ones were definitely the scraps that you would throw away at the ramen restaurant over in District 6. Do you live there? You go so often! I had to tweak some designs because of the materials I had available but your idea for the flash bombs worked really well!” 

Nezu’s grin was becoming wider as Izuku continued. It was odd seeing the boy so jovial.

“Snipe! Your quirk lets you control the trajectory of any bullet you shoot, but does that work with other objects. Like maybe a baseball or something similar? Your technique is almost impossible to study, but that often happens when a quirk is involved. I’ve never used a gun before but I know the skill would be helpful. I really commend how you opt to use your bullets as ricochets instead of weapons! I tried really hard to only use my knives in the same way but it wasn’t so easy…” 

Just as Izuku was moving onto Ectoplasm, a knock sounded on the office door. Aizawa noted that Izuku moved his body to encompass the door in his line of sight, along with the table of teachers. 

“Sorry I’m late!” A booming voice echoed as All Might walked bounded into the room.

Of all the new changes Aizawa had seen in Izuku during the past few moments- the excitement, the happy energy, the confidence around people - the change in the boy now was the most shocking. 

Izuku’s eyes were blown wide. His mouth had fallen open and his body relaxed. The boy’s hands had fallen to his sides, no longer messing with the raw wrists. Then he grinned. It almost blinded the underground hero. 

“Holy Shit. You’re All Might.” The words were spoken softly but the quiver of excitement and the child’s body language gave away his awe. 

“Um… Hello there!” All Might boomed. “You must be the kid we gotta watch?”

“Yah, sure. But you’re All Might.” Izuku said, brushing off the question about himself. “You’re the number one hero. Here. At UA.” Izuku looked back towards Nezu and then quickly back to All Might. “I knew you were in Musutafu but I figured it was for some major mission. You are teaching at UA? Since when? Why? For how long? Is it just for this year? Is there a reason? Maybe you ----”

“HaHaHa.” All Might bellowed. “Calm down, kid.” 

That was when All Might made a mistake. His hand patted Izuku on the shoulder quickly and firmly. The boy had inched too close to the number one hero and he was unable to jerk out of the way in time. 

Aizawa saw the moment ‘Deku’ was slipped into place as Izuku’s eyes darkened and his hand grabbed the All Might's wrist. Turning his back and pulling the hero, Izuku sent All Might flying through the air. The large man ended up on his back, a large gasp of air being forced out of him. 

“I don’t give a shit who you are. You don’t fucking touch me without permission.” The boy growled and then immediately stopped and backed away. His shoulders slumped and his eyes looked around the room terrified. “I-I-I’m so s-s-s-sorry.” Deku fell as soon as his actions processed in the boy’s mind. “I- I’m really sorry, All Might. I wasn’t….” 

All Might sat up, rubbing the back of his head. A dribble of blood came from the corner of his mouth. 

“I d-d-d-didn’t. Too fast… I don’t kn-know you and…”

“He’s fine kid.” Aizawa said, a small smile playing on his face. The number one hero taken down by a brat. Priceless.

“I’m really sorry.” Izuku signed. 

Nezu’s laugh cut through the room and all eyes turned towards him. “You surprise me every time we meet Midoriya-kun.” The rodent said. 

“I’m sorry.” The kid signed again and then proceeding to itch at the bracelets on his wrists, eyeing Nezu warily. 

Toshinori had been expecting many things when he entered the room, slightly late due to some hero work he did on the way. He did not expect the "supposedly difficult vigilante child" the teachers were to meet to completely fanboy over him. 

Nor did he expect the judo flip the child performed when All Might patted the boy on the shoulder. All Might knew that the use of Judo was to combat larger opponents but he was still surprised the kid was able to throw a person who is three times his size. 

The kid continuously apologized afterwards, switching to sign language after a few moments. All Might actually began to feel guilty.

“I think that’s enough excitement. Wouldn’t you agree Nezu?” Aizawa asked, a smile clear in his voice. 

Toshinori sweat dropped at his fellow educator. Without waiting for the Principal’s reply, Aizawa stood. 

“Let’s go kid.” Aizawa kept his hands in his pockets and tilted his head towards the door. The boy bowed his head and followed Aizawa’s directions, still signing apologies. 

“What the hell was that?” Yamada spoke when they left. “I’ve never seen Izuku act like that before.”

“Hm. Yes. I wasn’t expecting the sudden Judo flip. It was shocking.” Ectoplasm supplied.

“No kidding! That sweet little boy taking down All Might.” Midnight said, her hand waving in the air in front of her. “Must have been a fluke.”

“Oh. That was no fluke. In fact, that was one of the only part of the meeting that I expected.” Nezu commented.

“YAH!” Hizashi screamed, quickly lowering his voice when the other teachers covered their ears. “I’ve never seen him so open and happy.” The other teachers stared at the voice hero. “I’ve seen the kid be shy and timid like he was at the end, I’ve seen him completely break down. And, of course, I’ve seen him in his ‘Deku’ personality. But that fanboying over everyone in the room was new. Man. I’m jealous! All I got was the ‘Deku’ personality cussing me out.” 

“Oh please, Hizashi. Stop teasing.” Kayama said.

“He isn’t.” Nezu piped up. “Midoriya-kun’s typical actions thus far have never included an awed fanboy. Though it seems his interest in quirks and heroes are the same no matter how he acts.”

All Might allowed his muscled form to drop, not needing to keep up the act with the people currently in the room.

“What are you talking about Nezu?” Toshinori asked between coughs.

“Honestly. It’s better if you just experience it. The whole kid is a confusing mess.” Yamada said in a sing song voice. “I’m sure each of you will catch on pretty quick.” the blonde man continued. 

Nezu nodded in agreement. 

Izuku sat crouched by the wall a few halls away from the meeting.

“I really didn’t mean to Eraserhead. I swear.”The Deku mask had been brought up the moment it was just Izuku and Aizawa. Izuku knew Aizawa preferred dealing with Deku - so long as the vigilante persona was calm.

“I know, problem child.”

“It's kind of his fault though. I thought he would have been more alert to an attack. He was aware of what I am, right?”

Aizawa smiled into his capture weapon. “Was. You aren't a vigilante anymore. But, I agree. He should have been more alert. He was informed before greeting you.”

Deku leaned his head back against the wall.

“He probably hates me now. Man… My favorite hero. I really wasn’t expecting him to show up.”

“All Might is your favorite?”

“Jealous?” the smirk settling over Deku’s face.

“Hardly. It was just surprising. Though, after that show, I probably shouldn’t be surprised by anything you do anymore.”

“Show?”

“The fanboying over the teachers. You had them wrapped around your finger up until the end. If they only knew this version.”

“I wasn’t putting on an act, Eraser. I just got excited. Excuse me for acting my age. I won’t do it again.” 

“You are such a brat.”

“Yah. Well…” Deku bowed his head a bit. Then after a moment, “Am I in trouble? For…”

“No. Like you said, All Might should have been paying more attention.”

Izuku fidget with his wrists. “Are you sure? Nezu wasn’t mad. Or All Might?”

Aizawa squatted to meet deku’s eyes. “If anything, Nezu was merely amused and All Might was probably impressed.” A hopeful look crossed the boy’s face before he looked away, blushing.

“Do… Do you think… That All Might would sign my notebook?” Aizawa groaned.

“You really are a fan, aren’t you?” 

Deku nodded.

“I don’t see why not.” 

Deku suddenly jumped up. “Then we gotta go back to the infirmary. I left my bag there!” And Deku was off. Aizawa sighed in frustration. This kid was just too much sometimes. 

As Nezu filled the teachers in on the mystery that was Midoriya Izuku, Toshinori was kicking himself a bit. He was impressed by the kid, for sure. But he was also embarrassed and even a bit guilty that he hadn’t thought before acting. He had known the kid was a vigilante. He should have shown the boy the same respect as other heroes. You don’t just make sudden physical contact with any hero. Least of all one who has worked in the cover of the underground. 

A sudden memory of the first time Toshinori met Aizawa flashed through his mind. The man hadn’t let him out of the capture weapon for over an hour.

As the meeting was drawing to a close, most of the teachers were even more curious and confused about the child than before. Then, a knock sounded as the door creaked open.

Midoriya-shounen walked through the door with Aizawa towering over him from behind. The kid was clutching a ratty looking notebook in his arms. The child’s eyes scanned the room and confusion crossed his face. 

Shit… Toshinori did not look like All Might right now. He needed to play this off.

“I came…” The kids brows furrowed more. “I came to apologize better.” The child glanced back at Aizawa who ignored him. “I didn’t mean to disrupt the meeting earlier… I know you guys wanted to interrogate me but instead… I, well…”

Something about the kid using the word ‘interrogated’ rubbed Toshinori the wrong way. 

The child bowed slightly, “I really do apologize.”

“No problem, kiddo.” Kayama said as she shifted her bag to her shoulder.

“I was wondering… If…” The child blushed and looked to the side. “Can I have you guys sign my book? P-Please…”

The room erupted in ‘yes’s’ and ‘of course’s’. The teachers were happy that the kid wanted their autograph and seemed to trust them. Toshinori had a feeling that the kid probably didn’t actually trust anyone but shoved that pessimistic notion away. 

The child went around, one by one, skipping Yamada and Nezu. The former of the two had deflated slightly when the child did this. Toshinori could have sworn the kid had momentarily smirked at the man’s actions.

With each person, the child flipped to a different - but clearly written on - page of the book. Small gasps and minor comments were made as the book was passed around.

“These are great, Midoriya-kun.” Said Power Loader after his turn.

“Wow, that a lot of information you have there.” Howled Hound Dog.

“OMG! You must really adore me! I can always give you more information in exchange for a favor in the future” Midnight had whispered seductively. 

Eventually, the kid came up to him.

“I know you.” He stated simply. 

Toshinori gagged on blood and started coughing. He had sat quietly, hoping the kid wouldn’t notice him and here the child was, telling him that he knew this skeleton of a man was. The other teachers froze in place as well. Did he know Toshinori was All Might? The curly haired boy quickly assessed the room and something changed in his expression.

“Or I thought I did. Seems like I was wrong, All Might.” 

Toshinori stared at the boy as Nezu laughed loudly from his seat. 

“Toshinori Yagi. All Might’s supposed Secretary. He is usually seen after a villain fight and takes care of any tedious jobs needed if there is property damage or civilian casualties. I almost spoke to you once, but you were surrounded by police, so…” The kid took a breath and shook his head. 

“How did you...?” All Might asked, not finishing the question. 

“Well, you are in the same suit. Your hair is the same, your eyes are the exact shade of blue as well. It’s not difficult, especially when I know All Might was supposed to be here. He wouldn’t just leave. In the past, I thought you were probably brothers with All Might - or cousins, maybe.” The boy took a breath, looking down at a page in his journal, seeming to read it. “When I threw you earlier, a bit of blood trickled out. I thought it was odd since you can usually take significantly more damage but didn’t say anything. You’re currently spitting up blood now, so… Your wrist is also bruised. I bet it matches the shape of my hand.”

Toshinori was at a loss for words. 

“I’m a little surprised that other people haven’t caught on. I’m kinda pissed that I didn’t catch on until it was shoved in my face. Not even the online forums have guessed…”

The room was silent except for Nezu’s continued laughter.

“I’ve made things awkward again.” Said the boy, shifting. “Here… You can still sign. You still do a lot for people even if you are constantly lying.” The boy held out the book and pen. 

Toshinori took the objects hesitantly. This was a strange situation. It was uncomfortable too. Yet the kid seemed mostly relaxed, if a bit disappointed. That second part, the disappointment, that is one of the major reasons All Might tried to keep it secret. But it seemed he wasn’t really doing that good of a job.

“You can’t tell anyone, my boy.”

Izuku looked up at him. “You want me to lie, too?”

Toshinori grimaced. The kid suddenly had a large grin on his face.

“Okay, All Might. I can lie for you. But… You will owe me each time I do. I’ll keep a running tally. You get free merch, right?”

“R-Right.” Toshinori had no idea where this was going.

“I will keep a tally of every time I lie for you. Each tally gives me free merch. I’d say that is pretty fair, wouldn’t you? I mean, asking a child to do something so disingenuous, it is only natural for there to be consequences.”

“Deku.” Aizawa spoke, for the first time. His tone was warning.

“What Erasure?” The boy drawled out, tilting his head. “Mad that I didn’t ask for your stuff? I’ll gladly make a bargain with you if you are dying to tell me one of your secrets. Jealousy isn’t becoming of a man. Then again, I’m pretty sure the only thing they sell of yours is goggles and I already have a pair…” 

Aizawa rolled his eyes and put his head in one of his hands.

“I told you he could be cruel.” Yamada tried to whisper. 

The boy’s ears perked up and he focused on the voice hero.

“I want your signature too.” The kid said, shoving the notebook and pen at the voice hero. “ I was only messing with you a little bit earlier. You are still a really cool hero. And I’m not cruel.” The last sentence was said with a pout. 

Yamada laughed and signed the book. “Then what are you ‘Little Listener?”

“I’m Deku.” And the child grinned.

Chapter Text

“You are going to send me into an early grave, problem child. And probably All Might and the rest of the teachers too, at this point.” Aizawa grumbled as he led the boy back to the infirmary. 

“Hm? You think so, Erasure?” The boy grinned. “Maybe that will be a good thing - then I can go back where I belong.”

“You belong at UA, now.”

“No. I’m staying at UA. I belong on the streets.” Deku didn’t miss the eye roll Aizawa sent his way. “I’ve never belonged anywhere but on the streets. By myself. What makes you think UA will be any different from the rest of the temporary placements I’ve been forced to stay in? UA… Foster Home number eight. Hooray.” Deku grumbled. “I’m just biding my time until I can get a hero license and can legally do my job. That’s all.”

Aizawa didn’t reply. 

Deku carefully placed his notebook back into his bag once the two arrived back at the infirmary. 

“Nezu should have your room ready by tomorrow morning. We’ll go shopping to stock up on the necessities.”

“Don’t you have classes to teach tomorrow?” Deku asked as he jumped up to sit on the bed closest to the wall. 

“I don’t have a homeroom class this year. I only teach hero history and combat basics. I’ve passed those to the other teachers so that we can get you situated quickly.” 

The child’s shoulders dropped and he looked to the side. “Y-You don’t have to do th-that. I-I don’t want t-t-to be a b-bother…”

“Shopping for basic living supplies is not a bother. And dealing with one problem child is better than dealing with twenty.”

Izuku shrugged and fiddled with his wrists. 

Aizawa inspected him closely before cautiously speaking his next sentence. “You will also have your first therapy session with Hound Dog tomorrow. He is the school counselor. “

“Absolutely fucking not.” Deku stated firmly, his eyes meeting the older man’s with a defiant glare. 

“It’s not really a choice.”

“I don’t need some shrink to tell me I’m broken!” Deku seethed.

Aizawa sighed. “That’s not what therapy is. You have had a difficult past and it has and still is negatively affecting your day to day life. This is supposed to help you.”

“I don’t need you shitty fucking help. I’m fine .” Deku emphasized the final word.

“Most people who are fine don’t completely change their personalities depending on the conversation they are having.”

Deku had nothing to say to this and clenched his fists. “I’m not going.” He forced out between his teeth.

“Then Hound Dog will come to you.”

“I won’t talk to him.”

“I don’t really give a shit what you do. You will be with him for an hour. Talk, don’t talk. It’s not really any of my business. Just know that the longer you take to talk through things, the longer you will have to attend therapy three times a week.”

“Three times?” Deku cried loudly. “You’ve gotta be kidding! What a waste of time!”

“Exactly.”

Deku grumbled unintelligibly and layed down on the bed, turning from his tormentor teacher.

Izuku didn’t sleep for the second night in a row. His mind was racing with thoughts too complicated for 04:00. By the time the freckled faced child finally managed to calm his racing thoughts and shut his eyes, the birds were already chirping. 

Thus, Izuku could barely keep his eyes open when Nezu sauntered into the infirmary at 08:00 to pull Izuku from the world of dreams. 

“He didn’t sleep but three hours.” Recovery Girl stated with a click of her tongue. “It’s a wonder the boy hasn’t formed another fever. Perhaps we should let him sleep a bit longer.”

“Th-that would be nice, P-P-Principal Nezu.” Izuku said, followed by a long yawn.

“You didn’t sleep because you woke up at 15:00 yesterday. It is best to get you on the correct schedule now so that you are able to go to your classes tomorrow.” Nezu supplied cheerfully - his high pitched tone making Izuku flinch away from the sound.

“Okay. Th-that makes sense.” Izuku paused a moment and quirked his head to the side, “Why are you h-here so early?” 

“Ah, yes. I have come to show you to your more permanent quarters. You can’t sleep in the infirmary forever, afterall!” 

Izuku nodded and gathered his few belongings quickly, following Nezu out the door. 

“Wh-Where’s Aizawa-sensei?” Izuku asked once the pair had breached the outdoors.

“He is busy.” Was all Nezu supplied. Izuku fidgeted at this and looked anywhere but at Nezu.

“Is something the matter Midoriya-kun?” Nezu asked after a moment, a small grin showing on his face.

“N-No sir…” Izuku responded. 

“You seem uncomfortable.” Nezu pushed.

“W-Well…” A deep breath, “You a-aren’t the most comfortable b-b-being to be w-with, sir.”

Nezu laughed at this and nodded his head in agreement.

The pair arrived at a two story building in the forested area just inside the main gates of UA. It was well hidden by the trees but close to the main facilities. Despite its large size, Izuku might never have known it was there unless Nezu hadn’t shown him the beaten trail to the building.

The building was white with UA blue accents and there were multitudes of windows to let in natural light. Overall, it wasn’t as modern looking as the main UA building, but it was still aesthetic and well put together. 

The bottom floor, Izuku soon found out, held the sitting room, dining room, kitchen, gym, and teachers night offices. The sheer size of each room was ridiculous. Even the abandoned warehouse Izuku stayed in didn’t compare with this housing complex. The kitchen was fully stocked with cooking utensils - some of which Izuku had never even seen before. There wasn’t any food in the house but Nezu had explained that UA would supply any ingredients he asked for. The bottom floor held two separate gyms, one with gym equipment such as treadmills and weights and the other with a mirror along one wall and sparring mats along the other. The building was well furnished, blue being the primary accent color but small dashes of bright yellow making an appearance. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as tacky as one would think.

Once the pair reached the door for the teacher’s lounge, Nezu stopped. “I don’t allow my teachers to take work home with them, so they often spend the night here to catch up on work. It’s also convenient for the early morning field trips that classes participate in throughout the year. You are allowed in any part of the facility except the teacher’s lounge. You must have express permission to enter. Understand?”

Izu nodded at the rat. 

Nezu opened the door to show a basic room full of desks and bookshelves before closing it again to lead Izuku upstairs. 

“These are the bedrooms. Each room has a built-in bathroom and access to a balcony.” Nezu spoke. “There are six rooms total but you will be in the one to the back left corner. Every room typically has two beds but you will be staying in your room alone.” Nezu opened the door to his new bedroom and Izuku was slightly surprised to see an entirely barren room. No bed, no nightstand, no dresser. Even the blue stripe at the top of the white walls that lined the hallways was absent - leaving completely barren walls in its wake.

Izuku stepped to the middle of the room and turned a few times. The room was large - much like the rest of the facility and Izuku wondered why he was given such vast accommodations. A door leading to the outside was on the opposing wall from the entrance and a door - most likely for the bathroom - was on the side wall, close to where Nezu stood.

“While you shop for items to fill the room with, new furniture will be placed in here. I wanted to get a feel for your preferences so I have tasked Aizawa and Yamada with messaging me throughout the day on your preferences.”

“Y-Y-You d-don’t have to d-d-do that. I’m f-fine with th-th-this, actually. I-It’s already m-more than I usually g-g-get. A-Air conditioner, h-h-heat, no b-broken windows…” 

Nezu grinned and hummed. “Nonsense, Midoriya-kun. This will be your home for at least the next three years. It should be your own.”

Izuku stared at the rat, not really knowing how to reply.

“Your student ID is embedded in your wrist bands. This will allow you free access to most parts of this facility. The other rooms aren’t off limits but a teacher must open the door for you to come in. Privacy is very important to many on my staff. The teachers lounge must also be opened by a teacher, and you must be granted entrance via a keypad before you can enter. Other than that, you have free range. Now, I have some business to attend to, Aizawa will be here shortly to pick you up.” 

Nezu had left Izuku alone to explore the parts of the house that he was allowed to enter but the child never moved from his spot. 

He didn’t understand the turmoil currently tearing his stomach and brain apart. He felt sick and awed at the same time.

Izuku didn’t deserve something so nice. He hadn’t done anything to warrant a reward of this magnitude. How was he supposed to pay them back, now? It seemed Izuku’s debt to UA would be greater than he had originally thought when accepting the deal. 

Izuku had known he wouldn’t be able to stay in the infirmary but hadn’t guessed that he would be placed in a mansion. Thoughts of spare classrooms, a modified storage closet, maybe even a small apartment off the side of the teacher’s lounge had been his original thoughts.

Then again, this place was already here before Izuku had arrived. UA had simply emptied out a room for him to stay in. Did that mean that some teachers would be put out? Did he steal this room from teachers who relied on it to sleep when they had to stay for grading? 

And had Nezu said that Aizawa was taking him shopping in order to fill the room? So much for basic living necessities… What was he supposed to get? How many pieces of furniture would be added to this empty space? What shelves would he need to fill? Just how much stuff could one person have?

Izuku glanced at his backpack. It held almost his entire world up until this point. Two changes of clothes. Three mostly untouched notebooks and another notebook that was completely full. His utility belt and his vigilante uniform. He had left a few half-finished trinkets behind when he was making a run for it, but that stuff was just made of junk that he could find anywhere. Nonessential. 

Izuku sat down on the ground and dumped the contents of his bag. The small amount of items looked pitiful in comparison to the large space.

Did Nezu expect this room to be completely decorated next time he entered? Would he be upset if Izuku didn’t try to make a home out of this place? Previous fosters had been… But others… Others had hated it when Izuku had left his items in rooms that weren’t truly his. Nezu wasn’t easy to read. Which side would he take? Maybe Izuku was just supposed to leave the room as it was. Izuku wouldn’t mind that much. He never had a place to decorate when he lived on the street. So long as he could get his hands on some blankets of towels, he could just make a small bed to sleep on in the corner, like he usually did. But… Nezu said the room would be furnished today too, didn’t he?

What should he do?

“You should just do what you feel comfortable doing.” Aizawa muttered from the doorway. Izuku jumped at his sensei’s seemingly sudden appearance. The tired man was dragging a yellow sleeping bag behind him like a child holding a blanket. Izuku recognized it as the one he slept in while in the infirmary. 

“Oh! Aizawa-sensei! H-How are you?”

“Fine. It’s time to go. Are you ready?” the man asked in his typical monotone voice.

Izuku nodded. “I-I-I thought Yamada-sensei would be c-c-coming t-to?” Izuku questioned. 

“He will. But first you have an appointment to attend. I was told to fetch you and drag you to Hound Dog’s office if you refuse.”

