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Aizawa stopped the car in front of the station, but didn’t open the door. He spent a few seconds clenching and unclenching his fingers from the wheel, before looking to the passenger seat. The green haired boy was leaning on the window, looking outside, though the underground hero doubted he actually saw anything. He seemed too lost in thought for that.
“You’ll see Shigaraki once before we ship him to a high security prison. Depending on both his behaviour and yours, you may get to see him once a month.” What he didn’t say was that the staff hoped they could force one brother to behave by holding the threat over the other. It was implied, and the man didn’t doubt the teen saw right through it.
Izuku nodded, then sighed and looked at his hands. His fingers were fidgeting nervously in his lap, but his face remained caught in the same resigned sadness he had the past few days. He took a deep breath, like he was preparing for something he was dreading to ask.
“What will happen to me?”
Aizawa looked out the window, sighed and turned towards the teen. “You’re too young and don’t have any crimes on your record to be put in prison. We have no reason to arrest you. But, you have been affiliated with very dangerous villains, one of whom you just betrayed, so we’ll put you under hero protection at UA.”
“Please, don’t insult my intelligence. We both know you want to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t take my father’s path and be an even bigger menace than he was. I won’t betray you, I didn’t lie to you, so please, respect me enough to do the same!”
It wasn’t a yell, it was merely a very pissed yet apathetic response, and Aizawa had to fight to keep a smile from his face. Damn this kid. He was too smart for his own good and, even though the hero didn’t expect him to be fooled, he was reluctant to acknowledge that he was growing fond of him.
The man sighed, and rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t lie to you. It’s true, while we do want to keep you under surveillance, you are also in danger from other villains. God knows how many enemies your father has. Plus, you are also young and have a lot of potential” he quirked his lip, the slightest sign of amusement slipping onto his face. “Who knows, if you behave, you might even become a hero”
The boy shyly rose his head, the slightest hint of hope sparking in his eyes. Aizawa saw in those green depths the embers of a childish, long ago drowned and almost forgotten. It simultaneously warmed and broke his heart to see this teen, so much like his students, yet worlds apart. He always said it was cruel to let someone dream when they had no chance to reach it. That never meant killing a dream was any kinder.
The teen huffed and looked away. “Yeah, right” Izuku gulped and, for the first time since they entered the car, the boy met his eyes. “Will you… will you let me see dad?”
Aizawa sighed. “Now, I’m afraid it’s not possible. Maybe in a few years, if he behaves.”
Izuku nodded and looked down. But he wasn’t disappointed. He was resigned like he never actually believed his request would be possible, but he couldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t even try.
The man got down and walked towards the boy door. He opened it and walked side by side with him, making sure he was still within reaching distance. Not that he thought it to be a problem. In the past few days, the boy had been nothing but calm and polite, almost invisible. He never once tried anything offensive, or that could be possibly perceived that way, never did anything that would make him a nuisance or annoyance. The most trouble he had been was asking if he could get something to read.
They walked into the station and different law figures threw them hostile looks. Izuku shied away and hid behind the hero. “Don’t walk behind me” he said, probably harsher than necessary. Izuku moved near him, head down, seeking protection from the hateful glances.
They stepped in front of a door, the cat-headed officer holding the knob. “You ready, kid?” he said and had the decency to smile reassuringly. Aizawa liked this one. He seemed to be the only policemen, outside of Tsukakuchi, who treated the kid like an actual human being.
Izuku nodded and the door opened.
Shigaraki sat on a chair, two fingered gloves cuffed to his hands. He lifted his head, greasy bangs moving to reveal a scarred visage, sunken eyed glaring at them with hatred. All destructive emotions melted when his eyes landed on the greenette. He sat up. “Izu-chan?” though his voice was still rasped and somehow strangled, it held an uncharacteristic softness to it, a baby bird learning how to fly.
Izuku took a cautious step forward, more nervous than he had been the previous days while in police custody. He opened his mouth and managed to let out a tentative “Nii-san” before he was dragged into a bone crushing hug by the older teen. Shigaraki was at least a head taller than Izuku, and the curly haired teen buried his face into his police issued shirt. Quiet cries were muffled by the broad chest while the older boy nuzzled the green mess. Aizawa couldn’t help but feel like he was intruding. But he couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like he could leave them alone. So, he did the minimum curtesy and started studying the wall.
It was a while before the older broke the hug and looked at the kid. “Did they hurt you?” he searched the pale face for signs of aggression, of abuse. “I can’t believe they’d do something like that!” he started scratching his neck, adding to the raw skin already there. “I’m gonna kill them…” he growled. “I’ll rip their hearts out and disintegrate them while they…”
“No, Nii-san!”Izuku caught is hands and forced him to look down “I barely managed to convince them to let you live” he looked up, tears trailing down his cheeks, voice quivering under the strain. “Kurogiri’s dead, I’ll probably never see Dad again, please Tomura” he buried his head in his chest once more “I cannot lose you too.”
The man froze for a second, hands in the air before sinking them into the mass of curls and massaging the scalp soothingly. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try…”