Izuku felt Deku stir in his chest. “I-I-I really don’t need-”

“Let’s go, problem child.” Aizawa called over his shoulder as he turned from the doorway. 

Izuku internally struggled with himself. He knew if he fought back, Aizawa might very well drag him to the therapy session anyway. If that happened… especially with Izuku already feeling on edge…

Izuku shook his head clear and followed Aizawa-sensei without further complaint.

As the two neared the office, Deku slowly drifted into place, thoughts of simply taking an ‘accidental’ wrong turn or simply sitting and refusing to move coming to mind. By the time they reached the door, Deku was dead set on not letting this happen. 

“There. Hound Dog is waiting for you. I’ll pick you up in an hour to go shopping.”

“There is zero chance of me entering that office.” Deku said firmly.

Aizawa sighed and opened the door. The office was large but cozy. Hound Dog sat on a couch, drinking tea as he waited.

“The kid won’t enter. I have things to do before I go off later. He’s your responsibility.” Then Aizawa turned on his heel and left Deku to stare at the dog-man in front of him.

Deku glared at the guidance counselor from the threshold of the door. Hound Dog stood from his position and came to greet the child. 

“I’m Inui Ryo, or Hound Dog. I’m the guidance counselor here at UA. Sorry I missed the meeting yesterday, I was on duty. It is good to finally meet you.” The man’s voice was gruff and he seemed to struggle not to growl between his words. 

“I know who you are. I don’t need to be here. So I’m going to go explore, instead.” Deku took a few steps back, observing the hero’s reaction. 

“Alright. You can explore; But I am in charge of you for the next hour so I will have to tag along.”

“I’ll be fine on my own.”

“Probably. But I still have to stick by you.”

Deku clenched his teeth but turned to lead the way down the hall. 

“If we are going to be together for the next hour, I should probably get your name. Do you prefer Midoriya or Deku? Or perhaps something different all together.” Hound Dog said once the pair reached the ground floor.

Deku glanced at the man from the side of his eye. Hound Dog was as tall as All Might, easily three times as big as the scrawny boy. But his stance was relaxed. His hands were visible and unthreatening. His eyes focused on the path ahead.

“Either works. I don’t really care much, Hound Dog.” 

Hound Dog hummed. “All right Midoriya-kun. You can call me Inui. Hound Dog is for hero work only.”

Deku didn’t reply and instead, ducked out of the building through an open window and made a run for the tree line - no way would Hound Dog fit through that tiny opening.

So long as he didn’t leave UA grounds, he wouldn’t get ‘Yellow Status’. 

Just as he was reaching the forested edge, Deku picked up on another set of footsteps and heavy breathing. Looking to his side, Deku saw Hound Dog easily keeping step.

“H-....How the hell did you catch up with me?” Deku asked bewildered as he slowed and then stopped his pace.”

“I love to go for runs. It’s exhilarating for me so I have plenty of practice. Plus, you are much smaller than me and must take multiple steps to match one of my own. Shall we continue our run or do you wish to talk a bit? I don’t mind either way.”

Deku growled at the man. “I don’t need to fucking talk. I don’t need you. I’m not broken! I don’t need to be fixed!” 

Hound Dog nodded. “So a run, then?”

Deku was at a loss for words and sat in his spot out of sheer petulance. 

Hound Dog followed suit, seemingly unbothered.

After ten minutes of Deku glaring at the man and Hound Dog calmly looking back, Izuku spoke. “How much time is left?”

“Thirty minutes.” Hound Dog replied after checking his watch.

“It doesn’t piss you off to just sit around and waste time?”

“No. Does it bother you?”

Deku didn’t answer. 

“What if I went to the opposite side of campus right before our time was up? Would that piss you off? I bet you have another appointment after me.”

“I schedule ten minutes between each session, so no need to worry about me.”

Deku bristled. “I wasn’t worrying about you. I’m trying to get you to leave me alone.”

“I can’t leave you during our hour. But I won’t bother you if you don’t want me too. Though, it would be nice to learn at least a little bit about you. Your likes, your dislikes? Things you do in your spare time?”

Deku clenched his mouth shut and turned his head away, lying against the base of a tree.

Hound Dog didn’t speak and the two sat in silence. 

After a significant amount of time passed, Hound Dog stirred.

“Our hour is almost up, Midoriya-kun.”

“Good.”

“Our next appointment is on Wednesday after classes let out. Please let me know if you would prefer I meet you outdoors. I wouldn’t mind another little run but Ectoplasm gets upset if he catches me sprinting in the halls.” 

Deku looked at the now- standing man warily.

“That’s it? You aren’t going to say anything about how you expect me to be more open next time?”

Hound Dog laughed a deep chortle that ended in a low howl. “Of course not. Therapy is time for you. If you want to spend it outside, that is okay. If you want to spend it inside, that is fine too. If you choose to talk or stay silent, sit or run, I don’t mind either way. I believe that eventually, if something is really bothering you, you will speak up if you feel safe and comfortable.”

Deku looked away from the man in thought.

“Now, Aizawa-sensei is probably at the door to my office by now. Are you going to walk with me to go meet up with him or are you going to take him for a run too?” humor laced the fluffy harried man’s words.

Deku couldn’t help the small smile on his lips. “I would make him run, but he is already doing a lot today. Maybe next time.” 

Hound Dog grinned back and led the way back to his office.

Chapter Text

Aizawa waited impatiently by Hound Dog’s office with a jabbering Yamada talking his ear off.

“And the Little Listener will definitely need a few sets of bed sheets. The school colors are so tacky! The kid also needs some clothes! He can’t go around wearing those two old and hole-filled outfits and gym clothing on his off time! I wonder what size he is? I could help him pick some clothes out while you go get the kid the basics like soap. OOh! You think he would let me pick out some toys too! He’s only thirteen! He should still like action figures and stuff, right?”

“He is fourteen, Yamada. His birthday is in June. He will be fifteen in just a couple of months, right after the new term begins.”

“I keep forgetting! He is so tiny, afterall! Either way, he clearly likes heroes! I bet he would have a field day in some of the hero supply shops! We also gotta get him…”

“Hizashi.” Aizawa cut off the blonde. The voice hero shut his mouth quickly and turned his focus to his husband. “I don’t think this trip will be as easy as you hope.”

“What are you talking about, Sho? I know we gotta get lots of stuff but it won’t be that awful! Don’t put such a damper on things! I know you dislike shopping but the Little Listener is gonna have a field day!”

Aizawa shook his head and sighed. “I don’t think he will be as excited as you think he will be. Having things bought for you. Handouts. They aren’t always welcome.”

“What are you talking about? That kid nearly jumped for joy when given a washcloth, Sho! A friggin washcloth ! Izu-kun will be ecstatic!”

“Izu-kun?” Aizawa raised his eyebrows at the nickname. His husband smiled shyly back. 

“I thought it was cute.”

“Don’t let the Deku persona hear it.”

Yamada laughed.

“Anyway, a washcloth is small. Nearly insignificant to most people. That’s why he accepted it. This stuff, however… An entire wardrobe of clothing. Room accessories. Bathroom supplies. I don’t know what Nezu was thinking, making us get everything at once. It would be better to get him survival basics and add on to his supply slowly.”

Yamada rolled his eyes at the sleep deprived man leaning by the wall. “I don’t think you're right this time, Shota. Izu-kun is about to have the day of his life!”

Aizawa checked his watch and sighed. “It’s been eight minutes since the session was supposed to have ended. Should we knock on the door?”

“Nah. Let him have the extra time. It’s good that the kid is actually talk---” At that moment, Hound Dog and the small, freckled faced boy rounded the corner. 

“Ah! Aizawa! Sorry to make you wait. This kid can run pretty far in a short amount of time.” Hound Dog howled.

Aizawa looked down at the kid with a disapproving glare.

“So, I’m not the only one you make trouble for.”

“I thought we already decided that jealousy was unbecoming of you, Erasure.” Deku smirked.

“Remember, Little Listener!” Yamada said excitedly, “It’s Aizawa-sensei when he isn’t doing hero work!”

“Right, Sorry, Yamada-sensei.” Deku said with a lilt in his voice. “I’ll make sure to remember to call him by his proper name.”

Something coiled uncomfortably in the pit of Aizawa’s stomach at the boy’s tone. It, unfortunately, reminded him of Nezu.

“Well, then.” The boy started. “Aren’t we supposed to be going somewhere?”

Yamada shook his head excitedly and opened his mouth - most likely to begin again on all of the supplies Deku would get.  Deku didn’t let him start as he spoke again, almost immediately “Then let’s go Sensei-kun and Yamada-sensei. We can’t wait around here all day!” Deku made eye contact with his caretaker as he said the new name.

Yamada froze for a moment and looked between the two - one glaring and the other with a shit eating grin on his face. It took 0.2 seconds for Yamada to burst forth with deafening laughter at his husband's expense. 

“Yah Sensei-kun. Let’s get going!” Yamada cheered, leading the way towards the car the trio would use to get to the mall. Aizawa only grumbled unintelligibly - deciding that this argument was not worth the energy.

Izuku hadn’t been to the mall in four years. He had forgotten how big the place was and just how much… stuff it held. The trio had entered through the food court and immediately, Izuku’s mind went into overload as he took in the scene of hundreds of people casually eating, talking,  and throwing away precious food without a care in the world. It all seemed so wasteful. Izuku observed a woman with whiskers and a rat’s tail knock over a display of donuts at the sweets booth and then step on them in her haste to get away before anyone noticed. The attendant at the booth sighed and glared at the retreating woman as he swept up the donuts and tossed them into the nearby garbage. 

In an instant Izuku was over by the dumpster and reaching inside. 

“What do you think you are doing, Problem Child?” Aizawa asked as he caught up with Izuku.

“Y-Y-Yua-san has a sweet tooth. Sh-She’d love these. W-W-We can’t just let th-them go to waste!” Izuku said emphatically as he pulled out a few of the donuts. 

Aizawa groaned. “Stop, Midoriya.”

Izuku jolted at the use of his surname and looked back at the man.

“You can’t just dig in the trash, kid. If you want me to get Yua-san something sweet, just tell me and I’ll make sure that she gets some that haven’t been in the garbage.” 

Izuku blushed and glanced between Aizawa and the food he had already accumulated. “It’s so wasteful. Just because it has been on the floor… Why not put it in a donation bag if they can’t sell it. Tons of people would kill for something like this.” The child murmured. 

Yamada, who had caught up not long after Aizawa had, knit his brows together. “Don’t worry, Little Listener. We can get your friend some fresh ones.” The man supplied happily.

“That’s not the point.” Deku growled out. The boy shook his head and looked up at Yamada who had frowned at his tone. “Just… Nevermind. We have stuff to do, right? What first?”

“I thought we could make a game plan to get this done quickly while we eat. Yamada, go get some food for us, we’ll get a table.” Aizawa says firmly. 

Yamada nodded and walked away to grab them something from one of the stalls. Deku hesitated a moment by the food he had dug out of the trash. As Aizawa turned to look for a table, he pocketed two of the sweets and regretfully brushed the rest back into the trash. He hadn’t actually thrown away food, himself, in a while. It hurt.

Aizawa quickly found a table and pulled out a list as they sat. 

“We should start with the bathroom essentials. Soap, toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, etc.”

Deku nodded. 

“I can probably grab that stuff while you and Yamada go and look at shoes. Yours are starting to fall apart.”

“But I like my shoes.” Deku said.

“They have holes in the soles, kid.” 

“They still have some wear left.” Deku grumbled. Aizawa gave him a patronizing stare and Deku backed down. “Fine. New shoes. What store is that?”

“You have a few options depending on what style you are going for. There are generic stores like Shoes are Us and Sole Mates. Then there are the name brand stores.”

“Why would I need name brand shoes?”

“You don’t. It’s about what style you like. Midnight, for example, only wears heels. She has her own brand, actually, and typically wears those. If you find something you like, and they fit comfortably, then…” Aizawa trailed off, looking at the list again. 

“I like red ones.” Deku suggested. “Or white ones so that I can color it in with markers.”

Aizawa lifted an eyebrow at the boy. “We will get you a pair of red shoes, then. You will probably want some type of tennis shoe that you can run around in. We will also need to get you a pair of dress shoes for special occasions. They are rare in the first year of UA but do occur.”

“Okay. Can those be red too?”

“No. Dress shoes are either black or brown. Sometimes grey if you look long enough.”

Deku didn't really believe him but nodded anyway.

“After that, it’s your choice to look for clothes or for room accessories.”

“Room accessories?” Deku questioned.

“Yes. Bed sheets, comforter, curtains. A rug, perhaps. And anything else that catches your eye.”

“Why can’t I just use some of the spare sheets from the infirmary?”

Aizawa narrowed his eyes for a moment in thought. “Because those don’t belong to you. You need things that are your property in your room.”

Deku scoffed. “Most of the stuff we get today won’t belong to me. It will be your stuff because you are paying for it.”

“Not true, Little Listener.” Yamada said as he walked up to the pair carrying a tray of food. “Everything we get today is yours, 100%! Shota and I aren’t technically paying for it either. UA is supplying the funds.”

Deku rolled his eyes at the voice hero. “Then it will belong to UA. Just like the gym uniform I’m wearing right now belongs to UA.” 

Yamada chuckled a little as he passed Deku a bowl of chicken teriyaki udon.

“Just because you didn’t pay for something, doesn’t mean it’s not yours.”

“It sounds like you are providing an excuse for stealing.” Deku said as he looked down at the massive portion of food before him. He was contemplating how to store Udon while they shopped so that Aizawa could take what he didn’t finish to give out on patrol tonight. 

“Of course I’m not!” Yamada cried in an exaggerated voice. “Think about it this way, Little Listener, is it stealing if something is gifted to you?”

“N-No. But this isn’t really a gift. It’s too much. A gift is something that you exchange. Something that is tradable. Even if the trade doesn’t occur immediately.” 

Yamada glanced at Aizawa uncertainly. 

“Um… that’s not really what a gift is, kid. A gift is something you give when you care about someone. You don’t expect anything in return… or you shouldn’t.”

“The food you give out is a gift. You don’t expect anything back, do you?” Aizawa supplied with his mouth full.

“Food is necessary to live. I give it to others because they are under my protection.”

Aizawa finished chewing and looked Deku in the eyes. “Then, your protection is a gift. Even if it isn’t tangible.”

“That’s different.” 

“No. It isn’t.” Aizawa grumbled, his eyes moving to the untouched food before the boy. “You need to eat, kid.”

Deku nodded and obediently took a few bites. 

“So do you want to look for clothes or things for your room after we get your shoes?”

“Um… I guess clothes.” Deku said as he swallowed. “I know what I’m looking for there, at least.”

“Hm.” Aizawa hummed as he looked at the list again. Deku craned his neck to see but the chicken scratch wasn’t legible from his angle. 

“What store will we get the clothes from?”

“We’ll go into all of them!” Yamda screeched excitedly causing other shoppers to look their way. Aizawa glared at the man but a fondness showed behind his eyes. 

“Don’t be ridiculous, ‘Zashi. We don’t have the time to do that. We can probably choose two or three stores and go from there.”

Yamada pouted at his words before looking towards Deku. “Choose five stores and I’ll make sure we hit them all.”

Deku looked at him stunned for a moment. “B-But…. Erasure said two or three…” 

Yamada grinned. “Yes, yes. Sensei-kun has never liked to test the limits of a day.” 

Aizawa slapped the man on the back of his head. “Don’t encourage that.” He hissed.

Luckily for Aizawa, Deku was too lost in thought to notice.

“I don’t know what stores to shop at. I got my clothes from donation bins and the like. What if I choose the wrong ones?”

“Don’t worry Little Listener, we can guide you. I’d say we can probably get you ten to fifteen good outfits by the end of the day, plus some!” Yamda grinned at the boy. 

Deku looked down at his food, once again falling into his thoughts.

“Why do I need so many? I’ll be wearing a school uniform most of the time, right?”

“Well, you can’t very well wear your uniform after school. Or on the weekends. Don’t you want something comfortable to lounge around in? Something to exercise in? Night clothes?” Yamada asked.

“I can use my work out clothes to lounge around and sleep in. It’s all comfortable…” 

“Wow Sho. You might have been right. This kid is gonna be tough to crack when it comes to shopping.” Yamada said. Aizawa grunted and Deku glared in reply. 

“I’m not being difficult on purpose.” The child said as he picked at his food. “I just don’t understand why you guys are insisting on so much stuff. It’s not like I need it all.” 

“Nezu gave us a minimum limit that we have to spend on you today.” Aizawa said after a moment.

“A minimum? Do you mean a maximum?”

“No. A minimum. So just be grateful and accept that you’re about to have a lot more shit than you did before.” 

Deku paled a bit and his gut curled uneasily. What in the hell was the minimum? Knowing Nezu… it was probably an absurdly large amount. Plus Ultra, after all. 

“You’ve stopped eating.” Aizawa stated.

Deku looked at his food again. He had eaten about a fourth of it. The rest could be given to Yua-san… or maybe Saichu-san if Yua-san was going to get the donuts, or maybe that gang member whose sister just got into a fancy high school. Yah, he could definitely use some relief with that crazy tuition...

“We are going to throw away whatever you don’t eat.” Aizawa said simply, cutting off Deku's muttering.

Deku’s eyes widened as he looked up at Aizawa. “What? Why?”

“We are not carrying it around all day. Plus, you need to gain weight. You don’t seem concerned with feeding yourself in favor of giving your food to… your people , as you call them.”

“They need it more.”

“How many times will I need to tell you that they are being cared for. Now eat.” 

“I don't mind holding it. There is no way I can finish all this anyway!” 

“You aren’t going to carry it around either. You had better try to finish if you don’t want it to go to waste.” Aizawa said as he took a sip of his water. 

“Shota…” Yamada started but quickly stopped at the look he was given.

“I don’t need-”

“Recovery Girl told me you were extremely malnourished for your age. Your body has been stunted to that of a ten year old. You haven’t even begun puberty due to your poor health.”

“Recovery Girl is crazy. I’m plenty healthy. Would I be able to do my job if I didn’t eat enough! I’m not stupid! I know it takes food to run around like I do. I’ve been fine!”

“No. You haven’t. It is miraculous that you can do as much as you have been with that pitiful form.” Aizawa stated in his usual monotone voice. Deku bristled. “Even with all the exercise you take part in, you have almost no muscle on your body. You are significantly smaller than most children your age. You don’t even have a quirk that would make up for the short stature, either. Your skin is sallow and your ribs, backbone, and hips are clearly visible.”

Deku froze for a moment. “How would you know that?”

“Someone had to help Recovery Girl change you out of the wet clothes.”

Deku blushed and looked away from the two who were now staring at him. 

“Your body is eating itself because you aren’t properly feeding it.” Aizawa said softly. “So eat your goddamn food.”

Deku took a few more bites of the Udon in silence. He suddenly noticed how heavy it felt on his stomach. 

Aizawa sighed. “Eat as much as you can but don’t make yourself sick, either. It’s okay not to finish. It’s okay to throw some things away.” 

A mutinous tear slipped down Deku’s cheek and he wiped it away quickly. Deku was failing. Failing as the mask that was created to keep Izuku safe. Failing as the person who cared for others. To let Aizawa’s words affect him like this… already Izuku and Deku were blurring and that wasn’t okay. It made him too weak. 

Deku… or Izuku… Both… they were the same, after all…. Managed three quarters of the food before he felt like he was going to puke. 

Apparently, the boy had lapsed back into just staring at the dish in front of him because Aizawa spoke again.

“Are you done? Are you full?”

Deku nodded… and then shook his head.

Aizawa massaged his temples for a moment. “If you are done, we need to start shopping. Let’s go.” Aizawa took the tray from Deku and went to toss what was left.

Izuku grasped at Aizawa’s shirt. “P-P-Please don’t th-throw it away. I-I promise to e-e-eat. I… I-I'll even f-f-finish it myself… tonight. If… If you th-throw it away… Someone c-could use that. S-Someone n-n-needs it.” Izuku’s voice was panicked and tears swam, unshed in his eyes.

Aizawa’s eyes softened as he looked at the child before him. He placed the tray back on the table and squatted so he was eye level with Izuku. 

“Yamada, could you go get a box? We can take it out to the car before shopping.”

Yamada nodded and left quickly, slowing once he was far enough away to give Aizawa a moment to talk to the kid. 

“Why do you think you have to save it?” he asked softly.

Izuku didn’t answer.

“Are you afraid we are lying to you about taking care of your territory?”

Izuku shook his head.

“No? Then why save it? All that is left is scraps.”

Izuku made no move to speak.

“You said you will eat it tonight. You didn’t even try to put it off onto Yua or the others. So why not let it go. You know we will have a full meal for you later, right? You aren’t going to be hungry.”

“I… I’m n-not afraid of b-b-being hungry.” 

“Then why? Why can’t you let it go.”

“I… I don’t know.” Izuku’s voice cracked at these words and fresh tears began streaming down his face. “I-It… It’s just i-im-import-t-tant. I c-c-can’t waste i-i-it.”

Aizawa nodded. “Okay. I don’t understand it, but I can work with that request.” After a few moments, Aizawa continued,  “You did a good job eating that much food. It’s the first time I’ve seen you get so much food in your system.” 

A sob fell from Izuku’s lips at those words. If other shoppers were looking towards the two, neither noticed. 

“I-I’m sorry. I d-d-didn’t t-take c-c-care of m-myself enough. I-I’m sorry I m-m-messed up.” 

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m not upset with you. It’s my responsibility to set you straight on stuff like this, though. Do you understand?”

Izuku shook his head. “I-I-I’m b-being a b-b-burden. I’m s-sorry. Y-You shouldn’t h-have to do th-this s-s-stuff for me. B-b-but I g-g-got caught. A-and… y-you are b-b-being so n-nice. I… I d-don’t deserve it. A-And n-n-now I’m b-being tr-trouble again. Y-You d-d-don’t believe D-Deku ei-either. S-S-So I c-c-can’t tr-trick you. I c-c-can’t m-make you b-b-believe that I’m o-o-okay. Y-You kn-know t-t-too much.”

Aizawa waited patiently for Izuku to pull himself together a bit before continuing the conversation. 

“I… should not have pushed you so far so quickly.”

Izuku sniffed and brushed the tears from his eyes.

“I don’t expect you to be perfect. I get frustrated when my students don’t care for themselves enough. Then I push other areas too. I apologize for that. For today… you ate. You did good. I’ll take the leftover food with me on patrol. Along with the two donuts in your pockets. If I find someone who is hungry, I’ll give it to them, okay?”

Izuku nodded, blushing at having been caught taking the trashed donuts. 

“Y-Yua?”

“Yua is pregnant. She shouldn’t be eating food that has been in the trash can. I’ll get her something fresh.”

Izuku nodded again. 

“Are you okay to shop? I don’t want you to worry about money. We are going to get what you need. Then we will get one or two things that you want from each store. One or two things isn’t a lot, right?”

“R-R-Right.”

“Once we are done, if we still need to spend more, we can go to the pet store. The kittens aren’t ready to live with you yet, but you can prepare for them.”

Izuku’s eyes flashed happily and he nodded. 

“I’m s-sorry I c-cried. I… I c-c-can’t help it s-s-sometimes. I kn-know I shouldn’t…. C-Can’t be w-w-weak in p-public.”

“Crying is fine, kid. Anywhere you need to. But if it makes you more comfortable, let’s try to save it for a slightly more private location. Just let me know and I’ll get you somewhere that you feel safer.”

“Wh-where… I’m comfortable? Wh-where I feel safer ?”

“Yes. Your room. A bathroom. My office. I don’t mind where. But tensing up like this from… ‘acting weak in public’’ as you said, isn’t good for you either. So just let me know.”

At that moment, Yamada came up with a to-go box and hummed softly as he started scooping the food into the container.

“Give me the food from your pockets, kid.” Aizawa said. Izuku complied and gave him the now crumbled donuts. Aizawa sighed and wrapped them in a napkin. “You are absolutely sure we can’t at least toss these?” 

Izuku shrunk a little. “Th-They… They are s-still u-useful… T-To someone.”

Something in Aizawa’s mind clicked at the choice of words and he hummed as he stood.

“Okay. if you still think they are useful.” Aizawa placed them in the box as well. “I’m gonna go put this in the car.” Aizawa said to Yamada. “Go ahead and take him to get some shoes.” Aizawa looked back at Izuku who had his head bowed now. “He likes red ones. Get him sneakers. Those’ll be the most versatile and… useful.” 

“Sounds like a plan! I’ll make sure to get every red shoe we find!”

Aizawa rolled his eyes as he turned to go and put the food in the car. He stopped short when Izuku tugged on his shirt again. The boy was looking at him wide eyed… scared.

“I’ll be right back. I promise. I’ve yet to break a promise, have I?” Izuku didn’t let go.  “Besides… Hizashi would give me hell later tonight if I left.”

This, at last, seemed to satisfy Izuku as he let go of Aizawa’s shirt and turned back towards Yamada. 

“Come on Little Listener, we have sneakers to try on!” Aizawa heard his husband shout excitedly as he exited the building. 

Izuku was convinced to get two pairs of sneakers - mostly due to the BOGO sale. If these people were giving away shoes for free, then it wasn’t a huge deal if he got an extra pair. Izuku got two of the exact same shoes. Red, high top sneakers. Yamada-sensei suggested getting the extra pair in a larger size so that Izuku would have something to wear as he became healthier and started growing again.

After some back and forth with Yamada on if he really had to get a ‘want’ item, the curly haired boy chose a pair of fluffy socks with a star pattern as his one ‘want’ item for this store. Apparently, an extra pair of shoes didn’t count as a want. 

Yamada then led Izuku to a higher end store and got him fitted for black dress shoes. Izuku had a much less difficult time finding his ‘want’ item here. In the very back of the store, hidden behind boxes of sale items, Izuku found a pair of maroon dress shoes with deep green accents. He got them just to prove a point to Aizawa-sensei. Apparently, dress shoes came in plenty of colors. And, since he found them and asked , Yamada counted it as a ‘want’.

“Wow,” Said the store clerk as they were checking out, “I didn’t think anyone would actually buy these tacky things.”

Izuku hesitated a moment, suddenly unsure if he should go through with the purchase but Yamada stepped up for him.

“I think they look fantastic!” Yamada shouted. “I’m glad Izu-kun, here, has chosen such glorious shoes!” Yamada bellowed. “I suggest that you change your attitude towards your own products.” Yamda had lowered his voice on the last part, glaring at the cashier over the tops of his sunglasses.

The cashier nodded nervously and bagged the items with a shy smile at Izuku. 

Just as Izuku began wondering if Aizawa maybe had left, the teacher appeared in the crowd, holding a few bags of his own. 

“How did it go?” Aizawa asked.

“Four pairs of shoes - two sneakers and two dressy. You’re gonna love this find, Sho!” Yamada said as he dug in a bag for the maroon and green dress shoes. “The little listener picked them out for himself. Said something about proving you wrong.” Yamada managed to free a shoe from the box to show it off. 

To Aizawa’s credit, he kept his face neutral as he inspected the monstrosity. 

“Th-they w-w-were the last p-p-pair. M-my size t-t-too. A-And… th-they aren’t b-b-black or brown…”

“You aren’t wrong. Good luck finding a matching outfit, though.” Aizawa sighed as he scratched the back of his neck. “They look like Christmas” Izuku heard him mumble to himself as the shoes were placed back in the box.

“Next is clothes shopping!” Yamada sang happily as he led the way to the next store.

This store… was awful, Izuku thought as he tried on what felt like the hundreth piece of clothing. Everything was itchy, or too tight, or had some other minor issue. It reminded Izuku of the clothes that people who tried too hard to fit-in wore. After a few more failed attempts, Izuku gave up and exited the dressing room with a pile of untouched clothes in one arm and a pile of unfolded, un-hanged clothes in the other. 

“I d-don’t like these. They aren’t c-c-comfortable. And they are ugly. I th-think they might g-g-get me beat up if I w-wear them.” 

Aizawa snorted and glanced over at Yamada. I told you he wouldn’t like this place. The clothes are too stuck up for him.”

“Hey!” Yamada cried, “ I shop here!”

“My point is made, then.” 

Yamada sulked as they exited the store, empty handed.

 “We are just going to walk. Look in the windows and stop us if you see something. That will be more efficient.” Izuku nodded and trotted slightly to keep up with the two men’s long strides. 

Eventually, something caught Izuku’s eye and he stopped the pair. 

The colorful store mostly consisted of T-shirts and hoodies, as well as a large section of hero merchandise. 

Izuku quickly pulled the pair inside and went straight to a wall full of T-shirts. They were basic colors and made of a soft cotton. They all had some type of saying or picture on the front but nothing that covered the entire shirt. 

“I want these.” Izuku said confidently, picking out two and then handing them to Yamada. “N-Now we c-c-can go. I got c-clothes and s-something I w-w-want.” Izuku smiled up at the voice hero, knowing he would be easier to sway. 

“You need more than two shirts, brat.” Aizawa drawled. 

“B-But… You s-said that I n-n-need clothes. And t-to get stuff th-that I want. Th-this does b-b-both. I-I’ll get some p-p-pants and a j-jacket and be good to g-g-go.” 

Yamada laughed out loud and shook his head at Izuku. “Come now, Little Listener. You need WAY more clothes than that!” 

“If you like this style then just pick out some more from the wall, at least twenty different shirts. We will get you five to ten pairs of pants and shorts as well. I also suggest at least three hoodies. You get cold easily.” Aizawa said, inspecting his list. “Then we will need one nicer outfit, maybe a collar shirt and slacks. Oh, and undergarments as well. Once we have that, anything extra can be counted as your ‘want’ items.”

“That’s t-t-to much.” Izuku said warily. Aizawa eyed him thoughtfully.

“I agree. But Nezu can be stubborn.”

Izuku deflated a little bit and turned back to the wall that held probably 200 different T-shirt designs. 

“How about this All Might hoodie?” Yamada asked as Izuku continued to pick out clothing items.

Izuku inspected the jacket before shaking his head. “No. I don’t want anything of his.”

Aizawa’s eyebrows raised, “I thought he was your favorite hero?”

“He is! … He was…” Izuku looked towards the ground, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Neither of the other adults spoke, waiting for Izuku to continue. 

“He was supposed to be invincible. All Might. F-Fighting with a s-s-smile. He’s why… why I w-w-worked so hard. Why I d-d-didn’t give up. But he is just another liar. Like all g-grownups.” Izuku felt a little sick, thinking about his past idol. 

“Didn’t you ask Toshinori for All Might merch every time you kept his secret?” Yamada whispered loudly, trying to keep the other shoppers from overhearing. “Still sounds like a fan to me, kiddo.” 

Deku looked up at Yamada with a smirk on his face. “If I can get a bunch of free merch off All Might, especially the discontinued figures and rarer pieces, I can sell it online. Think about how much money I can make. I can still help people even while I’m stuck in UA. You can get ¥11,000 (a little more than $100) for the seventh edition All Might New York Replication Figurine. Think about how many people that could feed. If I got a lot of merchandise, Saichu-san could probably go to a quirk care center and get some quirk-suppresants so he wouldn’t have to do street drugs anymore. Yua-san could find a motel to sleep in for a little bit - even after the baby. Sanju-san and Manju-san from the gang could pay for their little sister’s tuition without stealing. There are so many opportunities.” Deku’s eyes were shining as he spoke. 

“So… you just want to sell everything he gives you?” Yamada asked.

“To help people?” Aizawa clarified.

Deku nodded.

“You are so pure! I could hug you!” Yamada shouted excitedly. Deku took a step away from the man, daring him to try and touch him. 

Aizawa massaged the bridge of his nose. “There is a lot wrong with some of the stuff you just said but at this point, I’ll let it go. I think you are starting to stall. Now keep looking, you need at least four more shirts. 

It took a bit of encouragement to keep choosing clothing items but eventually, Izuku had managed to reach the bare minimumamount of clothing that Nezu had required. Yamada had bounded around the store like an excited puppy and had managed to get Izuku to buy a significant amount of Present Mic merchandise - much to Aizawa’s chagrin. 

Izuku hadn’t minded much, however. Yamada had made the shopping go much faster - most of what he chose was hero-related and it wouldn’t be bad to wear something to represent Izuku’s passion for the pros. 

Somehow, Aizawa had managed to coerce Izuku into getting more ‘want’ items than he had originally planned. His logic being that they had thought the clothes shopping would take place over multiple stores - thus, the same amount of ‘want’ items should still be accounted for. 

The curly haired boy had decided to get a set of hero pins to decorate his backpack as his first ‘want’ item. He also managed to find a large hero themed puzzle collection - set of ten - in the sale section. Izuku had loved puzzles when he was younger so he was looking forward to working on them again.

While traversing the sale corner, Izuku had also picked out a green bunny rabbit hoodie that had caught his eye. It was actually something he had seen before, when on the streets. He had hoped to find one in the donation box or garbage heap so that he could update his vigilante uniform. Now, he got a brand new one. 

Apparently, there was a popular children’s show with a green rabbit as the mascot. It was meant for elementary aged kids but had blown up among teens for whatever reason. The hoodie had been hanging with other random pieces of merchandise dedicated to the show and some of the other items also drew his attention. Specifically, two plush figures. One was a black fat cat pillow plush with green markings and an angry face sewed into it. The other was the mascot itself, a plush forest green bunny - by the name of Midoragi - a mixture of Midori (green) and usagi (bunny). 

Izuku had felt silly picking up the toys but couldn’t put them down once they had. The cat had silky smooth faux fur that felt soft when Izuku buried his face in it. The bunny was also soft, but the fur was more like a fluffy cloud. The rabbit’s body was filled with beads instead of the typical stuffing - giving the toy a comforting weight. 

By the time the group had left the store, large bags weighed them down. 

The next stop was a bookstore. Izuku filled the cart with plenty of empty notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, tape, scizzors, glue, crayons, markers, highlighters, etc. Anything that he remembered having in elementary school. Aizawa also picked out a fancy calculator for the boy. 

"You will need a laptop too. They have a small display near the front of the store that we can look at." Aizawa had muttered as he placed some sticky notes in the cart. 

Izuku nearly fainted at the price tags on the laptops. 

"This is bound to put us at the minimum." Izuku whispered. 

"No, it won't." Aizawa stated simply. 

A whimper slipped from Izuku's lips as he peered at the electronics before him.

"This is more expensive than what I'm worth..." The boy whispered. "Just how much have you spent on me today?

"Don't worry about it." Aizawa said.

At the same time as Aizawa's words, Yamada cried out, "You are worth way more than a laptop!

Izuku only smiled shyly at the man, feeling uneasy with his praise.

The final task seemed much more daunting than the previous ones. How the hell did you decorate a room? What did teenagers even like, style wise? Izuku didn’t even know what furniture would be in the room once he arrived back at UA. 

Before entering the home goods store, Aizawa had looked towards Izuku.

“If you see something, just get it. We still are almost to the minimum. Most home goods items are fairly priced but we still won't achieve the goal unless you actually get shit - regardless of price . You will need sheets, comforter, towels, laundry basket, curtains, rugs, and anything else to make the room homier.”

“I feel like Nezu wants me to decorate an entire house, not just a room.” Deku grumbled as they entered the store. 

Yamada suggested finding a pattern for a bedspread and getting the rest of the items based on those colors. Thus, the first step was walking the bedspread isles. Most of the options were plain or floral patterned. Yamada refused to allow Izuku to choose one of these.

“You can’t just pick the first one you see to get it over with!” The man had cried, “You have to like the pattern. It will be the basis of your personal space! You can’t tell me that you want to live in a room decorated entirely in granny flowers?” 

The man had a point so Izuku just shrugged his shoulders and actually began paying attention to what he was looking at. Eventually, he came across a red bedspread with lime green accents. It surprisingly worked well together without evoking a sense of christmas, much unlike the dress shoes he had found earlier. 

Yamada had been correct in assuming that the bedspread would make the rest of the shopping easier. With colors decided, the other items were quickly and easily chosen. 

As the group was heading back to the front of the store, a large selection of beanbags and other comfort chairs came into their line of sight. Izuku had never sat on a beanbag before and had jumped at the chance to try it. He quickly found out that the cheaply made bean bags exploded when jumped on. As Aizawa and Yamada apologized to the disgruntled store clerk on the now mute Izuku’s part, the boy wandered to the opposite end of the section and curled up in a hanging seat. It was egg shaped and fit Izuku comfortably, both hiding the boy from the disaster he had created and rocking him softly, comfortingly. 

“Problem child?” Aizawa called out after a moment. Izuku peered through the mesh back of the chair, watching the man glance at his phone while Yamada looked around for the boy. 

Neither saw him yet and the freckled faced boy wondered what would happen if they never found him. What if he had gone invisible? What is he had a quirk that let him blend in? He could stand right beside the two and they would have no idea. Would the two adults panic if they couldn’t find him? 

But alas, Izuku was solid and very visible. They would find him eventually. Still, Izuku watched from his semi-hiding spot. 

Yamada was becoming visibly anxious but Aizawa didn’t seem concerned. 

“SHOTA!” the blonde cried, “What he ran away?”

“I haven’t gotten a notification that he is far from us.”

“What if he figured out a loophole?”

Aizawa rolled his eyes at his husband and stepped towards Izuku’s hiding place. 

Aizawa’s eyes landed on the slightly swaying chair and seemed to notice the outline of Izuku through the mesh. The man’s shoulders slumped as he strode forward.

“He’s over here, ‘Zashi.” 

The two reached the chair that was strung to the ceiling and Aizawa twisted it to make Izuku face them. 

“If I call you, you come.”

“I’m not a dog.” Deku said quietly, no real bite in his words. 

“You scared Hizashi.” 

“Yah! Little Listener! I thought you were lost!

The boy said nothing for a few minutes. “I’m sorry I broke the chair.” 

“It apparently has happened a few times today.” Said Aizawa. “I’m actually impressed that your tiny self managed to do any damage at all.” Deku glared at the man. “The employee said that is the third bag today. He thinks a kid with a deconstruction type quirk might have come by earlier and unintentionally caused the chairs to lose their durability. The kid only sat in some of the bean bags. You just happened to choose a bad one.”

Izuku nodded.

“You should be apologising for not answering when we called you.”

“I’m sorry. But it’s not like I went far. Or could…” Deku muttered the last words. Aizawa rolled his eyes. 

"I'm not touching that statement. Come on, we need to go. It's been a long day."

Izuku moved to stand up when Yamada's loud voice scared him back into the depths of the chair.

“WAIT SHO!” Yamada yelled. “Do you want that chair, Izu-kun?” 

Izuku flinched slightly at the nickname but let it go and shrugged his shoulders in answers.

“It matches!” Yamada said excitedly. “It looks comfy.” He continued. 

“It is. But it seems... impractical.” Izuku said after a moment.

“Do you want it?” Aizawa asked. “Powerloader would have no issue hooking it up to the ceiling.” Aizawa inspected it and waved for the associate who had helped clean up the beanbag. 

“Aw! Sho. You’ve been so soft today.” Yamada sang. 

“Shut up, Hizashi. We have a minimum. This will put us close. The rest can be spent at the pet store. I think we are all pretty much done with this experience.”

Izuku nodded in agreement. 

The trio took the shopping bags to the car before entering the pet store. It was located right by the food court so it was more convenient to free their hands since it wouldn’t be far to walk when they went back inside. 

Aizawa mentally prepared for the kid’s reaction to the pet store. It wasn’t called Pet Kingdom for no reason, afterall. This mall held the largest pet supply store in this prefecture and Aizawa knew the kid would be awed.

When they stepped through the deceptively plain doors, the child’s green eyes went wide as he looked around. One good part about pet shopping was that the child wouldn’t have any problem getting things since they were for the kittens, not for himself. 

“Do you have an idea of what to get the cats?” Aizawa asked. The kid thought for a moment and then shook his head sheepishly. 

“N-No… I’ve never had animals before.”

“Yet you wanted to keep them even if you were living on the streets.” Aizawa grumbled. 

Izuku went red and turned away from the black haired man. 

Aizawa smiled into his capture scarf and then gave a few suggestions to the boy before telling him to go wild. 

Izuku first went to the food section and picked out two food bowls and two water bowls that Yamada insisted must match his room. He then stocked up on wet and dry food as well as a multitude of different treats. 

When Izuku found the kitty toy section, Aizawa actually had to limit him as he didn’t think Izuku’s room could hold the multitude of strings, catnip toys, and other items that the boy wanted to buy. 

“They will need a few litter boxes. The rule is at least the number of cats plus one. We can place them throughout the house. But you will be responsible for cleaning them daily.” 

Izuku nodded and helped Aizawa pick out the most efficient litter boxes and stocked enough litter to last at least the semester. 

Next, Izuku made his way to the cat towers. It seemed, those that were up high on the shelves, were not able to be inspected thoroughly enough. Thus, Izuku decided that he would scale the display case. Aizawa saw no problem with that strategy but Yamada and the store attendants nearly fainted when they saw the small boy about a story up in the air, balancing along the shelf as he looked at a cat tower that matched his own height. 

“Can we get them this one?” Izuku called down to Aizawa “I think it will be big enough for all three of them even when they are all grown up.” 

“Sure, Little Listener, we’ll get whatever you want!” Yamada called. “Just come down!”

Izuku laughed a little as he swung to the ground.  “That one will work for the inside but I think we should get one for the outside too!” the boy said happily. “I haven’t found one good enough yet, though.” the boy looked around thoughtfully. “Do you think I could just build one? I’ve got the gist of how to after looking at all of these. I’ve always been good with my hands…” 

“I don’t see why not. You can ask Power Loader when we get back to the school. He heads the support course and will supply you with any materials and guidance” Said Aizawa, a soft undertone in his voice. 

Izuku grinned at the man.

“I think we have enough, don’t you?” Yamada asked exhausted. “I swear Little Listener, its been a struggle to get you to purchase items all day but we get here and you won’t stop. You are almost as bad as Shota.”

“Almost? Is that a challenge?” Deku asked Yamada slyly. Yamada groaned and Aizawa grinned.

“I think that is enough for now, brat. Let’s get going. We’ve been out for six hours and I’m ready for dinner.”

Chapter Text

When the trio arrived back at the school, Izuku was falling asleep in the back seat. It was only 19:00 but he was exhausted. The day had been hard and emotionally taxing. Every second had been spent as a battle within his mind and Izuku just wanted the deadness of sleep to take him away.

Unfortunately, Aizawa was determined to make him eat a full dinner. As Ectoplasm, Power Loader, and Yamada-sensei unloaded the car - taking the bags of items up to his room to be unpacked later - Aizawa dragged Izuku to the mostly empty cafeteria where Lunch Rush was finishing his prep work for the following day.

Lunch Rush gave each of them a bowl of curry over rice. Izuku’s serving was slightly smaller than what he had been provided thus far and the boy was grateful for it. It didn’t seem too daunting to finish and the thought of stuffing more food than was comfortable into his stomach had not been a pleasant one on his way to the dining hall. He was nervous that now that he had calmed down, Aizawa may threaten throwing any left-over food away again. 

The pair ate in silence, too tired to speak and chew at the same time. Once both had finished, they took a moment longer to let the food settle. 

“Are y-you really going to t-t-t-take that food on patrol with y-you?”

Aizawa tilted his head at Izuku’s question.

“Or are you just going to throw it away?” Izuku played with the bands on his wrists, not meeting Aizawa’s piercing gaze.

“I will take it with me. But if I don’t find someone who wants it, I’m going to toss it at the end of my shift.”

Izuku nodded. “Are you g-g-going to see Y-Yua-san today?”

“No. But I’ll check on her Friday night.”

“Can I c-come?” Izuku did not hold out hope but still asked the question.

“No. You need to settle in more first.”

Izuku pouted a bit at the response but didn’t say anything.

“You have school tomorrow. You will be with me for the first period since I don’t have a home room this year.” Aizawa said offhandedly. 

“Why not? Do you suck as a teacher?” Deku smirked playfully at the older man. 

Aizawa gave no outward reaction to his antics, “No, I expelled them all.”

At this, Izuku choked on the water he was drinking. “You e-expelled an entire c-class of students?” He asked, surprised.

“Yes. Most of them are now in the general studies department. A few of them moved to other schools and one is now in class B.” 

“You’re awful.” Deku breathed.

“I’m realistic. None of them would have made it as pros. By expelling them, I allowed them to experience failure. It will help them grow and become great people in the long run.”

Deku studied the man before him before reaching out and tugging at the capture weapon around his neck. Aizawa startled and sat back slightly before relaxing and allowing the boy to remove his support gear. The green eyed boy studied the weapon carefully and ran his hands along the fabric.

“Would you expel me? I-If I was in your class?”

“Considering you are still technically in middle school, your age would necessitate that I would.” 

Deku didn’t even glare at him, opting to keep messing with the white fabric. 

“I mean it, Eraserhead. Would you expel me? Am I worthy of becoming a hero in your eyes?” 

“Yes.”

Deku looked up in surprise, not having expected that answer. “Really?”

“You are reckless with your well being. You involve yourself in fights that you are obviously unable to win alone. You have some serious emotional issues and a few of your fears will get in the way of true hero work at some point.” 

Izuku bowed his head, fiddling with the bracelets again.

“You have a lot of work to do, brat, but you have potential. Your combat basics are sturdy and you’re capable of making split second decisions while under pressure. Your instincts are good when you listen to them and you don’t normally go looking for fights that you know you can’t handle alone - they unfortunately just seem to find you. I’ve fought with you, both as enemies and as allies. I trusted you in the field. That says a lot. I would be lying if I said you couldn’t become a pro hero. But it will take a lot of work on your part.”

“Okay.” Was all the boy managed to get out passed the lump that had formed in his throat. 

“If you even want to consider entering my class next semester, however, you need to catch up.” Aizawa continued, watching closely for any signs of another breakdown. “As I was saying, I’ll have you for the first hour. Then teachers will alternate throughout the day to watch you during their free periods.”

“What am I going to be doing?” Deku asked, the mask pulling up as his emotions became slightly overwhelming again.

“Nezu has prepared a comprehensive assessment of your academic skills. It will measure your strengths and weaknesses, comparing them with students starting from grade three up until graduation. Once you complete that exam, you will spend the rest of the day in the gym. You will be given a physical assessment that will be recorded for the other teachers to review in their spare time. This will allow us to assess you and decide if you even deserve to enter the hero course right away. If you aren’t physically fit enough, there isn’t even a point in enrolling you in those classes.”

“So… I’m just taking tests all day?” Deku asked with a sigh. 

“Yes.”

“Damn.” 

Yamada waited excitedly for Izu-kun and Shota to appear on the second floor of the teacher’s night dorms. The work that had been done on the barren room had transformed the place into a child’s dream. It now made sense why Nezu had requested pictures and color patches of the decor they had bought for the room. 

The furniture that now occupied the space was the same as the furniture in other areas of the facility. The yellow tinted hardwood bedframe now had a lime green band across it’s head instead of the UA blue that formed across the others in the building. A larger amount of furniture was added including a wardrobe, dressers, bookshelves, and an extra long desk that lined almost an entire wall. 

He and Ectoplasm took it upon themselves to unpack the shopping bags and stock the shelves for the boy, noting how exhausted he had looked as Aizawa had dragged him off to dinner. PowerLoaded had made quick work of hanging the chair as well before helping them unpack the few remaining items. 

“Are all of his clothes this… interesting?” Ectoplasm had asked, holding up a white T-shirt with the word ‘pants’ scrawled across it in katakana. 

“Yes.” Yamada had replied cheerfully. 

“You said the kid wanted to build a cat enclosure for the balcony?” Power Loader asked, inspecting the outside area.

“Mmmhmm. The Little Listener apparently likes to work with his hands. If the hero course doesn’t work out for him, you may have him as a student.” 

“Technically, I will. Nezu said he won’t have a typical schedule. Apparently, because he is quirkless, Nezu is having legal issues allowing him to be in the hero course full time. Even though UA has custody, the child is still a ward of the state and child protective services is not a fan of putting him in danger without a natural defense.” Power Loader said.

“No natural defense? They should have seen him throw All Might.” Ectoplasm had snickered as he placed the last bit of clothing in a drawer. 

So now Yamada stood waiting for the boy, excited to show him his new room. The blonde man reminded himself to settle his excitement so as not to overwhelm the child but he was struggling. 

Yamada was highly aware that this kid didn’t mesh well with his more eccentric personality. It was why he continuously tried to leave the child with Shota when the boy seemed overwhelmed. Yet, it was becoming harder as he experienced more sides of the freckled faced boy.

It now occurred to the voice hero why Shota had grown so attached to the child. It wasn’t anything specific. In fact, the child was extremely difficult most of the time; but when the child had a good moment... When the child genuinely smiled, it seemed as though nothing could be wrong in the world. Hizashi was drawn to the child as if the kid were the only water left on the planet. He almost likened him to the sun but had quickly changed his mind. Not yet . The man had thought to himself. Izu-kun has a ways to go before he can be a sun. He still needs to heal. He still needs to warm up a bit more. But water was still important to life. 

Shota appeared from the stairs, the boy trailing behind him, holding the hero’s prized capture weapon. Yamada did a double take at the sight and smiled. 

“Hiya! We got your room all set up while you ate Izu-kun!” Yamada cheered happily. 

The boy looked up, his eyes clouded over with exhaustion. “Thank you.”

“Ectoplasm-sensei helped things move quickly, so make sure to thank him when you see him tomorrow.” Yamada said as the child handed the capture scarf back to its owner.

“Okay, I will.” He said simply with a yawn. 

Yamada bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly as the child gave him his full attention.

“Can… Can I go in?” He asked after a moment, making Yamada jump slightly and blush.

“Of course!” He yelled. “Sorry, I got excited.” He said quieter when the boy flinched back.

The once large and spacious room was now filled with furniture and Izuku’s new belongings. The boy had whiplash from the sudden change. I wonder if this is how it feels for others when I switch between Izuku and Deku. He thought wryly. His head swiveled around as he stepped further into the room. Even with all the furniture, the room was still spacious. He didn’t feel confined or trapped. The windows were open, letting in a small, icy breeze. The first inklings of mid winter finally making an appearance. 

Aizawa-sensei leaned on the door frame and Yamada-sensei fidgeted behind him, anxiously.

“It’s great. Th-Thank you.” Izuku said after a moment, having to force a smile on his exhausted features. “I’m s-sorry I’m not more cheerful.” He said, noting the slight drop on Yamada-sensei’s face. “I’m j-j-just really tired is all. I’ll really l-look around tomorrow, o-k-kay?”

Yamada grinned, slightly abashed. “No problem Little Listener!” He said excitedly, keeping his voice at the normal volume. “Your pajamas are in this drawer. So get comfortable and I’ll see you in the morning!” With that, Yamada had exited the room, giving Izuku some much needed space. 

“I’ll fetch you in the morning for breakfast.” Aizawa said. “Midnight is staying the night across the hall from this room and Yamada is staying down the hall, to the left of the stairs if you need anything. I have patrol so I’ll be going.” Aizawa waved a hand as he closed the door behind him. 

It took a few moments for Izuku to make his body work. He was drained from the stressful day and lack of sleep from the previous night. For some reason, his head was buzzing annoyingly, making it hard to think. 

Now that he was alone for the first time in a week, Izuku started to crumble from the events that had occured. He mechanically dressed in the new pajamas and tucked himself into the fluffy bed, his mind spinning. Everything today had been overwhelming. Then, to top it off, the shock of the room - his room - just seemed to push him over the edge. He needed to shut down. To not think, lest he spiral into another panic attack.

A tear ran down the freckled cheeks as Izuku closed his eyes and fell asleep. 

Despite a full night of sleep, Izuku was still exhausted come morning. The sun rose directly into his window, waking him up with its blinding light. At least he would have a natural alarm clock - even if it woke him up thirty minutes before what was necessary. 

Izuku took the extra time to open every drawer and inspect every shelf in his new room. He reorganized a few of the clothes drawers to make them more convenient but ultimately, Ectoplasm-sensei and Yamada-sensei had done a wonderful job making use of the space in the most practical way. 

Before dressing, Izuku went to the attached bathroom to shower. The shampoo that Aizawa-sensei had gotten smelled like strawberries, but there was a sharp undertone that cleared Izuku’s sinuses and helped to more fully wake him up. It left is hair feeling softer than it had in the past, and much fluffier when it dried. 

Izuku wouldn’t receive a UA uniform until he was officially enrolled in classes the following semester, so he grabbed some of the jeans they had purchased yesterday and then looked through his shirts. He decided on a white T-shirt with the word ‘Polo Shirt’ written across it in katakana. He bore the rabbit hoodie as well before grabbing his bag. The yellow backpack already had the hero pins pinned to the front and was full of his old notebooks and one new one. He slowly made his way downstairs, not sure what to do with the remaining ten minutes before Aizawa was supposed to appear. 

The house was empty, all the teachers already in class or preparing for the day in the main building teacher lounge. Izuku felt incredibly small in the building and half wished for the constant buzz that the infirmary brought. 

“Oh? You’re ready early.” a voice said from the floor by the dining table. Izuku nearly jumped out of his skin when he spotted Aizawa-sensei lying in his yellow sleeping bag. He had seen the man carry it around campus in the last few days but hadn’t seen him actually use it yet. He looked like a creepy caterpillar.

“You… What are you doing?” Deku asked, trying to calm his quickly beating heart. 

“Biding my time. Thought I could get a quick nap in.” The older man replied as he unzipped the bag and stepped out of it. “After shopping all day and patrol to top it off, I will get as much sleep as I can, when I can.”

“R-Right…” Deku said, uncertainly. Aizawa seemed different today. More no-nonsense, similar to when Deku had first met the man. 

“Come on, Problem Child, Lunch Rush agreed to make your meals until you learn how to cook for yourself. “

“I can cook.” Deku supplied. “I learned how in my last few homes. You know, to help out more.”

Aizawa eyed him. “You can prove it to me tonight. If you can make something edible, I’ll believe you and will cancel those extra cooking lessons.” 

“If you want someone to cook for you, you should ask Yamada-sensei, I’m sure he would jump for joy at the chance.” Deku smirked.

“Hizashi burns water. He would kill himself before he got the chance to poison me with his cooking. That doesn’t sound like a good time.” 

Deku sniggered at the idea and made note of the weakness to write in his notebook when he had time. 

A bowl of miso soup and steamed rice topped with grilled salmon later, Deku had satisfied Aizawa’s insistence that he eat properly. The man packed the small amount of leftovers and gave them to the boy. 

“Eat the rest of this at 10:00. It’ll tide you over until lunch at 12:30.”

“I’m usually not hun-” Deku cut himself off at the man’s looks. “Yes, Sensei.” He said, instead. 

“We need to stop by Nezu’s office for the testing packet. Then we will get you situated in the teacher’s lounge.”

Deku nodded and followed after Aizawa. 

The test packet was the size of a textbook. Deku’s stomach filled with dread at having to go through the entire stack of papers. 

“This will test you on a multitude of subjects from a range of grade levels.” Nezu said as he handed it over. “If you get to a question that you absolutely have no idea how to answer, place a red cross over the top of it. However, don’t just do this to not have to answer a difficult question. If it is on grade level, you may be adding to your remedial classes. I expect it back at the end of the day.” Nezu said with a smile.

Deku looked down at the packet in his hands and then back towards the rat. “Are you joking?” He asked. “You expect me to finish this in a single day?”

Nezu’s smile morphed into a smirk. “I warned you that UA would not be easy in terms of academics. If it is too hard, I can always just immediately place you in remedial lessons starting at grade one.”

Deku glared at the rodent before looking back down at the stack and sighing.

“Fine.” 

Aizawa, who had been silent through the exchange, chuckled as the two walked towards the teachers lounge. “I’ll be taking a nap while you work. Be quiet and don’t mess with any of the teachers’ desks.” he stated, showing Deku a desk that was over in the corner of the room.

The boy nodded and turned to the first page of the packet. 

The first three quarters of the stack were multiple choice, separated by subject. However, the level of difficulty was mixed. For example, question one of the math section asked Deku to complete a three step algebraic equation, the next was a simple addition problem, and the following used symbols that Deku had never even encountered before. This was most likely to keep him from just skipping the last few questions and instead, having to read and attempt each one. 

Deku had started with the first bell at 08:00. By 10:00, he was beginning to shift in his chair as he continued with the exam. Aizawa had been replaced with Ectoplasm an hour in, and then PowerLoader an hour after that. Exactly at ten, Power Loader received a message from Aizawa, telling him that Izuku was to eat the rest of his breakfast. 

The boy grumbled at the interruption but ate the food anyway. Aizawa had made a good point about how weak his body was without the proper nutrients. Now that food was readily available, and his people were being cared for, he might as well eat his share in order to become more durable. It would also probably help in his combat abilities as well. 

A new teacher stayed in the lounge each hour. Most left him to his task but some, like Yamada-sensei, insisted on distracting him. 

“Look Yamada-sensei,” Deku had said with venom in his tone, “If I don’t finish this, Nezu is gonna give me hell. So please. Shut. Up.” Deku immediately felt guilty at the look that crossed the voice hero’s face but the man was blessedly quiet after. 

Just as Izuku was moving onto the biology subsection of the science portion, he was interrupted again. 

“Hello Midoriya-kun.” Nezu’s cheerful voice called. Izuku looked up from his work at the little mammal but said nothing. “I am here to take you to lunch!”

Deku groaned, looking back at the packet. He was only a little more than halfway done with the packet. “Any chance that I can eat while I work?” He asked the rat. 

“It is best to give your full attention to one task at a time when given the option.” Nezu replied.

“So no, then?”

“That is correct, Midoriya-kun. Now, let’s head to the cafeteria!”

Deku had not been expecting the multitude of students that filled the lunch room. He had only ever been inside the large space before and after hours so the change in atmosphere was startling to say the least. 

Deku didn’t like crowded areas. Crowded areas meant that he couldn’t avoid physical contact with others and that put him on edge. You never knew what someone’s intentions were. Crowds were the perfect place to unexpectedly be hit with a detrimental quirk. 

The boy shrunk in on himself, making his body as small as possible as Nezu led them to Lunch Rush’s line. 

A group of three students stood in front of them, two boys and a girl. The blonde boy and the girl were talking animatedly as the raven haired boy slouched behind them. 

“Neh, Tamaki?” The girl was asking the gloomy boy something.

“I’m not sure, Nejire.”

“Oh, don’t be like that, Tamaki!” The blonde said happily. “I bet you could definitely eat an electrical cord if you put your mind to it! Think of the possibilities it could do for your quirk!”

“Yah!” Nejire squealed happily. You could totally charge your phone if it died!” 

“Why couldn’t I just not eat the cord and use that to charge my phone.” Tamaki murmured. 

“Ah.” Nezu said. “Mirio-kun, Tamaki-kun, Nejire-chan, please remember to ask permission of your teachers before attempting experiments with your quirks.” The rat smiled at the trio who had jumped at his voice.

“Oh! Nezu-sensei!” The blonde boy, Mirio said happily. “We were just making suggestions. We’ll make sure to ask before testing anything.” The boy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before noticing Izuku.

It was the girl who commented first, however. “Oh! Hello there!” She cheered. “I’m Nejire, a second year! Are you new? Or maybe a teacher’s son? I’ve never seen you before and you aren’t in uniform!” 

The deku mask fell at the sudden acknowledgement and Izuku took a step back in shock from the excited girl's advancements into his personal space. Speech no longer available to him, Izuku signed quickly,

Please back off. I don’t like being touched. 

The girl didn’t seem to notice and took another step forward before a large hand stopped her by the shoulder.

“Nejire-chan,” Mirio said softly but sternly, turning the girls attention onto himself, “It’s rude to demand answers of people. Let’s get lunch before next period.” The blonde boy smiled kindly at the girl and turned the same smile on Izuku. “Sorry to bother you.” He said sheepishly, signing as well.

“OH!” Nejire shouted, turning back to Izuku. “Are you deaf?” She said happily as she sloppily signed the question.

“Uhm…” Izuku started, then shook his head at them. “I-I can h-h-hear.” 

Tamaki fidgeted beside the happier of the two and looked at the ground uncomfortably when Nejire laughed.

“So what is your name?” The girl asked. Mirio smiled apologetically at Izuku.

“M-Midoriya.” He said, his eyes shifting to the side to find that Nezu was no longer next to him. He quickly looked around the lunch room to spot Nezu chatting with Aizawa-sensei. The rat waved at him when he noticed him looking. Izuku had a feeling that the principal somehow set this up.

“Oh! That’s such a nice name. Much better than Nejire. Midoriya just rolls off the tongue so much easier!” 

Izuku didn’t really know what to say in response. 

“I’m Mirio.” The blonde said happily, but significantly more calmly than Nejire. “This is Tamaki.” The blonde grabbed the glum boy and gave him a side hug. “We are all second years, class A.”

“Um… Hi.” Izuku said quietly.

“Wh...What are you doing on campus?” The quiet kid asked. “Nejire had a point… you aren’t wearing a uniform… and you look really young.” 

“I… I um.” Izuku shifted on his feet, unsure what exactly to tell them. “Aizawa-sensei is w-watching over me… for a l-little while.” He finally said. 

“Well that is pretty neat!” Mirio said. “Welcome to UA. Are you hoping to go to school here when you get older?”

Izuku nodded slowly, wondering how old Mirio thought he was. 

“That’s great! What grade are you in? Maybe you will end up working under me during your work study in a couple of years! I’m gonna be an awesome pro!” The boy cheered.

“Um… I’m… I’m in m-my last y-y-year of middle s-school.” Izuku spoke.

Nejire whistled, “Wow! You’re really tiny! I thought you were only in elementary school! Does it have to do with your quirk or something?”

“Nejire-san… that was rude” Tamaki whispered

“O-Or something…” Izuku said, a blush spreading across his face. 

“Excuse me.” A third year girl behind them spoke. “Either grab your food or get out of line. Some of us actually want to eat before the next bell.

“Sorry, Sorry.” Mirio said, pulling his two friends forward in the line with him. Izuku reluctantly followed behind, knowing that Aizawa was watching him. If he left without food, Aizawa would chew him out and waste more of his precious time to take the test that still lay unfinished in the teachers lounge. 

“So, is your school on break or something?” Mirio asked, glancing back at Izuku who was grabbing the tray that Lunch Rush was handing him.

“N-No… I’m h-h-homeschool.”

“That’s so lucky!” Nejire cried. “I had to trek an hour back and forth during middle school. It was such a pain! I’m so glad Mom and Dad moved to be close to UA for highschool. 

“Do you plan on trying out for UA?” Mirio asked, following Izuku as he walked across the lunchroom toward Aizawa and Nezu.

Izuku nodded.

“What course are you looking into?” Tamaki asked quietly. 

Izuku stopped and looked back. “Um… A-All of them… e-except maybe b-b-business. I d-don’t like business.” 

Mirio grinned, “That’s the spirit!”

“What if you got into all of them, though?” Nejire asked thoughtfully. 

“I… I guess I’d f-f-figure it out.” Izuku responded. 

Mirio grinned again and laughed. Izuku started to turn back towards Aizawa but Mirio stopped him.

“Wait!” the boy called. “If you have free time, why don’t you eat with us? I’m sure that’s gotta be better than eating with Aizawa-sensei.”

“Yes. He can be very scary at times.” Tamaki mumbled. Mirio laughed and harshly patted the boy on the back a few times. 

“I… I don’t know…” Izuku said, glancing back at the teachers who seemed to be purposefully ignoring him. “I-I should…”

“Hey, Aizawa-sensei!” Nejire called out, waving one of her hands in the air. “Can we steal Midoriya-chan for lunch?”

“Ch-Chan?” Izuku asked, his face heating up again. 

“Yes Sensei!” Mirio called. “We promise to take care of him!”

“W-Wait.” Izuku said, panicky. He looked back at Aizawa and Nezu. Nezu looked extremely please with himself and Aizawa just looked bored. The Underground Hero just shrugged at the trio. 

“Make sure he eats all of his food.” The man said before turning back to the rat. 

Deku could have hit him. 

“So how long are you going to be staying with Aizawa-sensei?” Mirio asked once they had found a table. 

Izuku shrugged his shoulders. “A-A little while.” he said before taking a bite of the Natto from his tray. 

“What’s your quirk?” Nejire said excitedly.

“Um… I…”

“I bet it is really cool for Aizawa-sensei to be watching you!" She exclaimed.

“Nejire,” Mirio scolded, “Aizawa-sensei isn’t just going to watch Midoriya-kun because of a quirk. He is probably family or something.”

Izuku choked on his milk at the same time that Nejire laughed.

“Puh-leas,” The girl said, wiping a tear from her eye, “Aizawa-sensei? Come on Mirio. At most, Midoriya-chan is related to Yamada-sensei.”

“What would Yamada-sensei have to do with Aizawa-sensei?” Tamaki asked.

“Well they are in love, duh!” Nejire shouted. “Didn’t you see how Present Mic-sensei doted on Eraserhead-sensei in our last battle exercise after he got hit by that falling piece of ruble? 

“That doesn’t mean much. They are allies. You do the same thing to everyone in class, Nejire.” Tamaki grumbled. 

Mirio laughed at the other two’s antics. 

“What do you think, Midoriya-chan?” Nejire asked, turning towards Izuku. “Don’t you agree that Yamada-sensei and Aizawa-sensei are in love?” She sang the last word. 

“W-Well… Th-they are married… M-Most people marry for l-l-love, right?” Izuku asked. The three before him froze. Mirio dropped his chopsticks and Tamaki started choking and coughing on his food.

Izuku had the sudden feeling that Aizawa-sensei might have been keeping that a secret from his students. A thrill of satisfaction went through him. Payback for leaving him with these three without caring for what he actually wanted.

The three upperclassmen chatted excitedly about this new piece of information, asking Izuku questions every now and then but ultimately leaving him be as he hurriedly ate his food. He finished most of it, only leaving a few shrimp dumplings behind as he really didn’t care for them. He would have to finish those later probably, but he didn’t mind putting off a little suffering.

“You didn’t finish your food again, brat.” Aizawa’s voice came from behind him. The four at the table immediately looked at the stern man.

“I w-will later.” Izuku grumbled, eyeing the offending items but knowing Aizawa would refuse to take them out on patrol with him. So he either ate them or they were trashed. He would choose the former no matter how unappetizing the food was to him.

“You didn’t like them though, right?” Mirio asked, a smile still plastered on his face. “You know, if you tell Lunch Rush, he won’t give you any next time, he always has backups available for students with allergies and what not.

Izuku heard Aizawa sigh from behind him. He turned his attention back to the pro.

“I-I promise I’ll e-e-eat them! D-Don’t throw th-them out just b-because I don’t l-l-like them!” He said quickly. 

Aizawa grunted and narrowed his eyes at Izuku. 

“Don’t worry about that kid. I won’t toss it.” The man sighed. “You were given less food than everyone else. Are you still hungry? I can have Lunch Rush give you a different side.” 

Izuku fidgeted with his wrists. “I-I’m okay. Really. Th-Thats’s too much t-trouble.”

“Here.” Tamaki said softly from the side. “You can have the rest of my natto. I’ll take your dumplings. It’s just about the same amount of food anyway.” 

Izuku’s eyes went wide and he blushed for the upteenth time that day. “Th-thanks…” 

“Hurry up and eat, I need to take you back to the teacher’s lounge. Nezu said you still weren’t even close to completing the packet.” Aizawa said after assessing the situation.

“What? I-I’m more than halfway d-done with it.” Izuku said as he took a bite of the natto. 

Aizawa shrugged and turned to walk away from the group.

“Wait Aizawa-sensei!” Nejire called out.

Aizawa stopped and looked at the girl.

“Why didn’t you tell us that you and Yamada-sensei were married! We could have celebrated and given you gifts on your anniversary!” She cried.

Aizawa’s face twitched a little, his eyes sliding accusingly towards Izuku, making the hair on the back of the boy's neck stand up. 

“That…” Aizawa started. “Is personal information and not necessary for my students' advancement in the hero course.” 

“Of course it is sensei!” Mirio said excitedly. “Hero couples are super common but it’s rare that they work together. You and Yamada-sensei go on missions together all the time! How do you balance the risk to your partner with the safety of others.” 

Izuku noticed a slightly pink hue rise in Aizawa’s cheeks.

“Hurry up and eat.” He said towards Izuku, and ignoring the others, before turning on his toe and marching away. 

Izuku did not finish the packet by the end of the school day. He had managed to make it to the written portion but quickly realized that he should have tried to tackle this portion first. 

A little after the last bell, the teachers began filing into the room to have an after school meeting and Izuku was still scribbling away from his corner. His leg bounced and he made ticking noises every now and then as pent up energy coursed through his body. He had never sat in one place for so long. But he had to focus. 

Izuku was vaguely aware that he was mumbling the questions, thought-process and eventual answer but couldn’t stop himself. 

“Midoriya-kun.” Nezu said happily. 

Izuku looked up at the rat, his eyes slightly glazed as he continued to mull over the question he was currently working on. 

“Your time is up.” The rat said, jolting Izuku out of his thought process. 

“W-What?” He said. “B-But I’m not d-d-d-done!” He cried.

Nezu grinned at him and held out his small paw.

“N-No.” Izuku said suddenly. “Y-Y-You said I have until th-the end of the d-d-day. Th-The sun’s still u-up.”

“He meant the end of the school day, brat.” Aizawa said from his desk.

“I-It’s n-n-not my fault he d-d-didn’t specify.” Izuku said, more bravely than he currently felt. Unfortunately, if he let the Deku persona take charge right now, Izuku knew he would never finish. With Deku came energy, and more energy right now would have him trying to bounce off the walls, not working on the packet. 

“Hm.” Nezu hummed. “I suppose you're not wrong. Alright Midoriya-kun. You have until sundown. But you must stop the mumbling while we have our staff meeting.” Nezu said with a nod of his head. 

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, turning back to his task while the teachers talked about future lesson plans. 

After a few minutes, Nezu was at his side again.

“You are still mumbling Midoriya-kun.”

“Ah! S-Sorry.” He said nervously, shielding the packet from the rat so that he wouldn’t take it away as punishment. “I-I’ll try h-harder to be quiet.” 

Izuku’s progress significanly slowed as he had to split his focus between the questions and being silent. When he was anxious or hyper, mumbling had always been his go to outlet. He even mumble-signed during his mute moments. Something that Aizawa had picked up on quickly and had teased him about during their first few meetings. 

In turn for his silence, Izuku’s leg refused to stop moving. He shifted in his seat continuously and played with his hair as he tried to focus. 

“Midoriya-kun.” Nezu’s voice broke through. “Go sprint around the perimeter of the school.”

“I-I’m sorry? Wh-what?” 

“I will add however long you take to do so to your time. But you are disrupting the meeting.”

Izuku was unsure if the rat was being serious due to his cheerful tone and smile. Was he annoyed? Izuku was trying really hard to be quitet. He hadn’t even noticed he was making noise. What if this was just a ploy to take the test from him. What if he got back and---

“Problem child.” Aizawa interrupted his renewed muttering. “Go change and run off your energy. It’s annoying. The test will be here when you get back.” Izuku didn’t move from his place. Aizawa grumbled and stood, quickly snatching the packet away.

“H-Hey!” Izuku cried.

“It will be here when you get back.” Aizawa said. Izuku was about to talk back but then Aizawa spoke again, “Make it two laps now. We are only adding extra time for the first one.” 

Deku glared at the man and opened his mouth again but Aizawa put up his hand.

“I can make it three.” 

Although Deku was pissed at being ordered around, he was also extremely grateful. The wind whipping his hair back against his face felt wonderful, the burn in his legs as he pushed himself and the slightly breathless gasps he made as he turned the corner made him feel light. 

He hadn’t had a chance to just… run - without thoughts or worries - since he had brought the kittens to Aizawa. Deku pushed himself slightly harder as he reached the end of the first lap. The grounds were ridiculously large but most of it was due to the training grounds that bordered two sides of the facility. Since he couldn’t enter the grounds without a teacher, nor exit the gate, he was actually running a significantly smaller portion of the grounds than the commanded perimeter. All in all, the loop he was running was likely only six kilometers (a little less than four miles). 

He ran in as a straight a line as possible, choosing to jump over and climb under any obstacles instead of simply running around them. It reminded him of being on patrol. Using natural barriers to propel yourself was an extremely helpful skill that Deku had learned as quickly as he discovered it. 

This style used to be called parkour, though the name had died once quirks allowed some people to become more mobile. No longer did society think that normal people could perform such acts. Most believed that a quirk had to be involved. 

However, back before the time of quirks, people would perform these tricks to show off to friends, exercise, or run from the police - if they weren’t participating the most legal of activities. Similar to the current police, police of the past weren’t trained in the freestyle running and fighting. They were professionally trained in martial arts and weapon handling - but Izuku knew that could only take you so far. It was better to have a mixture of both styles to best combat an oponent.

As he rounded the final corner of his second lap, Deku noticed movement by the entrance of UA. The teachers were filing out, chatting amongst eachother now that the meeting was over. A few donned their hero costumes - ready to go on patrol for the day. 

The green eyed child opted to ignore them as he finished his run. He found he always felt good if he ended on a high point when working out. On the first lap, Deku had attempted to sommersualt over the wide walkway of the gates but had only made it three quarters of the way. His distance had always lacked - mostly due to his size - so he was constantly trying to make up for it. 

Imagining that the pathway were a drop off between buildings, Deku began planning how he would make the jump. The boy sped up, jumping onto one of the benches that was cemented to the ground. From the bench he jumped halfway up the pole of the outside light. He climbed to the top of the pole and swung his body towards the main gate. His feet hit off the middle of the gate, a little less than halfway past the width of the walkway. Perfect . Izuku pushed off hard the moment his feet made contact and dived for the other side of the ground - just barely bypassing the width of the walkway. He rolled once he hit the ground and bounced back up quickly to finish his run that ended at his room.

Unfortunately, something caught on his foot as he started to sprint again and the ground rushed forward. Izuku twisted onto his shoulder, knowing not to catch himself on his hands at this speed lest he want a broken wrist.

The air was knocked out of him as he landed. He sat up quickly, assessing what had happened when he found Aizawa’s capture weapon wrapped around his foot. 

“The fuck, Erasure?” Deku called as the man walked up to him. The other teachers were still hudled in a group in the middle of the walkway, some in deep conversation and others watching… him?

“You should pay more attention.” The man drawled.

“ You shouldn’t trip people who are just trying to mind their own business!” he bit back.

“Your shoe is untied.” Eraserhead said. “Had you misstepped at anypoint during your little stunt, you could have been seriously hurt. I stopped you when I knew you could catch yourself.”

“Oh. My hero.” The sarcasm dripped from Deku’s tongue as he glanced down at his shoe - that was, indeed, untied. The boy leaned down to tie the offending strings. 

“Next time, I’ll just let you fall.” Aizawa said.

“Good. Then I’ll be able to prove that I can handle myself.” 

Aizawa snorted. 

“I did train myself y’know. I’ve fallen enough to know how to not get hurt.” 

Izuku hissed when he rolled his shoulder. That would definitely bruise. Maybe it was better that Erasure had stopped him -though he would never admit it- , a bruise was better than a dislocated joint… 

“Wow, Midoriya-kun.” Vlad King said as he approached. “That was impressive. I didn’t really understand what Aizawa was talking about when he mentioned your skill but now I can see the potential. You sure that isn’t a quirk?”

Deku paused for a moment, feeling anger immediately rise in his chest but thinking better of lashing out when the Izuku side spoke It’s just a compliment, not an attack on being quirkless. 

“Um… No. It’s um… I’m still quirkless. That isn’t changing.” The Deku mask dropped from the shock of truly realizing that Vlad King was complimenting him. “I-Its called um… Parkour. I-It’s what some people d-did before quirks became common. It’s used by people - usually vigilantes - on the streets, nowadays. T-to help get away f-from the cops and stuff…” Izuku trailed off. 

“It reminded me of what Gran Torino does when he is fighting. And Aizawa before he adopted the capture scarf.” Midnight spoke up. “It’s pretty impressive that you tought yourself how to do that. I watched you attempt to jump the width of the walkway the first go-round. You only used the gate that time and didn’t get high enough to make it the full length. You’ve done well adapting to the weakpoint by using other objects.” 

Izuku blushed at the compliment. Two within the span of a couple seconds. Damn. 

“I-It’s nothing really. T-Technically anyone could d-do it.” 

“But they don't. Don’t sell yourself short, Midoriya-kun.” Ectoplasm said. 

“YAH! LEARN TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT, LITTLE LISTENER.” Everyone within the vicinity covered their ears. Yamada grinned sheepishly before apologizing at a normal volume. 

“I just… don’t n-normally get them.” Izuku said. “U-Usually Eraserhead just s-scolds me or t-t-tells me how I can d-do better.” 

The glares sent towards Aizawa made Izuku’s heart sink. He really hadn’t meant to call him out. He actually enjoyed the tips and casual banter the two usually had. Even being stopped by the capture weapon in such a way was familiar to the boy and set him at peace. 

“W-Wait! I d-didn’t mean!” 

“It’s fine, Problem Child. They know full well how I teach my students. They are just overreacting because they, for whatever reason, like you.” Izuku could actually hear the grin in Aizawa’s voice, despite his mouth being covered by the capture weapon. The others could too, apparently, because they began playfully teasing and scolding the man.

“This is all nice, but I believe Midoriya-kun still has a test to finish. Sunset is in two hours and you only have thirty extra minutes past that to complete your work.” Nezu said from behind the crowd of teachers.

“Ah! R-Right.” Izuku said as he stood. He rubbed at his shoulder when it jostled and double checked to make sure it wasn’t more injured than he had first thought. It was still fine. Just more sore than normal - likely due to the recent dislocation. “I’m gonna go change.” He said. Checking his shoes one more time to make sure they were tied before sprinting off to his room. 

Aizawa had the packet and Izuku’s bag sitting at the dining room table when Izuku rushed back down the stairs. 

“The teacher’s lounge is locked up for the night so you will have to finish here. Nezu will be by a bit later to collect it.” The man said. Izuku nodded, grateful that he didn’t have to waste the time of running all the way back to the main hall. He only had until 20:08 to finish so he quickly set to work, able to concentrate much easier now that he had run off his excess energy. 

Izuku was on the second to last question when Nezu arrived. The boy reluctantly handed the unfinished test of to the rat. 

“I-I’m sorry I couldn’t f-finish it.” he said, head hanging low. 

Nezu cackled at this, causing Izuku to look up. “I didn’t actually expect you to finish. I had thought you would go through, read, and then answer the easier questions first, however, you worked straight through. You powered on and found the loophole I created to give you extra time. Not only that, but you still completed almost the entire packet, leaving only one question left unanswered."

“N-No… there are others too. S-stuff I didn’t unders-s-stand. I think I m-marked around t-twenty. I t-tried to answer some of th-the others b-but I don’t know if they are c-correct. I m-might have just had l-lucky guesses. I m-marked those with p-purple - the multiple ch-choice anyway. Incase I g-got it right be a-accident and l-l-luck. I s-still didn’t understand th-them.” Izuku fiddled with his wrists, unsure of himself when it came to how he performed on the exam. In all honesty, the thing had made him feel incredibly stupid. 

“Don’t fret over this, Midoriya-kun. I will have your results by lunch tomorrow.” The rat said before leaving. The moment Nezu exited the door, Aizawa had set an apron by the boy.

“You said you wanted to prove you could cook. I’m not letting you off just because you had a long day.”

Izuku sighed and took the apron. “You aren’t letting me off because you just don’t feel like cooking.” Deku snarked. 

Aizawa shrugged and took out his sleeping bag. “Wake me when it’s done. Don’t burn the house down while I sleep.”

Aizawa was actually pleasantly surprised with the meal that the child had provided. It was simple but well balanced when it came to nutrition. The fish was slightly overdone but still edible and the soup had no flavour, but overall, the child didn’t do half bad. He ate all the food he made for himself as well - which was a plus in Aizawa’s book. 

“I… I know you don’t like me to give out food, but I made extra…  and packed it for you to take on patrol. It hasn’t been in the trash or anything, there was just more food once I finished than I expected.”

Aizawa studied the nervous boy in front of him. His eyes darted to the counter and then back at his hands, most likely toying with the bands around his wrists under the table. 

“I… don’t mind so long as you get your share.” Aizawa said after a moment. “But, I don’t have patrol tonight.”

Izuku deflated slightly before curious eyes met his. “Who is?”

“The police are watching your territory tonight.” 

Deku scoffed. 

“I’m one person and I have a day job as well. I can’t watch it every night.”

“I know.” Deku said quickly. “Even when it was the both of us, there were nights when no one was on patrol. It’s just… frustrating. Because I could be helping.” The boy stared at his empty bowl.

“You are helping.” Aizawa said. “By staying out of trouble.”

Deku rolled his eyes and slumped back in his chair. “Yah, sure.” 

“You’ll understand some day kid, when you’re a pro and you encounter a vigilante.”

“Right.” Deku said.

Aizawa stopped, noting that the boy was in no mood or state of mind to listen to his lecture. So instead, he sighed and gethered the dishes. “The food was passable. Just make a list of ingredients you need to make breakfast and lunch. If I find out that you aren’t eating enough just because Lunch Rush isn’t supplying you food, there will be hell to pay. Got it?”

“Yah.”

“Good. Now go to bed. It’s getting late for you to be wandering the halls.”

“Sure, sure. I hear you, Sensei-kun.” Deku just barely dodged the capture weapon that was aimed for his wrist. He laughed as he ran up the stairs and away from the annoyed man below. 

Chapter Text

Izuku didn’t think he would ever get used to the fluffy bed he had been given to sleep on. Even though it was only his second night in his room, sleep still evaded him when he laid on the mattress. By 01:00, the boy had gathered his blankets and bunny and made a pile for himself on the floor - finally drifting off. 

The sun woke him early again and Izuku sighed as he accepted that he would never sleep past sunrise again. The boy’s eyes drooped and his body was heavy but he forced himself to move anyway. No point in wasting time if he was awake. 

After a quick shower, the freckled faced boy donned the same pair of jeans he had worn the previous day. The shirt he chose today was navy blue and had a cartoonish bowl of ramen depicted on the front. However, underneath the ramen was the katakana for ‘pizza’ which made Izuku grin every time he saw it in a reflection. Double checking that his shoes were knotted twice, Izuku grabbed his bag and headed towards the stairs. 

The door to the left of the stairs opened and Aizawa moped out of the room just as Izuku was reaching the first step.

“G-Good morning, Aizawa-sensei.” Izuku chirped at the man. Aizawa only grumbled and brushed his way passed the boy towards the kitchen. 

Izuku followed and set his bag on a dining room chair before also heading towards the kitchen. 

“W-What’s the schedule f-f-for today?” He asked.

Aizawa grumbled again and started a pot of coffee. 

“Aizawa-s-sensei?” 

“Don’t talk to me until I have my coffee.” The man said, louder.  Izuku blushed and nodded his head. Shifting awkwardly while he waited for his teacher to drink the liquid mood-lifter. 

As the coffee steeped, Aizawa leaned his head against the wall, ignoring Izuku’s fidgeting as best he could. At long last, the pot finished and Aizawa poured himself a cup, downing it in one go before filling the mug once more. 

Izuku grimaced. “Isn’t it g-gross without cream and s-s-sugar?”

“You can’t tell past the burning.” 

Izuku nodded, deciding it best not to continue that line of conversation. “So, th-the schedule?”

“First, we will get breakfast. I’ll get you basic ingredients by the weekend, but until then, you will still be eating all three meals with Lunch Rush.”

Izuku nodded.

“Then, I’ll take you to the gym.”

“The g-gym?”

“Yes. You took so long yesterday that we didn’t have a chance to map out your physical skills and potential. After lunch, Nezu will be reviewing your test results with you.”

“O-Okay.” Izuku said. “Th-then what?”

“The school day will be over.”

“It’s g-going to take th-three hours to review m-m-my results?”

Aizawa shrugged in reply, finishing his second cup of coffee and pouring a much larger, third cup into the thermos that he often carried around.

The brat is too cheerful in the mornings - was Aizawa’s first clear thought of the day. 

As the man walked towards the main campus with the kid hot on his heels, Aizawa internally groaned. His classes were becoming more rambunctious as the holiday break neared and he knew his lesson today would fail miserably at keeping their attention. 

“You are muttering.” The man grumbled to the kid.

“S-S-Sorry.” The boy said, clamping his mouth shut tightly.

Aizawa sighed. “What were you thinking about?”

“N-Nothing… really. J-just stupid s-s-stuff.” The boy replied, messing with his wrists. 

Aizawa glanced at the boy, the look on his face making the kid jump.

“I… I was th-thinking about the t-t-test results.” he whispered. “W-What if I did b-b-baddly. W-What if I c-c-can’t g-get into h-highschool.”

“I’m sure you did fine.” Aizawa said after a moment. 

“B-But I haven’t b-b-been to school in over th-three years. W-What if I’m th-three year behind?”

“You said you studied in your spare time, right? That you took end of year practice tests to make sure you were learning?”

The child nodded but the fidgeting became more intense. 

“Did you lie?” Aizawa asked.

Izuku looked up quickly, his eyes wide before narrowing. “Of course I didn’t lie. I’m not like you or the other adults.” Deku bit out.

Aizawa sighed again, opting to ignore the outburst. “Didn’t mean to piss you off.” he grumbled. 

Deku said nothing in turn but he walked a little more confidently than he had. 

Deku stood before Aizawa in UA gym clothes, waiting for the man to tell him what to do. The pair had just entered a gym that Deku had never visited before. It was large - just like everything else on campus - and held an obstacle course of sorts. 

“Recovery Girl will be here shortly to take your vitals before we start. Then, you will stretch and do some basic exercises before she takes your vitals again. After that, you will run the obstacle course at least five time using different methods to cross each section. You will take a short three minute break between each run where Recovery Girl will check on you. At 10:00, you will take a thirty minute break where you will eat your morning snack. We will review the tapes for the following thirty minutes and then you will continue performing the obstacle course, using the suggestions mentioned in the review.”

Deku nodded at the man.

“Each run will be timed but you aren’t being graded. As the teachers filter throughout the day, you may be asked to do variations of the tasks based on their expertise.”

“So you aren’t going to stick around today, either?” Deku questioned, feeling slightly upset.

“No. I still have classes to teach. But you won’t be left alone.”

“I don’t need babysitters.” Deku grumbled causing Aizawa to roll his eyes. 

At that moment, Recovery Girl entered the room with a small briefcase in hand. 

“How are we doing this morning?” She asked as she took out her stethoscope. 

Aizawa and Deku both shrugged their shoulders at her.

“Why do you need to check my vitals. It’s not like I’m hurt.” Deku asked as the short woman checked his heart and lungs.

“It will give a base state for when you are relaxed. We want to make sure that your body is functioning properly if you are to take hero course classes.” Aizawa replied. 

Once she was done, Deku streched quickly and then awaited Aizawa’s orders. 

The first task was to perform basic exercizes in a time limit. As many pushups, situps, pullups, jumping jacks, squats, etc in the span of two minutes each. Aizawa corrected his form on a majority of the trivial moves but Deku opted not to complain. At least he wasn’t sitting at a desk today. 

Next, he was asked to perform some basic acrobatics such as handstands, cartwheels, and backbends. Aizawa had him move across the room in different fashions checking his speed and form. Then, he was told to sprint a lap around the room. The final task before a ball toss was to perform a standing longjump. Deku felt confident in every area except the standing long jump in which Aizawa had snorted at his pitiful distance. 

“It’s not my fault I’m short and fail at gaining distance!” Deku had hissed.

“Yes it is. Maybe you would have done better if you had actually taken care of yourself.” Aizawa replied. Deku bit back his retort, having already accepted that that statement was correct.

After the ball toss which was an average distance, Recovery Girl checked his vitals again. All was normal, aparently as he was immediately set to the next task without hearing her report. 

The obstacle course was actually really fun to run and Deku reveled in trying to figure out different ways to cross each section. The first run, Deku used normal tactics to achieve each task. The second run, he had taken creative liberty to make each section go faster or be easier to achieve. By the fifth run, however, Deku was growing tired and running out of ideas. 

Between each run, the boys vitals were taken as he grabbed some water. Recovery Girl never shared the results with him though she did have whispered conversations with Aizawa while he ran the next track. 

After the fifth run, Deku layed back, breathing deeply as the woman took his blood pressure. 

“Your heart rate is much more elevated this time around.” She said.

“Well, I’m getting tired.” Deku replied lazily. 

“Already?” Aizawa asked, a smirk clear in his tone. 

Deku glared at him. “Don’t act all high and mighty. I don’t see you participating, Sensei-kun.”

“Now, now. That’s enough out of you.” Recovery Girl scolded. “Aizawa is your teacher. You need to show him respect.”

“Erasure is being a pain in my ass, today. I’ll show him respect when he stops nagging me. Fix your form. You’re going to slow. Blah blah blah.” Deku said with a wave of his hand. 

The healer before him chuckled slightly and handed him a fresh bottle of water. 

“It’s almost time for third period so you won’t have to hear my nagging much longer.” Aizawa growled. 

“Hmph. I thought you were supposed to leave for second period.” Deku said.

“My second period class is on a field trip so I didn’t have to teach them today.” 

Deku side-eyed the lanky man beside him. “Who’s gonna be here next?”

“PowerLoader.”

Deku sighed slightly before standing. “Well, there is five minutes left. One more round?”

Aizawa looked at the kid, slightly surprised he was asking to run the course again. “Sure. After that, you can eat. This run, try to make it through without using your right hand or arm.”

Deku nodded at the challenge and began again. 

Come lunch time, Deku had dropped away from sheer exhaustion, leaving Izuku to deal with Principal Nezu. The rat left him with the same group of second years during lunch again, though Izuku preferred their company to the rat’s. 

“Man, you really need a shower.” Nejire had said when they were all seated only to be scolded by Mirio.

“S-Sorry. I d-d-didn’t have time. I’ll t-take one after l-l-lunch.”

“Why are you all sweaty?” Tamaki asked.

“G-Gym class. S-S-Still need to exercise, e-even when h-h-homeschooled.” Izuku replied with a soft smile. 

When the lunch bell rang, Nezu allowed the boy to shower off and change back into his day clothes before leading him into the Principal’s office. 

“I’ve been grading your work all morning.” The rat started. “There are a few areas that you struggle in and will need remedial classes for but ultimately, you are on or above grade level in most subjects.”

Izuku sighed in relief, his shoulders relaxing at the good news. 

“I’ll review with you by subject. Let’s start with math as it was the first part of the packet. You excel in geometry, statistics, and complex analysis but your knowledge of algebraic and trigonometric equations is lacking for your grade. You are only about a year behind but will be taking remedial lessons on these topics with Ectoplasm-sensei during his break period from now on. He will also review a few other areas that you barely passed in including but not limited to probability and number theory.” Nezu paused, looking towards Izuku to make sure he understood. 

Izuku finished writing the notes on what Nezu was saying before looking up and nodding his head signifying that the principal could continue.

“Next in the packet was science. You’re on grade level for this subject with your highest subsections being biology and physics. You are at least two years ahead in these subsections; though, I assume, you would be at college level if we were to more thoroughly test your knowledge of evolutionary biology in reference to quirks. I will give you a few reading materials and packets to complete to help you touch up on the few areas that you had the least knowledge in, such as astronomy and earth science, though there will be little to do in that regard.” Nezu paused again, looking up from his papers to inspect Izuku. “Am I correct in assuming that you spent a fair amount of time studying the sciences?”

“I-I like studying quirks. A-And physics helped w-with understanding h-how to make certain j-jumps and stuff. So I r-researched it a l-lot.” 

Nezu smiled at him. “Very good, Midoriya-kun.”

Izuku blushed at the compliment before turning back to his notebook when Nezu began again. 

“Your reading skills are above grade level and will not need any further courses to catch you up, however your literature is highly lacking. You show great skill in comprehension and analysis but you lack experience with the famous authors and novels that you would have normally read during your middle school years. Thus, I will be speaking with Cementoss-sensei on providing you with a reading list to complete. After each book, you will take a short test to prove that you read and understood the major concepts and themes and how these stories impacted society. You should have no problem with this, based on your scores.” 

Nezu stopped to take a drink of water after listing off a few titles that Izuku would be reading. 

“Your english is your lowest score. As it is usually emphasized starting in middle school, this is no surprise. I’d put you at grade three when it comes to this subject. Learning new languages is difficult but necessary for success, especially English as it is the language most commonly used around the world. You will be taking remedial lessons with Yamada-sensei daily. You will also be taking extra lessons from him two days a week after school and a longer session on Saturdays when he doesn’t have patrol.”

Izuku nodded again at the principal, having already figured this score would be low. He didn’t even remember part of the english alphabet, much less the grammar. 

“The final subject covered, history, was your top score.” Nezu said, making Izuku look up in shock.

“B-But I didn’t th-think I did that w-w-well in that topic. I-I couldn’t remember a l-l-lot of the dates or n-n-names.”

“No. You didn’t do very well with the finer details of the subject. However, you have a solid foundation and timeline for not only Japanese history, but world history as well. It is not so important to know when some archaic general died than it is to know major occurrences that changed the course of the world - something that you seem well versed in. Not only have you retained knowledge of these major events, but you can pinpoint how different aspects interact with one another and influence our current time. That is something that most students struggle with.” 

“Th-Thank you.” Izuku said after an extended moment of silence in which Nezu simply stared at him, a smile shining brightly on his face. 

“You will not have remedial courses in this subject, however, you will be given advanced materials on the subject come the new semester. We can’t have you bored in class, now can we?” Nezu said with a cheerful clap of his hands. 

“Um… B-But won’t my schedule a-al-already be more i-intensive than other s-s-students?”

“Yes!” Nezu cheered. Izuku’s gut churned, suddenly realizing that this Principal wouldn’t let him have a spare moment to relax come the new semester. 

“W-What will my schedule b-b-be? N-Next semester?”

Nezu’s eyes glinted as he observed Izuku. “Should you pass the entrance exam for the hero course, your schedule will be split among three of the courses UA offers. Your morning lessons will take place with the general studies course as I am currently not legally allowed to have you fully enrolled in a specialty course without a quirk. Your afternoon courses will be split between the hero course and the support course. You have shown a knack for creating support items during your time as a vigilante and I think it would be wise to provide you proper direction when creating items that will aid you in your hero work in the future.”

“I-If I pass the e-e-entrance exam?”

“Why yes. All students who wish to enter the hero course must take the exam unless officially recommended by the state and one or more pro heroes. You would have been an exception and entered as an official recomendee, however, as I mentioned before, the legal system is hestant to let a quirkless student enter into such a dangerous curriculum.”

“H-How hesitant? S-Say I pass th-the entrance exam. C-could they still forbid m-my entrance?”

“If you pass the exam, they can only limit your time - which is why you will be taking morning classes with general studies. However, they can not stop me from putting you in hero lessons - the afternoon classes.”

“I-If I don’t pass?”

“Do you really want to know?” Nezu said, his smile turning more sinister. 

Izuku hesitantly nodded his head.

“If you don’t pass the hero course entrance exams, You will be a full time general studies student and I will personally work you close to death to ensure that you grow enough in your abilities to enter the hero course by your second year. I believe you have too much potential to pass up. Needless to say, I will be very disappointed if you don’t make this easy on everyone and simply pass the exam on your first go.”

Izuku shuddered at the image of Nezu having such a personal involvement with his training. Images of no sleep, puking, and lots of blood filtered through his mind. 

“Okay… Th-then I’ll j-just have to p-p-pass.”

“That’s the spirit Midoriya-kun!” The rat cheered, standing up from his desk chair. “Now, follow me. You have therapy in ten minutes.” 

Izuku watched the mammal leave the office before quickly packing his bag and following him out. There was zero chance of him getting out of therapy today if Nezu was personally walking him there.

Deku did not do much in therapy that day, though he did agree to spend it in Hound Dog Inui-sensei’s office. 

Inui-sensei offered the boy tea, though it sat untouched on the counselor's coffee table. The man seemed content sitting in silence with Deku, though it grated on the boy’s nerves to be stared at without any point.

“So I can talk about anything?” He asked after a full ten minutes had passed.

“Yes.” Inui-sensei said happily, his tail wagging slightly behind him.

Deku leaned forward and pulled out a beaten up notebook. “Your quirk… ‘Dog’... it supposedly gives you all the abilities of a dog such as heightened sense of smell, heightened hearing, partial night vision, and altered physical attributes, correct?”

Inui-sensei looked slightly taken aback but answered all the child’s questions. He sometimes refused to answer some of the more personal points but by the end of the seesion, Deku was satisfied with the multitude of new information he had gathered. He had also convinved the man to sign the page of his book, filling Deku with joy.

“You know… I don’t mind answering your questions, but I hope next session, you will also give some information on yourself.”

Deku snorted at the man.

“How about a trade, then?” 

“A trade?” Deku asked, curiosity peaked.

“I will ask my colleagues for in depth details on their quirks and fighting styles. But for each piece of information I give you, you must also give some piece of information about yourself.”

“Why would I do that? I live at UA, I can just ask the other teacher’s myself.” Deku waved the man’s offer away.

“Not if I tell them to zip their lips.” Inui-sensei said, a small growled chuckle coming from him. “If the other teachers refuse to answer your questions then I will be your only source.”

Deku froze and glared at the man.

“I’m not forcing you to tell me anything. We can talk about anything under the sun. However, if you truly want to know more about the pro’s, this would be the perfect oportunity and benefit the both of us.”

“How do I know you won’t just gain information that I already know?”

“You can write a list of questions. I will ask the teacher and give you their answers, one at a time.”

Deku sat back on the couch, eyeing the hero before him. The deal was fair, but Deku didn’t like it either. “Fine. I’ll give you a list tomorrow.”

Inui-sensei howled a laugh and agreed. He bid Izuku farewell at the end of their hour. 

Izuku spent the rest of the day running the obstacle course. Ech teacher gave him different tips or suggested different movements based on his skill. Some challenged him by asking him to run the course with no hands, or by not using his feet. He found these much more interesting as they forced him to think through how he might move through a battle field when injured. Cementoss even agreed to use his quirk as a faulter for Izuku - though the man was obviously holding back, not wanting to hurt the boy. 

By the final bell, Izuku’s body was worn out and he was ready to eat and then sleep. 

Chapter Text

The following days and weeks followed a much more stable schedule than his first two days. Izuku now had remedial classes to focus on that took up a large portion of his day.

Izuku soon learned to despise the small desk in the corner of the teacher’s lounge. He only ever worked on subjects that he disliked and thus, school quickly became a nuisance. It took two weeks for his remedial lessons teachers to figure out how to keep his interest by incorporating quirk studies and other interests but even then, the tasks given seemed unachievable at times. Izuku still highly disliked the work. Thus, he often found himself escaping from the monotony of his morning classes. This often upset Aizawa, but the man would let him run off steam before dragging him back to the tiny desk. Nezu would often follow up the escapades with extra work for the boy to do.

After lunch - which he usually spent with Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire - he would have training. A plan had been created to help him gain muscle whilst also working on his technique. He enjoyed the workout most days but was disappointed in his apparent lack of progress. There was only a little less than three months until the entrance exams, afterall, and Izuku had a great disadvantage over the other students competing for spots. Just because Nezu wanted him in the hero course, didn’t mean he would pull any strings for the boy. He either passed or faced a year of hell with the rodent. 

After three weeks of intensive studying, Deku had another tough day when it came to the morning lessons he was forced to partake in. Yamada-sensei was trying to help him understand the difference of tone inflection when asking a question but the boy wasn’t listening. It was too hard. Why did he need this stupid subject anyway? It’s not like he ever planned to leave Japan.

“This is too hard.” He had said. “I’m done. I don’t need to learn this shit.” 

Yamada grinned at the boy. “Come now, Little Listener, you’re doing great!” The man cheered. “Just stick with it a bit longer.” 

Deku rolled his eyes and stood from the chair, making his way over to the door.

“I’m gonna go for a walk.” 

Yamada stood and made to stop the boy, “You know you can’t do that during lessons, Izu-kun.”

Deku tensed and turned around. “I can do what I want!” He said, louder than was normal for him. “You aren’t the boss of me.”

“Yes, he is.” Another voice said behind him. Deku jumped at the sudden appearance of Aizawa-sensei. “Now go sit down and study like a good brat.” The man said with a sigh.

Deku bit the inside of his cheek as he watched Aizawa sunker over to his desk.

“No.” the boy said after a few seconds.

Aizawa turned to face him, his face impassive. “Excuse me?” the man said coldly. 

“No. I’m not a dog. You can’t just order me around.” Deku inched back towards the door, knowing full well that Aizawa could easily stop him if he read the situation wrong. He had to time his escape perfectly. 

“I’m not in the mood, kid.” Aizawa said. 

Deku rolled his eyes. “You're never in the mood when someone refuses your direct order.” He taunted. “Unfortunately, you aren’t a god. I don’t have to listen to you, Sensei-kun.” Deku smirked, knowing this would piss Aizawa off enough for him to unconsciously activate his quirk.

The moment Aizawa’s hair began floating, Deku ran. There was always a split second when Aizawa activated his quirk that he would shut his eyes in preparation. Deku used that moment to make his getaway. 

Unfortunately, Deku had slightly underestimated Aizawa’s anger. Usually, the man just let him go run off steam if he made a clean escape. This time, however, Eraserhead gave chase.

Deku sprinted as fast as he could through the halls, looking for an open window that he could jump out of to make a faster escape but none were open due to the snowfall outside. 

As the boy came to the stairwell, he stopped, seeing Nezu below talking with Power Loader. Deku only had a split second to choose between getting caught by Aizawa now or possibly getting away and dealing with both Aizawa and Nezu later. Currently, Deku didn’t really care about his future self, so the boy jumped and slid down the handrail, avoiding the students making their way to the next class. 

“Hey Power Loader-sensei. Nice day, isn’t it?” He said quickly as he came to the end of the stairwell, already breathing hard from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. As soon as he got the words out, he saw Aizawa-sensei at the top of the stairs. He waved at PowerLoader and Nezu as he turned and sprinted down the next hall, leading towards the exit. He would definitely pay for this later.

Somehow, Deku managed to make it into the woods that hid the teacher’s night apartments and his room. He breathed a sigh of relief as the building came into view and slowed his pace slightly, thinking he was safe if he had made it this far without any other sign of Aizawa. 

Deku was wrong.

As soon as he let his guard slip slightly, a tight binding wrapped around him - the capture scarf.

“Fuck.” Deku ground out, his face now in the snow.

“Watch your mouth.” Aizawa spoke evenly.

“You don’t.” Deku shot back.

Aizawa pulled on the scarf, releasing Deku before the boy started to panic. “Do you think you are cute or something?” The older of the two growled. 

“Yes. I’m adorable.” Deku said with a cheeky grin, immediately thinking of ways to run again - even when the pro was so close.

Aizawa’s frown deepened. “You… are about to run again.” he said.

Deku stopped and cocked his head. “No, shit.”

Immediately the capture scarf wrapped around Deku’s legs tightly, keeping him from moving from his spot on the ground.

Deku lashed out at Aizawa, teeth snapping and a fist aimed for his face. The hero merely backed up a pace to avoid the attacks.

“I will let you go. Once you apologize to me and Yamada.” he spoke firmly.

“Fuck you, Erasure.” Deku growled, trying to pull at the tight binding that held his legs.

Deku felt a small wave of panic from being bound but also instinctively knew that the man wouldn’t hurt him at this point. Plus, his arms were free, giving Deku some semblance of control, so the panic that he feared might set in, remained at the minimum level that was normal when dealing with a pissed off Eraserhead.

Said man now started dragging Deku back towards the main campus. Deku fought the whole way, shirt riding up his torso as he was dragged along the snow covered ground. He scrambled to find purchase on anything his hands could grab, slowing the trek slightly when he was able to grab onto a tree root or pole. The boy screamed profanities and threats the whole way, drawing the attention of some upper class students who were heading to their work studies. Eventually, the pair arrived at the steps of the main building.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Deku.” Erasure spoke, tone still laced with anger at the boys current behavior. 

“Let me go! I hate you! I hate this school!” Deku called, continuing his struggle. Why won’t he just leave me be. He normally lets me go to calm down.

Aizawa sighed and leaned down to pick the kid up by the collar of his shirt. Deku tried to hit the pro again but the hit didn’t land due to his awkward angle.

“Calm down, brat. I told you I would let you go when you apologized.” 

Deku grasped the man's arm, pulling himself up to try and bite but the underground hero stopped his advance again. He might be lying. He's never not let me go, though. But he seems much more upset this time. Why is he so upset? I think I might have really messed up. A wave of confusion filtered through Deku’s mind, causing another wave of anger to bubble to the surface.

Aizawa sighed once more. “I can either have you walk up the steps like a mature person or I can drag you up like before.” 

Deku spit at the man’s shoes. 

Aizawa dropped the boy and headed up the stairs, dragging him behind. Deku grasped onto each step, causing Aizawa to work harder than necessary had the man just wrapped him up completely. A corner of Deku’s mind realized that Aizawa was being kind by not doing so and causing him to panic. You should stop. He is just trying to teach you manners. He just wants the best for you. Deku told the ‘Izuku’ thoughts to fuck off as well. 

“My, my.” Nezu said when Aizawa had managed to drag the boy to the middle of the main entrance hall. “Causing trouble all ready? It’s not even ten, yet.” 

Deku crossed his arms over his chest, turning his head away from the Principal. Nezu chuckled at his actions. 

“Do I need to step in, Aizawa?” Nezu asked cheerily. Deku froze slightly. He messed up. Aizawa, he could eventually apologize to. Nezu was a different story. Nezu always retaliated with some type of extra work. If Aizawa is this upset, Nezu might be too. The Principal might do more than just give him extra lessons this time. 

“No. I can deal with the brat.” Aizawa said cooly after a moment. Deku relaxed slightly at the words but the confusion and fear he felt was still fueling his anger and he didn’t stop his struggles completely.

“Very well.” Nezu said before walking off. Aizawa continued towards the elevators, still dragging the now, slightly quieter Deku, in his wake. 

Back in the teacher’s lounge, Yamada sat chatting with Kayama, Cementoss, and Ectoplasm. 

“Don’t you have classes?” Aizawa asked as he dragged Deku into the room. 

“We are all playing movies today. After yesterday’s fight, we are all exhausted and it’s not like the kiddos listen this close to the holidays anyw--- Why are you dragging Izu-kun?” Kayama-sensei asked. 

“Snot-nosed brats who try to run away from their remedial classes get to be dragged through the snow.” Aizawa stated.

Deku glared up at the man above him, using his hands to prop himself up. Fucking prat. What was his problem today? Just let me go. Let me run. I’ll come back in an hour like normal. I don’t want to be here right now.

“Are you going to apologize to Yamada?” Aizawa asked after a moment. 

Deku glanced at the blonde man who was blushing slightly at his husbands over-protectiveness.

“Come on. Sho. He didn’t say anything too nasty. He was just frustrated. It’s fine so long as he sits down to finish his work. I can just guide him through it later tonight when he's calmed down.” 

“No. This has happened too many times. It’s only been three weeks but this brat has skipped out on your lessons four times already. He needs to sit still and do what is asked of him.” Aizawa ground out, his eyes never leaving Deku. 

“Shota, it’s fine. Really.” Yamada said calmly, noting his husband's dark aura. 

Aizawa ignored his husband, opting to stare at Deku. “Apologize.” the man commanded.

Deku rolled his eyes and shrugged before turning to look at Yamada-sensei.

“I’m sorry.” He said. Maybe if I play nice, I can get away again once he leaves.

“For what?” Aizawa prompted.

Never mind. There is no way he is going to leave me alone now after I spit at him. He's messing with me. He isn't going to let me go. He's just going to keep me tied up and humiliate me. A new wave of anger spiked in Deku again, “I’m sorry you’re stuck with a husband who was clearly raised by a below average subsection of apes. Must be hard.” Deku snarked. 

With a single tug on his capture weapon, Deku’s arms were pulled out from under him, making him fall and lie flat on his back. Then, the scarf unraveled from his legs, freeing the boy. 

Deku sat up cautiously, backing away from Aizawa, still glaring. See. All it took was one push. Now he'll hit me or lock me in a room. They always do in the end. I'm too fucking dificult and useless for them to even try. Erasure is no different.

Aizawa left the room without speaking a word to him. Wait. No. Why is he leaving? That's not how this works. Don't leave yet. If I make you mad you're supposed to stay.

In a moment, Deku was extremely confused and felt more than a little awful. He looked at the four teachers still in the room and shrank back from their expressions.

“Deku.” Yamada said, rising from his place and going to squat in front of the child. “That… was completely inappropriate.

“I don’t care!” Deku yelled at him, his chest feeling heavy from the guilt that was now invading him. I fucked up. He won't come back. He was just supposed to hit me a little. Then he wouldn't be mad and I could have a chance to get away for an hour. He wasn't supposed to leave.

“Yes. You do.” Yamada answered, his voice soft.

Tears filled Deku’s eyes, unbidden. “I don’t want to be here! I want to go back! This place sucks!” Why did he leave? He wasn't supposed to leave yet!

“What don’t you like?” Kayama asked from her spot. 

“Everything! You people. You’re not the boss of me. I’m not a dog. I don’t need your help! I don’t need those stupid lessons. I don’t need to be locked up in here all day. I want to go back. It’s his fault! It’s Erasure’s fault that I’m stuck here!” 

Yamada gave Deku a look that made the boy pause and turn away from the four sets of staring eyes. 

“That... was a lie.” He said after a moment. 

Cementoss hummed before joining Yamada on the ground near Deku. “Which part?”

Deku shifted uncomfortably. “Most of it.” He finally said, the tears spilling over onto his face. He wiped them away quickly, still refusing to make eye contact with the teachers. He won’t come back.

“I think that I might have missed something. Do you mind telling me what made you act out?” Cementoss asked. 

Deku sniffed, his hands playing with the bands on his wrists. Just go ahead and tell the truth. “Yamada-sensei was trying to teach me. But it wasn’t making any sense. I… I got angry. I tried to leave but Yamada-sensei tried to stop me.” Deku stopped for a second, struggling with himself. You should have just done the work. “I told him he wasn’t the boss of me and Aizawa-sensei heard and scolded me.” 

“Then what?”

“I got mad again.” Izuku said quietly. “A-And I r-ran off … a-after being rude to Aizawa-s-s-sensei. He caught me in the f-f-forest.” Izuku picked at an old scab on his wrist. “He gave m-me the option t-t-to come easily or n-n-not. S-Said I n-needed to apologise to Y-Yamada-sensei.” But you didn’t listen. Now he hates you. He'll leave you all alone. Again.

“And you decided to make it difficult?” Cementoss asked. 

Izuku nodded, continuing to pick at his now bloodied wrist. He won’t ever want to see you again. So difficult. So annoying. So useless.

Ectoplasm left the room quietly but Izuku noticed and his heart burned. Even the other teachers can see it. They will all hate you now, too. Izuku’s breath hitched in his throat after a moment and he finally looked at Yamada and Cementoss. 

“D-Do you think Aizawa-sensei hates m-me now?” 

“Do you want him to hate you?” Kayama-sensei asked from her place at the table, cocking her head. 

Izuku buried his face in his hands and shook his head. “H-He does. H-H-He is g-g-gonna leave. H-He doesn’t w-w-want me. He w-w-won’t come back. I w-w-went too f-f-far.” sobs wracked Izuku’s form as the guilt coiled tightly in his lungs, making it hard to breath. 

“Izuku.” Yamada said softly, reaching out to pat the boy's shoulder only to stop when the boy flinched back.

“P-P-Please don’t h-h-hit me. I-I’m s-s-s-sorry. I-I’ll s-stop crying. I-I’m sorry.” He mumbled, taking in a large gulp of breath and wiping his eyes. You deserve to be hit, though.

Cementoss’s brows furrowed and Yamada’s shoulders slumped. 

“I’m not going to hit you, Little Listener. And Shota is gonna come back. He just needed a moment to calm down.” 

Izuku shook his head again. He’s lying. Just biding time for Nezu to be called. To send me away, back into the system. 

“I-I messed up. T-t-too bad this time.” Izuku took another shaky breath, willing the tears to stop flowing. “H-He p-p-probably went to N-Nezu. Th-they’ll s-s-send me back. I-I d-didn’t listen. Y-You get sent b-back when th-they don’t want you anymore. H-he doesn’t want me. W-Why would he? I-I tried to h-h-hit him, and b-bite him. I s-spit on him. And I s-said mean th-things. Th-they’ll s-send me back. N-next is juvie. I… I c-can’t. Th-they’ll find out I-I’m quirkless a-and...”  The other kids will beat you and kill you for being so pitiful. For being so weak. You’d deserve it. 

“We aren’t sending you back anywhere, Problem Child.” 

Izuku spun his head quickly to look at Aizawa. Ectoplasm was behind him along with Inui-sensei. Aizawa was tense and clearly upset.

Tears threatened to spill once more and Izuku turned away, biting his lip. 

The kid was having another breakdown. He’d had a few small ones over the past three weeks but not to this extent since the cuffs were tested. Luckily, he wasn’t hyperventilating. 

Aizawa had had a rough day. An unfortunate call that morning had left him in a bad mood. When he witnessed the Problem Child disrespecting his husband, again , he had snapped. 

He had given the kid leeway for the past three weeks, letting him adjust. He knew the child wasn’t used to the type of discipline UA supplied. He knew the structure would be difficult for the kid to adapt to. So he had waited. But today… today wasn’t a good time for the kid to act up. 

Aizawa had been careful to not scare the child too much. He was a naturally intimidating person - at least according to the other students - so he did his best to keep his face impassive. However, Deku was observant and seemed to notice that something was wrong. Aizawa figured the kid probably thought he was the cause - which ultimately wasn’t the truth. However, the kid lashed out and had forced Aizawa to use his capture scarf to take him back to the main campus. 

Aizawa made sure to keep the kids hands free, even if that made the trip back to the main building more difficult. Aizawa ensured that the child didn’t hurt himself on the trek nor that he hurt the child in any way, while dragging him. That wasn’t how you disciplined children. Pain and fear were not motivators for good behavior.

However, the kid still needed to apologize and Aizawa would be damned if he let the kid off this time. When he had reached the stairs leading up to the entrance, he had attempted once more to get the kid to just walk with him but instead the child lashed out again. Aizawa had gone exceptionally slow when heaving the child up the stairs to keep the squirming boy from being hurt. The exhausted man was highly focused on the child, watching his body language, listening intently to his breathing for any sign of excess panic beyond the anger. He didn’t recognize any up until they reached the teacher’s lounge. 

When Aizawa had asked him to clarify his apology to Yamada, something had switched inside the boy. The kid was no longer being snarky just to be difficult. He wasn’t just acting out anymore because he was bored and frustrated. Something had changed in the kids mind, making him lash out in fear more than anger.

Aizawa would be lying if he said he wasn’t upset at the kid. But the boy’s insults truly had little effect on him. It was more that the kid wasn’t acting rationally. Instead of explaining his thoughts, instead of listening to Aizawa for once, he was still just acting out. Aizawa knew that if he continued trying to handle the situation alone, things would only escalate, so he had left, not only to calm himself but to go fetch Inui-san, as well. The counselor was trained to handle these situations, afterall. 

But before he had reached Inui’s office, Ectoplasm had come up to him. The kid had started mumbling around his conversation with Yamada. Aparently he was terrified and confused as to why Aizawa had just left. Damnit. He quickly fetched Inui-san who luckily wasn’t in a session before making his way back to the lounge.

He heard Izuku crying from down the hall.

“I-I messed up. T-t-too bad this time.” Izuku cried - his high pitched tone carrying down the hall. “H-He p-p-probably went to N-Nezu. Th-they’ll s-s-send me back. I-I d-didn’t listen. Y-You get sent b-back when th-they don’t want you anymore. H-he doesn’t want me. W-Why would he? I-I tried to h-h-hit him, and b-bite him. I s-spit on him. And I s-said mean th-things.” The kid had wailed. 

Aizawa groaned, realizing that he was definitely the one being spoken of. 

“Th-they’ll s-send me back. N-next is juvie. I… I c-can’t. Th-they’ll find out I-I’m quirkless a-and...” the boy had said before trailing off, his breath hitching. "The other kids will beat me. They'll kill me for being so pitiful. For being so weak. I’d deserve it." The child mumbled under his breath, barely loud enough for those in the room to catch it.

“We aren’t sending you back anywhere, Problem Child.” Aizawa said as he, Ectoplasm, and Inui-san entered the room. 

The kid turned a disbelieving look towards him before turning his head away again. The other teachers all looked at the boy concerned. They had witnessed meltdowns from the boy before but usually they were anger mixed with mischief. None had seen him break down in fear since the first meeting. 

“Midoriya-kun.” Inui-san started. “You need to stop scratching. You are hurting yourself.”

Izuku didn’t stop his nails as they dug into the skin of his arms. Aizawa wasn’t sure if the kid could when he was upset. 

“I-I’m sorry. D-d-don’t hate me.” he whispered. The tears had dried but the thickness in Izuku’s tone clearly stated that more tears weren’t far off. 

Aizawa rubbed the bridge of his nose before squatting in front of Izuku. Cementoss and Yamada backed away when he did so, giving him and the boy some space. Inui-san didn’t stop him so Aizawa took charge, hoping the counselor would step in should Aizawa mess this up. 

“Just because I am frustrated with you, doesn’t mean that I hate you.” Aizawa said.

“I-I’m s-s-sorry. D-don’t leave.” 

“I’m not going to leave.” Aizawa said.

“D-don’t send me away.”

“I’m not going to send you away.”

“Y-your lying.”

Aizawa didn’t know how to respond to that. Did the kid still trust him so little? He wasn’t lying. Would it make a difference if he told the kid that?

“What makes you think he is lying?” Inui-san asked, softly.

Izuku looked up at the man, his nails digging deep into his skin. “They always send me away in the end. It’s only a matter of time.” His voice and eyes were dull. “I’m not worth keeping around when I mess up.”

Izuku looked towards Aizawa, his dull eyes morphing into a hopeful expression. “S-Sometimes… It h-h-helps when they h-hit me. Th-they keep me l-l-longer,. Y-You can… I-If it makes you f-f-feel better. J-Just don’t give me u-up. I… I can be b-better. I-I can learn wh-when you’re really mad.”

Aizawa unintentionally backed away from the boy from the shock of his words. Most of the teachers did, in fact. Izuku’s face dropped back to the dull look and he turned his head to the side, dragging his nails down his arms and opening fresh wounds. 

Immediately, Aizawa grabbed the kids wrists and pulled his hands from his arms. The boy flinched but didn’t try to pull away.

“I am not going to hit you out of anger - ever.” Aizawa stated firmly. “And you need to stop hurting yourself.” 

Izuku's body shook in his hold but Aizawa didn’t remove his hands from Izuku’s wrists. 

“I c-can go in the c-closet.” He whispered. Tears started dripping down Izuku’s face again in earnest, “I-I don’t l-like it b-b-but I’ll b-be out of your w-w-way. J-just come back. A-after a while. I d-don’t think I c-c-can do m-multiple d-d-days again.”

“I’m not locking you in a closet either.” Aizawa ground out through his teeth. Izuku flinched again.

“I-I don’t know h-h-h-how else t-to make you f-forgive me. I-I d-d-don’t know wh-what else to d-d-do. I’m s-sorry. R-really. I kn-know it’s n-n-not enough. I-I’ll d-d-do anything. P-please. I d-d-didn’t mean t-t-t-to make you s-s-so mad! I d-d-didn’t mean to disappoint y-you.”

Aizawa looked at Inui-san, at a complete loss. No matter what he told the kid, nothing helped. Aizawa was still a little upset, and he wasn’t about to lie to the kid when the child was so incredibly observant.

The child’s arms attempted to move back toward each other to scratch again but Aizawa held them apart. 

“Little Listener…” Yamada said. “You don’t… We won’t… You don’t have to make up for anything like that. You’re just a kid. No one expects you to be perfect.”

Izuku shook his head side to side, breathing heavily. “I-I d-d-deserve it. I sh-should be p-p-punished. I-It’ll m-make you feel b-better. I-it always makes g-grown ups f-f-feel better.” Izuku looked up at Aizawa. “Y-you can d-do anything. I- I won’t fight b-back.” 

Aizawa paused for a moment. No matter what anyone said, this kid wouldn’t calm down until he was given a way to make Aizawa happy. Aizawa grit his teeth.

“Apologize to Yamada. Then I won’t be angry anymore.” It was the only thing he could come up with as it was what he had asked for from the beginning. He hated having the kid apologize at all after this break down but he couldn’t think of any other way to have the kid calm down enough to be rational. 

Izuku stopped sobbing and shifted slightly. He studied Aizawa’s face, searching for something that Aizawa couldn’t determine.

“I-I’m s-sorry, Yamada-sensei. F-For not p-paying a-attention… a-and running away wh-when you t-t-told me not too.” Izuku’s eyes searched Yamada’s face now and Aizawa turned to look at his husband. 

At Aizawa’s look, Yamada snapped out of his frozen shock.

“Um… I a-accept your apology.” Yamada shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable by the situation as well. Aizawa turned back to Izuku who was now searching his face once more. Aizawa put in effort to relax his features. 

He carefully let go of the kids' wrists, making sure they wouldn’t move toward each other again. After a few moments, Izuku relaxed slightly. One hand played idly with the hem of his shirt while his other supported part of his weight on the ground. 

“Good. That’s all you had to do.” Aizawa said, still assessing the boy. 

Izuku nodded slightly although he was never asked a question.

“You need to go see Recovery Girl.” Aizawa stated.

Izuku nodded again.

Aizawa stood and Izuku quickly looked up at him, fear in his eyes. “Y-you’re s-s-still gonna leave?” he whispered, voice cracking.

Aizawa looked at the kid. “No. But I have to stand up to walk.”

Izuku nodded and stood as well, holding his bloodied arms close to his body. 

“You… you really aren’t gonna leave?”

“Not if you don’t want me to.” 

Inui-sensei and Aizawa-sensei led Izuku to the infirmary where Recovery Girl was bustling around. When the three entered the room, the small woman turned and stopped for a split second, seeing the scratch marks running down Izuku’s arms.

“Oh dear.” She said, coming close to inspect the wounds. “Follow me, Midoriya-kun. Sit on the bed.” 

Izuku did as he was told. His eyes were downcast and he couldn’t bring himself to think, much less talk. 

“What happened here?” The woman asked. Izuku just sat, allowing her to inspect his arms. The little woman began cleaning the scratches with disinfectant. It stung and Izuku flinched away a little.

“He panicked.” Aizawa said.

Recovery Girl hummed in response as she continued cleaning the wounds. Once she was done, Recovery Girl checked his heart rate and blood pressure before looking into his eyes with a penlight. “You look exhausted, deary.” She said.

Izuku nodded.

“These are shallow, so I will heal them, but since you are already so tired, you will probably sleep for a bit.”

Izuku nodded again before glancing up at Aizawa-sensei. “Are you going to leave while I sleep?”

Aizawa hesitated for a moment before answering. “I will for a little bit, but I will be back before you wake up.” 

Izuku nodded again and allowed Recovery Girl to heal the flesh wounds he had given himself. Sleepiness overcame him instantly and he lied back onto the bed and allowed the darkness to claim him. 

When Izuku woke up, Aizawa-sensei was sitting in a chair beside the bed, typing away on a laptop. 

“I’m sorry.” Izuku murmured, causing Aizawa-sensei to look up. 

“Stop apologizing. You’ve done enough of that today.”

Izuku nodded.

“Kid…” Aizawa said. “What happened?” His tone was weary as he looked at the boy.

“I… I don’t kn-know what you mean.” the freckled faced boy replied. 

Aizawa studied his face for a moment before continuing. “You fought me the entire way back to the teacher’s lounge. You were angry but you seemed put together. What made you fall apart?”

Izuku looked up at the ceiling. “I knew I m-messed up. Wh-when I k-kept fighting back. I… I c-couldn’t stop. I sh-shouldn’t have i-insulted you. Th-then… you left. I th-thought you weren’t c-c-coming back.” A small tear slid down the boy’s cheek but Izuku ignored it. 

“You thought I was abandoning you.” It was a statement.

“Everyone else has.” Izuku replied. The green eyes slid back to look at Aizawa-sensei. “What m-made you come after m-m-me today? Y-you usually d-d-don’t.”

“I can’t keep letting you skip classes. I should have been more careful about how I went about it, however.”

Izuku shook his head. “No… You’re a t-teacher… It’s your j-j-job to discipline k-kids who don’t behave. Y-You d-d-didn’t even do a-anything, really. Th-that thought just d-didn’t cross m-my mind at the t-t-time.” Izuku started messing with the bands on his wrists again and Aizawa tensed. Izuku noticed and slowly lowered his hands back to his sides. “Why w-were you in a b-b-bad mood?”

Aizawa sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “I wasn’t…” Aizawa stopped himself before he lied to the child, “I don’t think now is the time, kid.”

“It has s-something to do w-with me though. R-Right?” Izuku asked.

“Not exactly.”

Izuku stared at Aizawa-sensei, face blank. “Just t-tell me. M-maybe it will make y-you feel better.”

Aizawa’s eyes softened. “It’s not your job to take care of me. I’m supposed to take care of you. And… I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Izuku shrugged his shoulders. “H-hurt? S-so it is about m-m-me. You’ll tell m-me eventually, r-right? J-just get it over w-with.”

Aizawa-sensei sighed. “Two of the kittens… were born with heart defects. It was genetic, nothing you did.”

A tear slid down Izuku’s face as he figured out what happened.

Aizawa still continued, “One died suddenly yesterday. The grey one, Kage. The vet checked the other two for the defect and immediately took the completely black on, Kuro, to surgery to try and fix him. He didn’t make it either. I got the call this morning.” 

“Why didn’t they d-die before now?”

“The vet said it worsens as they grow.”

“Oh. H-How’s Chotto?”

“Healthy. The vet is going to run a few more tests to be extra cautious but it doesn’t look like she was born with the defect.”

Izuku nodded. “Are you s-sure it wasn’t my f-f-fault?”

“The vet said there was absolutely nothing that could have been done.”

“Wh-when can Chotto c-come home? Sh-she must be lonely w-without her b-b-brothers.”

“As soon as the tests are done. She is only seven weeks old though, so you will have to be very attentive to her. She still needs babying.” Aizawa said softly.

Izuku smiled and nodded his head. “I can d-do that.”

Chapter Text

Izuku now had to attend daily therapy meetings with Inui-sensei - much to the boy’s annoyance. He still refused to talk about anything of real importance; though, Inui-sensei was getting good at using the information trades to his advantage. 

A guidelines of punishments had been set up for when he misbehaved - none of which included being hit or being locked in a closet. 

Smaller issues, like not doing his homework, being snarky with the teachers when he was supposed to be in ‘class’ or other small infractions were given three warnings before he was made to write lines or do extra homework later that night. 

If Deku decided to run away during the lessons, the teachers all agreed to give him ten minutes to come back without any repercussion. After all, he only really left when he felt overwhelmed. Getting away to get space wasn’t a bad coping mechanism at this point. Should he stay out for longer than ten minutes, or take more than one ‘break’ every two hours, lessons would be cancelled for the day and Izuku would have to go talk to Hound Dog. Izuku, of course, would spend his weekend making up for what he missed, plus some. 

For the more serious infractions - say if Deku actually managed to bite a teacher, he would be grounded. Grounded for Izuku equated to being under teacher supervision almost 24/7. No electronics - which Deku didn’t really mind - no free time outside, and an open door policy on his room unless he was changing or sleeping. Not only that, but outside time would be limited to performing tasks to better help the school, like yard work. Izuku always had a choice in if he would do this stuff though. The teachers never made him do physical labor unless he wanted to get away from the monotony of his lessons or staring at the wall while he was grounded. 

All in all, it was fair. Izuku no longer felt uncertain about his consequences from his chosen actions, though he did push the boundaries a few times to see if the staff was lying and wouldn’t just snap at some point. 

The staff members he was more comfortable around - such as Aizawa, Yamada, and Kayama - were often the ones having to dole out the discipline to the kid. With the other teachers, Izuku usually didn’t lash out and tended to remain on his better behavior. 

Deku pushed Aizawa in particular - and the man now pushed back with equal force. It amazed the child each time the man would simply follow the discipline guidelines instead of opting to just leave Deku behind. 

The two had fallen back on their old raport from when Izuku had lived on the streets - snarky comments and verbal disagreements that, instead of physical violence, only led to a roll of the eyes or a click of the tongue. The conversations were those of people on a similar level - not that of the altered parent/child relationship that Deku had formed in his mind. 

Aizawa was never going to leave him or toss him out just because he misbehaved. Aizawa was never going to physically punish or lock him away when he got irritated. Izuku knew this now - though it was a constant battle to remind himself when the more difficult moments did come up. For some reason, the more firmly in place that idea was set, the harder Deku pushed Aizawa, trying to see if he would break. 

“Why do you push Aizawa away so vehemently if you are afraid of him leaving.” Inui had asked one session after a particularly nasty morning that had left Deku screaming at and - actually succeeding at - smacking the underground hero. 

Deku grumbled from his place on the couch. “That… is a level four question. I expect the same amount of information in return.” he said through his teeth.

Inui sighed and looked down at his paper of information on his fellow staff. “I will give you answers to Questions 12, 19, and 23. Is that fair?” 

Izuku looked down at his own paper that held the questions he had asked Inui-sensei to gather from the other pros. Each was labeled a number 1-5 based on their importance and how in depth the answer would be. Questions 12 and 23 were listed as level ones - mostly insignificant and a majority of what most of the questions on the page were. 19 was a level three, though, and Deku had wanted that answer for a while.  “Fine.” He ultimately ground out before taking a breath to calm himself. 

“Take your time.” Inui said after an extended period of silence. 

“I don’t…. I still…” Deku stopped and trailed off, his hands finding the wristbands again. Inui-sensei’s eyes shot down at the fidgeting, preparing to step in if Deku attempted to scratch again. “Everyone has a limit. I don’t know why I keep trying to find his. Maybe… Maybe if I do it on my own terms, it won’t hurt as bad when he leaves.” Deku bit his lip to keep tears from leaking out of his eyes. 

“Aizawa isn’t going to abandon you. None of the staff at UA are.” Inui spoke gently.

Deku turned his head from the man, body stiffening. 

“What do you think will happen if he leaves?”

Deku turned a glare on the man. “You have to give me my information first, old man.”

That was how most therapy sessions went. A give and take of information as Inui tried to find the root of Deku’s issues and heal him. At other sessions however, Deku just sat, staring at the wall, completely ignoring the counselor. 

By the time holiday break came around, Izuku was significantly more settled. Having only been at UA for two months, he felt much more confident in what was expected of him. 

The break from school did not mean that Izuku was allowed to stop his studies, however they did decrease slightly. The teachers were in no real mood to give him a lot of work and mostly had him review what had already been learned. 

After taking advantage of Yamada-sensei’s laziness one day, however, Aizawa stepped in during his english lessons and forced both Yamada and Deku to actually put effort in. 

“This is your worst subject, kid. You have three months to catch up for three years worth of lessons. So stop messing around.” Deku had glared at the man but made no other attempt at fighting back. Unfortunately, the man was correct. Deku had a lot more work to do when it came to learning this language.

“Yamada.” Aizawa had then said firmly, making the blonde jump and grin sheepishly, “If you let him walk over you, he will. Don’t be a pushover. Haven’t you been teaching longer than me? You should know better by now.” 

Yamada-sensei had nodded his head appeasingly at his husband before turning back to work with Deku on the use of prepositions. Aizawa tapped away at his laptop at the table with them, ensuring that neither slacked off again.

Once lunch came around, Deku hopped up quickly to get as far from the homework as possible.

“Can I go outside today? I’m so bored in here.”

“Of course you can. The garden at the front of the school could use some weeding.” Aizawa had said as he warmed the food that Lunch Rush had made that morning. 

Deku pouted, turning towards the man. “No, I mean to just go out and run. Or relax.”

“You’re grounded until tomorrow at 16:00.” Aizawa said flatly. 

Izuku flopped back onto the couch, glaring daggers at the ceiling. “Give me a break this time around.”

“No.”

“I did apologize.”

“I don’t think that means much after you purposefully broke one of the windows in the teacher’s lounge just to get out of the building. Next time, maybe use the door.”

“Next time, don’t block the door and I won’t have to use the window. Since when have they been locked anyway?”

Aizawa took a deep breath, opting not to answer that question.

“Besides, Nezu added a ton of work to my studies, after the fact as well. So I’m really getting two punishments. It’s not fair. I swear that rat is trying to turn me into a sleep-deprived zombie with all the shit he’s giving me to do. Did you see the mountain of books he added to my reading list? It was absurd.”

“You did complain about being bored.”

“Yes. But I’m bored of studying these subjects that I have no interest in. Why can’t I just learn what I enjoy?”

Aizawa shook his head, setting the bowl on the table and motioning for Deku to come eat. 

“With all this complaining, I’m starting to think that UA may be too difficult for you after all.” Aizawa said, voice deadpan but a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Once the semester starts, I won’t be doing only english and math seven hours a day.” Deku retorted. “Much less to complain about when something interesting is being learned.” 

“We’ve never had you do school work for a straight seven hours.” 

“It feels like it.” 

On Izuku’s ‘friendly days’ as Yamada now called them, the teachers were hardly needed. Izuku mostly kept to himself and only interacted with the others if he had too or if he thought they could use help around the facility. 

On the other days however, the times when Deku pushed the boundaries of everyone's patience, the teacher currently charged with the boy would often wish that someone would come relieve them as quickly as possible. On Deku’s ‘bad days’ the boy would either isolate himself in his room, refusing contact with anyone, or he would purposefully seek out trouble. 

Aizawa, surprisingly, preferred the latter. When Deku was causing trouble, it actually meant he was in a happier mood - even if it was obnoxious. When Deku was avoidant, though, new scratch marks would often appear around his wrists and ankles by the following day and the boy would have heavy bags under his eyes despite having laid in bed for an extended amount of time. 

Overall, however, most of the teachers had grown used to the boy, a few even growing attached to his presence in the dorm.

As Christmas neared, the dorm grew quieter. Few festive decorations were placed in the teacher’s night dorm, due to the fact that most of the teachers were spending their holiday at home - much to the disappointment of the more flamboyant staff.

By December 22nd; only Aizawa, Yamada, Kayama, and Cementoss remained on campus to share the responsibility of watching over the freckled faced child. 

Cementoss would be leaving the following night and Kayama would be taking a train to her parents on the morning of the 24th, meaning that only Aizawa, Yamada, and Izuku would be on campus for Christmas. 

Izuku didn’t mind much. It wasn’t as if he had had much of a Christmas the past few years but Yamada seemed to be depressed by the circumstances.

The blonde haired man lay sprawled on the couch when Izuku made his way downstairs for breakfast that morning. Chotto, who had been living in the dorm for a few weeks now, trailing behind the boy. 

“Are y-you okay, Yamada-sensei?” Izuku asked, quirking his head. “U-Usually you aren’t d-d-downstairs for another t-ten minutes.”

“Shota kicked me out of bed last night. Said I was being too noisy, whatever that means.” Yamada grumbled.

Izuku blinked at the man. “So you slept on the couch?”

“Not much of another choice.” Yamada sighed dramatically. “Look kiddo, never grow up and fall in love with someone who is almost your exact opposite. You’ll end up with a sore back and gouchy partner.”

“Um… okay… But, c-couldn’t you have used one of the o-other rooms instead o-of the c-c-couch?”

Yamada groaned and rubbed his forehead. “I should have thought of that.”

Izuku smiled softly as he went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Considering how intelligent the voice hero was, the man was incredibly stupid at times. 

Later that day, Cementoss left UA with a small wave from Izuku who stood by the door. 

Kayama-sensei was busily packing what was left of her belongings, the room she shared with Thirteen looking like a bomb had gone off, spreading clothes into every corner. 

Aizawa-sensei was napping in the sitting room and Yamada-sensei was busy doing his talk show in one of the studios. 

Izuku was left to his own devices and was suddenly extremely glad he was no longer grounded. The boy stepped outdoors, into the snow - regardless of the darkness that was settling on the grounds. The sun was setting and Izuku had an itch to don his vigilante gear and go on patrol.

But he couldn’t do that anymore. He hadn’t been allowed to do so for two months. The boy’s hands fidgeted together, shaking from disappointment and the cold. 

Without really realizing what he was doing, Izuku was walking aimless along the UA grounds. Aizawa were probably scold him for wearing shorts and no jacket while out in the snow, but Izuku was numb to the cold right now. 

The boy started a swift sprint, jumping off of random obstacles and attempting to do more difficult tricks that he had been working on. Eventually, he had run the length of the campus three times and was finally running short on energy. 

Izuku stopped before the front gates of UA to catch his breath. The white cement of the walls looked almost purple in the dark as his eyes played tricks from the lack of light. 

Izuku placed a hand on the gate and pushed slightly, though the obstacle made no move. The campus was locked down for the holidays, thus only teacher badges allowed the gates to open and close - not that his own ID would ever be programmed to let him freely exit either, though. 

It had been awhile since he had thought of UA as a prison, but the feeling hit him with an extreme intensity as he stood, one hand on the immovable gate. 

“What are you doing, Problem Child?” Aizawa sighed.

Deku didn’t even jump, having known that Aizawa or one of the other two teachers would eventually show up to find him.

“I was just out for a run.” He replied, his voice sounding dull in his own ears. 

“Without a jacket? Are you trying to catch a cold?”

“Sorry.” Deku replied, turning from the gate and walking back toward the dorm. Aizawa held out the green rabbit - Midoragi - hoodie for him to slip on.

Aizawa had mentally noted that the kid hadn't come back inside when Kan had left but didn’t worry much about it. Thinking he would come back soon. After two hours, however, Aizawa decided to go search for the kid, just in case he had done something stupid like jump wrong and sprain an ankle. 

The man went upstairs, just in case he had somehow missed the kid, before trekking out in the snow. 

Izuku’s room was clearly lived in but extremely clean for a teenage boy. He books were well organized on the shelves and no clothes lay on the floor. Aizawa grabbed the green hoodie the kid like to wear from the hook, realizing that the boy was probably outdoors still dressed in his lounge clothes from earlier. 

He would need to scold Izuku about that when he caught up to him. Even if the kid was exercising and felt warm, his body could still be suffering from the chill air. He did not want this kid to get sick

Aizawa informed Yamada and Kayama - who were currently playing some sort of card game - that he was going out to fetch Izuku before leaving the building and heading towards the main entrance. 

Deku typically ran the length of UA in a counterclockwise manner from the main gates so it would be more productive to do the opposite and run into him on his path.

The slight stretches Aizawa performed, preparing to run to quickly meet up with the boy were unnecessary as the child stood at the front gate of UA already. 

The kid had on gym shorts and a thin T-shirt, his body shivering from the biting wind as he stood, one hand settled on the gates. 

He looked defeated as he stared at the white wall before him.

“What are you doing, Problem Child?” Aizawa asked with a sigh.

“I was just out for a run.” The boy replied, not turning to face Aizawa. The kid’s voice reminded Aizawa of the night after the cuffs had been tested and he put his guard up, not sure what had upset the boy. 

“Without a jacket? Are you trying to catch a cold?” He asked, keeping his tone casual. 

The boy’s arm fell from the gate and he turned to look towards Aizawa who was holding out the jacket. “Sorry.” The green eyed boy whispered, not seeming to really notice what he was doing as he tugged on the jacket and led the way back to the dorm.

Aizawa was tempted to question the kid but stopped himself. Midoriya-kun will talk when he is ready. Inui-san’s gruff voice echoed through his mind. 

“Go take a warm shower and put on some long pajamas. I don’t want you catching sick.” Aizawa said as the pair entered the door. Izuku nodded and went up the stairs without speaking a word. 

“What’s the matter with him?” Kayama asked. “He was happy just a few hours ago.”

“Yah, Shota. Did you piss him off again?” Yamada teased. 

“No.” Aizawa said, his brows furrowing together. “I don’t know what set him off. I found him by the front gate like that.”

“The front gate? What was he doing? Maybe he couldn’t pull off one of his tricks or something and it upset him.”

“Kayama, considering how much time you spend with Izu-kun, you don’t know him much at all do you? If Izu-kun failed at something, he would just be more determined to try again, not fall into one of his gloomy moods.” Yamada said.

“I think… he wanted to get out.” Aizawa said. “He had his hand on the gate. He wasn’t actually trying to push it open but… he was looking at the wall like it had defeated him.” 

“It’s gotta be hard never being able to leave campus without supervision.” Yamada said after a moment.

“Especially when most kids his age are free to roam during the holidays.” Added Kayama.

“Not to mention that he spent the last three years completely free of any restrictions.” Yamada replied. 

Aizawa nodded and took a seat next to the duo. Something about the look on the kid’s face bothered him. But he shook his head, the kid had plenty of ups and downs throughout the day. This one was no different.

Aizawa could not sleep as he lay in bed by his husband. Something was wrong. Everything just seemed... off. He rose and checked on the boy down the hall. Izuku was sleeping peacefully on his bed, Chotto curled up on his chest, the kids hand settled gently over her back. 

Aizawa sighed as he quietly closed the door and went back to his own room.

“What’s the matter, Sho.” His husband asked, sitting up in bed with the side table light on. 

“Nothing. Sorry I woke you.”

“Something scared you today. About Izu-kun.” 

Aizawa sighed and climbed on the bed next to his husband. “It’s nothing. It’s not like he hasn’t acted that way before.”

“No. He hasn’t.” Yamada replied, making Aizawa look at him questioningly. 

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the holidays, Sho. The worst time of year for foster kids. You’ve never seen Izu-kun at this time of year.”

Something clicked for Aizawa and he turned to fully face Hizashi, cupping his hands around the man’s face. “He looked like you did, when we were in high school.” the black haired man whispered.

Yamada smiled faintly. “I guess that would make sense. Though I hope I didn’t come off that dejected. Do you know how much energy I had to use to keep a smile on my face back then?” Yamada chuckled, trying to lighten the conversation but Aizawa’s expression negated any attempt. 

“Do you still get like that?” Aizawa asked, eyes searching his husband’s. 

Yamada smiled again, grabbing Aizawa’s hands and squeezing them. “I have a family now, Shota. I have a place where I belong. So no. I don’t long for those things anymore because I already have them.”

“Izuku has those things here, too.” Aizawa said.

“Not really. It’s different.”

Aizawa turned confused eyes upon Yamada.

Yamada smiled again. “You’re always so much more open with your expressions when it’s just you and me.” Yamada smiled again, once more attempting to lighten the mood. When he failed for the second time he sighed. “This… is just something that you can’t understand unless you’ve faced it, Sho. Look, I’ll talk to him tomorrow, okay?”

Aizawa nodded, leaning into the blonde’s embrace and squeezing him back. Only with Hizashi could he let his guard down like this. 

“If you ever get like that… come to me.” Aizawa said fiercely. “I’m your family so you better not dwell on pointless thoughts when you have someone waiting for you.”

Aizawa felt the grin as Hizashi pecked his forehead - a happy hum coming from the blonde before they both layed back down to sleep. 

Deku grumbled as he attempted to read the paragraph in front of him. Yamada was by his side, editing some music, but ready to step in and help at any point while the boy did his school work. 

Kayama had left earlier that morning, leaving only the three left in the expansive house.

Deku frustratingly slammed his notebook shut and pushed it away from him before setting his head in his arms. 

“You were almost done, Little Listener.” Yamada said, slightly too loud for the boys comfort.

“I’m too stupid to ever understand this stuff.” Deku groaned.

Yamada chuckled a bit and sat back in his own chair. “If you finish that paragraph, we can take a break. We can start the lesson again in…” Yamada checked his watch “Two days. What do you say?”

Deku lifted his head quickly, eyeing the man. “I don’t have to do this stuff for two days?”

Yamada nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

“But I have another two hours left with you.” Deku’s eyes narrowed. “Why? What’s the trick?”

"No trick.” Yamada said, hands waving defensively in front of him. “I just thought it might be nice to take a break for Christmas. So long as you read the novels Nezu and Cementoss want you to complete, I think we can take a short reprieve from the English Language.” 

Izuku grinned widely at the man, pulling the notebook back towards him to finish the last paragraph of the next few day. 

“Izu-kun.” Yamada asked once the child had finished and looking out the window at the falling snow. “Do you want to come out with me?”

“To where?” Izuku asked, caution heavy in his tone.

“Just to the local shop. I need to grab some things for tomorrow and thought you might like to get off of the grounds.”

“Is Aizawa-sensei coming?”

“No. He has patrol tonight so he’s taking a nap.” Yamada’s smile dropped slightly at the uncertain look on the boy’s face.

“Am...Am I allowed? W-Without Aizawa-sensei?” 

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.” Yamada’s face softened when Izuku bounced up from the chair.

“For real? We can get out?” The child was beaming and Yamada nodded.

“Go get some clothes on and make sure to bundle up!” Yamada raised his voice at the last part as Izuku was already halfway up the stairs. 

Yamada and Izuku walked side by side to the store a few blocks from the school.

“What do we need to get?”

“Well, I was hoping to grab a small gift for Nemuri for when she gets back. I already have Shota’s gift of course. I wish I could have given it to him today but he was too tired…”

“Don’t c-couples usually go out today? C-C-Christmas Eve? Did you guys n-not get to b-because of m-m-me?” Izuku asked, face turned towards the ground. 

“Shota usually patrols Christmas Eve. So I rarely actually get to go out with him. But not to worry, he always tries to come home early so that we can spend the day of together.”

Izuku hummed as they walked. “I d-don’t really g-get Christmas. M-Most stores and offices a-are still open. And it’s n-not a national h-holiday…” 

“I bet New Years is more exciting for you, isn’t it Izu-kun?” Yamada asked with a smile.

Izuku shrugged. “I d-don’t really care f-for that one either. Which one d-do you like more?”

“I lived in America for a long time, so Christmas is my number one!” The man cheered the last word. “In America, Christmas is a very big holiday where people give lots of gifts. Lots of delicious food is served and family gets together! But Shota really isn’t one for holidays so I’ve try not to make it too big of a deal. Christmas is just a bit harder for me.” Yamada rubbed the back of his neck shyly.

“Hmm.” Izuku hummed thoughtfully. “Japan s-started celebrating Christmas b-because of America, r-right?”

Yamada nodded gleefully. “I prefer to celebrate Christmas like they do in America and Shota always tries his best to play along.” Yamada had a goofy grin on his face as they entered the store. “The last few years, he’s even come home with a tiny tree to decorate in the morning.”

“Th-that’s nice. Do you g-get fried chicken t-t-too?”

“Nah! In America they usually make ham with a bunch of different sides. The next shop we’ll visit always saves a small one for me.” Yamada was now searching through the isles, looking at different objects but always putting them back down before moving on. “But we can get fried chicken if you want.”

Izuku shook his head. “I’ve never r-really liked th-that. Ham… would be n-nice.”

“Wonderful! The story we’ll get the ham from specializes in American cuisine* so we’ll get a few more sides too like sweet mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and biscuits! We’ll get some christmas cake, too.”

“That… sounds like a l-lot of f-f-food.” Izuku said, smiling nervously at the excited man.

“No worries, Little Listener, it’s all small portions. That food isn’t common here so you can’t really find it in bulk.” Yamada stopped in front of the jewelry section and looked at Izuku. “Nemuri would proabbly like something from here, don’t you think?”

Izuku shrugged his shoulders.

Yamada led the way, looking at the many different options for jewelry before coming upon a rack full of earrings. He picked up a set of cat shaped ones and showed it to Izuku.

“Shota and I met Nemuri at UA. She was in her third year and helped Sho get into his work study. The two of us and another friend had been sneaking a kitten into the school in order to take care of it, and she ended up adopting the tiny thing. He’s an old grouch of a cat now, but Nemuri still has him.”

“It’s w-wierd thinking about m-my teachers as s-s-students.”

Yamada laughed out loud. “I can imagine.”

After purchasing the earrings and a few decorations for the following day, the pair picked up the precooked food. Izuku listened intently at the directions for warming up the food - remembering how Aizawa-sensei claimed Yamada-sensei could burn water. Then, the two were headed back to UA.

“Yamada-sensei.” Izuku had stopped walking once the gates came into view. He was looking at the ground, fists clenched tightly around the shopping bags he held. 

Yamada stopped and looked at him.

“I… Do you think…” The boy trailed off, biting his lip slightly. 

Yamada waited patiently for him to continue.

“C-Can I go s-s-see some people. I-In the next few d-days. I...I j-just usually…”

“It sounds like you're asking about the people you used to care for. The people in your territory, right?”

Izuku shifted from one foot to the other and quickly nodded his head.

“I think… we should maybe have this conversation with Shota.” Yamada said after a moment. 

Izuku nodded once more, barely moving his head before slowly walking past Yamada, towards the imposing gates of UA.

The duo set the bags down on the counter and Izuku helped put the supplies away before going to hide in his room. Yamada sighed as he watched the boy go. 

Aizawa wouldn’t get up for another two hours and Yamada wasn’t sure he wanted to leave the boy alone for that long. 

So, biting the proverbial bullet, Yamada followed after the boy. 

Izuku had his door cracked open revealing him on his swinging chair in the corner of the room. Chotto was already curled in his lap, purring as he brushed his fingers through her fur. The stuffed green bunny in his other arm, held close to his chest. The boy looked much younger than fourteen like this.

“Izu-kun?” Yamada knocked lightly on the door.

Izuku looked up at the man, making eye contact through the crack. “C-Come in.”

Izuku pointed to the desk chair when Yamada entered and the voice hero took his seat, stomach towards the back of the chair, arms crisscrossed along the back edge. 

“Who do you want to see, Izu-kun?” Yamada asked.

Izuku tensed slightly before resuming his petting of the tiny cat in his lap. “W-We should wait f-f-for Aizawa-sensei.” 

“I can try to soften him up on the issue, if I have more information, that is.”

“I… I want to see Yua-san. She likes sweets… I thought I could take her some for the holiday.” Deku smiled sadly a little, refusing to make eye contact with Yamada. “And I want to see if Saichu-san is still doing drugs… or even still alive. He has a lot of debt. And Kyoya-san’s brothers have been trying to put her through school. She’ll be home for the holiday. She’s not much older than me, but she is going to be a surgeon. She is so smart and her quirk lets her see miniscule details which will be helpful in surgery. Her brothers raised her and are in a gang to help make money. I want to know if the turf-wars are still occuring. One of them could get killed. And the drug dealers. They were pushing some nasty stuff before I came along. I know Eraserhead is patrolling the area but it… it’s not enough. I need to see it. See them. Make sure everything is going okay. I… I just left them all.” Deku took a shaky breath.

Yamada hummed. “Why now?”

“They were the closest things I had. I took care of them all. The whole sector. For three years, Yamada-sensei. It’s all I had for three years and you guys just want me to forget and I can’t.” Deku’s voice was rising but he wasn’t exactly angry - more frustrated and at a loss than anything. “I’m trying but I can’t. I know it makes Eraserhead upset when I insist that he take food with him. I know that I’m not supposed to be involved.” Another shaky breath. “I’m not supposed to talk to anyone who is deemed a criminal… But that’s not who they are. They do bad things. They make bad choices. But so did I. So do I. But I get to attend UA. I get three solid meals a day and a warm bed to sleep in. I don’t have to worry about finding clothes warm enough to get me through the winter or obtaining medicine if I get sick anymore - but they all still do.”

Yamada waited for Izuku to continue, knowing instinctively that there was more. This was probably the most the kid had spoken in awhile.

“This time of year… for some reason… it’s not so bad. Maybe it’s too cold for people to commit crimes. Maybe it’s just the holiday season. But they all get together. They all care for each other.” Deku turned to look out the window. “Last year… Two of the gangs met up around this time. There were always casualties. But… they met up in the middle of my route and didn’t fight. One of the members, Kauru-san, his mom made me a hat to keep me warm. And the other side all pitched in money to get me two of my notebooks and a pencil. They knew I was still school age. They knew I was on my own just like most people. So they tried to help. They all brought small portions of food, some from home and others from restaurants that left the cans open during the season for those of us who would starve otherwise. We all actually got to eat.”

Yamada’s chest tightened some as the boy relived his memory.

“They said to meet again next year. This year. We all planned to bring more people. The whole community. I reminded them throughout the year. When they were being stupid. We gotta make it to new years for the feast. Don’t die. Don’t take that drug. Don’t get sent to prison. What if… what if they’ve forgotten? How many of them have died in these last two months? How many of them are watching their families starve? And I’m here. I can’t do anything, Yamada-sensei. I can’t even show up for one night.”

The boy wasn’t crying or screaming, and trying to hit people and throw things. He wasn’t shaking or stuttering or cowering in a corner. He was sitting, slightly trense, in his chair - looking out the window at the falling snow. Outwardly calm. But his eyes were reflecting a whirlwind of emotion.

“I know I can’t go. I shouldn’t have asked.” He said after a moment. Yamada didn’t really know how to respond but took a breath to speak anyway.

“I don’t know if I can help you. But I’m going to try.”

Deku shifted slightly, shaking his head.

“I know you won’t get your hopes up and you shouldn’t. But I will try to work something out. You’re a good kid Izuku-kun. You deserve more than what the past provided. Heck, you deserve more than what you have now. I know it sucks being moved from place to place, having no steady family. Struggling to fit into a new dynamic every year so I want to try and make this as easy as possible for you.”

Deku turned to him now, searching the man’s face.

“Your old family sounds nice when they aren’t beating on each other.” Yamada chuckled. “But I hope you find that this new family can be nice too. Inui-san isn’t lying when he tells you you’re stuck with us. You were in your territory for three years. You are going to be here for three years too. And then, you’ll still have us afterwards as well.”

“I appreciate the kind words, Yamada-sensei.” Deku said, a forlorn smile on his face. “But I can’t believe that right now. I know how this plays out. At some point, I’ll fuck up. Or maybe you will all just get bored. I’ll be more of a problem than an asset and UA will drop me off at the nearest government building. People don’t like me in the long term. Hell, I don’t like me in the long term. I was able to stay on the streets for three years because I made sure to keep to myself. To stay alone for the most part. I work behind the scenes to bring others together. That was my job. I didn’t want another disappointment. Yet here I am again.”

“It gets better, Izuku. There is still hope for you to have a family.”

“Maybe for you.” Deku cut him off before Yamada had a chance to continue. “I don’t know what you went through during your time in the system, Yamada-sensei. I don’t know how long you stayed in it. But I’ve been doing this since I was four. I’ve officially been in eight homes now, not including the street. Nothing will change at this point. I’m too old. Too broken.” Deku smiled weakly at the man. “It’s fine. I’m fine with it. I’ll get through like I always do. So you don’t have to worry. You don’t have to attempt anything on my behalf. Like I said, I shouldn’t have asked anyway. I know how this works.”

Yamada frowned at the boy.

“I have to do some reading so that I can stay on top of this book list.” Deku said eventually. “Eraserhead is gonna be waking up soon so you should go start his coffee.” 

Yamada didn’t move, still.

“I told you, Yamada-sensei, I’m fine. So please… Just go.”

Yamada had left Deku to his own thoughts then and the boy stayed in his room the rest of the evening, not even going downstairs to greet Aizawa. His heart was hurting. He had given too much away to this person who was, in all honesty, little more than a stranger. 

I wonder how many questions that conversation could have been worth with Inui-sensei. Deku thought wryly to himself.

In the end, Deku opted to go to bed early and fell into a restless sleep by 20:00. 

The next day went well, Aizawa had in fact gotten a tiny tree that sat on the coffee table. It held only five ornaments before it toppled over onto its side. Yamada had gotten Aizawa a comfy pair of cat-themed pajamas and, in return, Aizawa had begrudgingly given Yamada a stuffed Eraserhead plush. Yamada held tightly through for a good portion of the day, repeating over and over to Izuku how he had asked for something like this for years so he would have someone to hug while Aizawa was out on patrol late at night.

Izuku had received a gift as well - the tag claiming to have been from both men but the handwriting showing only Yamada’s bouncy letters. Instead of being wrapped, the gifts were in a Midoriagi (Green Rabbit) themed birthday type bag that was filled with Midoriagi merchandise including a set of pajamas, fluffy socks, a coffee mug, and some notebooks and pens. 

Aizawa had whispered under his breath that neither he nor Izuku were five but his eyes were soft and his tone held no bite. Izuku was actually pleasantly surprised by the gift and smiled over each of the items as he found places for them in his room.

Between opening gifts and lunch, the trio lounged in their night clothes, playing a card game that Yamada insisted was too exciting to pass up. When the blonde man lost every round, however, his excited words for ‘one more game’ quickly turned to playful accusations of cheating on Aizawa’s part. Izuku would have rolled his eyes at the man but then realized that Aizawa was, in fact, cheating. He didn’t mention anything though as Izuku also used the trick of using Yamada’s reading glasses to view his hand through reflection. In the end, Aizawa and Izuku were just about tied whilst Yamada only had one win - that being the first game. 

Izuku heated the food for lunch, allowing Yamada and Aizawa some time to relax together. The ham and accompanying sides were good but much heavier than the traditional Japanese food that Izuku had grown accustomed to and the boy was unable to clear his plate. Aizawa and Yamada couldn’t either; however, and a large tin was pulled out to store the leftovers. 

After that, Aizawa had to go back to bed. He had patrol again that night and needed to rest up for the extra long, twelve hour shift. Aizawa apparently always took holiday patrol as most other heroes didn’t want the shifts that took time away from their families. It gave him a large bonus for the new year, however so neither man complained.

The following day, Izuku lazed around, reading the books on his list before convincing Aizawa to have a short sparring session before his third night on patrol. 

On the 27th, Izuku started his english lessons again and life seemed to revert back to semi-normal. New Years would be another off day for Izuku, but until then, he still needed to study and catch up. 

Izuku had gone to bed that night, curled up tightly with Chotto lying in the crook of his neck and his bunny clutched tightly in his arms. When he awoke, however, his bunny had slipped from his grasp and Chotto was on the floor, circling the legs of the person who had woken him.

“Yamada-sensei? Is something wrong?” Izuku asked blearily. 

The man was grinning at the boy and shook his head. “You need to get up Izu-kun. We are going out.”

Izuku looked over at his clock 22:00 - he had only been asleep for an hour. “Where are we going? It’s a little late don’t you think?”

The blonde shook his head and grabbed the yellow backpack off the wall, motioning for Izuku to hurry along.

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.” Deku said firmly.

“I have a surprise for you. Don’t ruin it, Izu-kun.”

“I don’t like surprises, Yamada-sensei.” Deku replied, still not moving from his bed.

Yamada sighed and walked back up to the boy. “You act just like Shota sometimes, I swear.” he grumbled out. “We are going to your territory, Little Listener. Shota called me. Some people are waiting for you.”

“W….What?” Izuku asked, stunned almost to silence.

“Yep. I have a face mask and a new set of goggles in your bag. You can wear your green hoodie to hide your hair. No utility belt allowed, though. Shota’s orders. Now are you coming or not?” 

Izuku nodded quickly and scrambled from his bed to put on some jeans and his shoes. “H-How? I’m not supposed to…”

“Shota talked it over with Nezu. So long as you don’t actually do anything and Shota and I stick with you, everything should be fine. We won’t tell the cops anything.” The blonde grinned again.

“Shota’s already talked with some of the gang members about him and I being present. They weren’t too big of a fan of me but most of them trust Shota by now and are allowing it. They are excited to see you again. They know you’ve been caught but thought you were lost in the system or something. We want to keep it that way. Don’t tell them that you are at UA, okay?”

“I… I won’t.” Izuku said as he trotted down the hall with Yamada in the lead. 

Yamada faltered in his step just a bit, "I couldn't get Yua-san to come. The shelter she is at doesn't allow residents out between 23:00 and 05:00 for safety reasons. And we can only stay for a short amount of time..." Yamada froze for a moment, disappointed at himself for not being able to do this perfectly. "