Work Text:
A jet black cat stood in front of a nervous looking man, tail swishing agitatedly. Next to it, there sat a computer with a notes app open. It was covered in dark black text in what seemed to be a one sided conversation.
With a scowl, the cat turned to the computer, tail still flicking angrily. It’s paws flashed outwards, typing at a speed faster than even most humans could muster. What do you mean a team? The last letter was done with a jabbing motion towards the keyboard with was much more force than needed. The cat’s claws unsheathed, and it’s eyes narrowed at the man in the tan trenchcoat.
The man sighed. “Look, Shouta, there are a lot of quirked animals out there that want to be heroes, just like you. They deserve training and-“
He was interrupted by the furious clacking of keys. The training of animals that want to be heroes isn’t the problem. The problem is the fact that you want me to train them to be actual pro heroes that are out in the spotlight. Do you know how people would react to that? It would be a needless public uproar! Not to mention the complications of the language barrier, what if they have to team up with human heroes? They wouldn’t be able to communicate! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of reasons why this is literally the worst possible idea you have EVER proposed to me.
The man in the trenchcoat sighed. “I know, but they deserve to be heroes just like people! I mean, they have the intelligence and ability to do it. The best way we can get the public to accept them is if we trained them specifically-“
But why do they need the spotlight. If they truly deserve to be heroes, the fame wouldn’t matter. You of all people should know that, Tsukauchi. Aizawa typed, his fur bristling.
Naomasa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Okay, fine. I was supposed to keep this under wraps, but I suppose you of all people-“ He paused, coughing awkwardly, “Ah, animals, deserves to know.” He grumbled, “All Might’s probably going to end up telling you about it anyway.”
Shouta stayed silent and raised a furry eyebrow. His eyes narrowed in a oh-god-what-is-it-now look.
Tsukauchi bit his lip, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “You know how All Might has a dog, right?”
I‘ve worked with the idiot for two years, of course I know. Aizawa typed, his paws snapping into the keys with an audible click. Get on with it.
“Well... Izuku, he- he got one for all.”
What. How in the he’ll-
Autocorrect.
HOW IN HELL DID HE GET ONE FOR ALL?!
”Honestly, I’m not entirely sure.”
A scratching sound echoed throughout the mostly empty room.
Immediately a small, leaf-green puppy shot upwards, barking excitedly. The puppy seemed to be mostly border collie, but had the fur of an Australian shepard. A number of other breeds’ features could be spotted on him if you looked carefully enough. He hab webbed paws, most likely from a labrador, but his tail curled like a malamute’s. He was about the size of a regular border collie, with leaf green fur. Black and gray splotches dotted his fur. One of these splotches, a black one, circled his eye, which shone emerald green.
”Oh, hello! Hi! Who’s there? Is it Aizawa?” He was answered by Shouta entering through the dog flap on the door. “Hi Aizawa! Did you hear the big news? Do I get to be the one to... let the cat out of the bag?” Izuku yapped, his tail wagging so hard that it thumped loudly against the wall repeatedly, but he took no notice of it.
”I’m going to ignore that pun.” Aizawa growled, gritting his teeth, “And I really need to talk to Yagi. Is he home right now?”
”Dad? Nah, he left to talk to Naomasa ten minutes ago. I think they went to that one cat cafe that you guys always hang out at.” The mutt was referring to Toe Beanz, a nearby cat cafe that the three would often meet up at when they wanted to just sit and talk about work together. Aizawa blended in perfectly there, and, surprisingly, no one ever seemed to notice the fact that there was a cat typing away at a keyboard in there.
”Ah. I suppose I can just meet him there...” Shouta mumbled to himself.
“Ooh! Can I come? I wanna play with Chichi!” Izuku barked, his tail beginning to swing even more wildly.
“No. You and I both know that dogs aren’t all-“
”Pleeeeeeeease?” Izuku pleaded, his head lowering and his ears tucking close to his head.
Dammit. He couldn’t resist those puppy dog eyes. “Fine.” Aizawa snapped. “But if that one waiter tries to kick you out again, I’m not going to help you.”
”Thanks Aizawa!” Izuku trilled, immediately wiggling his way through the dog door and taking off down the street, tongue hanging out of his mouth in barely contained joy.
Shouta sighed. shaking his head slightly. That kit was going to get himself killed one of these days.
Five minutes later, Aizawa was sitting in front of All Might while Izuku chatted with some pigeons outside the shop.
Yagi was sweating bullets as he tugged awkwardly at the edge of his shirt. He was in his true form, making his bright yellow shirt hang loosely on his shoulders. “Oh! Uh, hi Aizawa! Fancy seeing you here...” He mumbled.
How did Izuku get one for all?
”Oh, that... well, you see, it’s quite the funny story, actually. He, uh- miiight have eaten one of my hairs.”
You can only give one for all willingly.
“Well, yes, but I plucked it because I was about to go and ask Mirou about it and-“
Did you drop it?
”Yes...”
And Izuku ate it?
"Yes...”
And you can’t just get Izuku to give it back?
”I could, but-“
Toshinori was interupted by a tinkling of a bell as Izuku pushed his way into the shop in trotted up to their table. His tail thumped on the floor as he stared up at All Might. “Hi Dad! Are you telling him about my quirk? I’m gonna be the bestest hero now!”
Yagi smiled at him, and shot Aizawa a glance out of the corner of his eye for a translation. Aizawa ignormed him and mewed, “Yup. It’s great. How about you go play with the pidgeons outside again, huh?”
”Okay!” Izuku beamed, darted back outside with the tinkle of a bell.
Don’t tell me it’s because you can’t resist his puppy eyes.
”It’s not just that! I don’t think he really knows how to give it back... and even if he did, should he? I mean, Mirou is a human kid with an amazing quirk, he already has hundreds of chances to become the number one hero! This would be Izuku’s only chance to become a hero, and you know how much he wants to be one! Besides, do you really want to keep hero animals underground forever? This could open up hundreds of opportunities for other animals! Why can’t he?”
Thousands of reasons. Training, logic, the language barrier, need I go on?
“Just give him a chance, will you? THe UA quirked animal shelter is willing to help us. If nothing else, if this is such a bad idea, won’t you want to be around to make sure it doesn’t go worse?”
Aizawa paused, tail twitching thoughtfully. He glared at Yagi, then released a breath in a long, gusty sigh. Fine. Who else did you have in mind for this team, anyway?
”Actually,” Tsukauchi said, clearing his throat, “We were just talking about that...”
Aizawa glanced at the shelter in front of him. It seemed nice enough on the outside, if slightly dilapidated, but he knew very well that furry demons resided inside.
He hated kits.
An explosion sounded from inside, only proving his point further. In fact, the shelter’s light pink walls were covered in scorch marks from similar explosions. The sign might have said Happy Paws, but Aizawa doubted that the dog he was looking for was very happy.
”No! Katsuki, sit! Stay! Bad dog! Bad!” Someone screeched from inside. Shouta sighed and stalked towards the blue doors in front of him. Might as well get it over with.
As Naomasa pushed open the door, Aizawa’s stomach dropped. This was what he was going to be training?
A german shepard, most likely about Izuku’s age, barreled about the shelter, chasing after a tinh, yelping chihuahua. The german shapard had short, but unruly fur that stuck up at odd angles. It was a light tan, with dark tan marking it’s belly, paws, and muzzle, which was spread widely in a snarl and it barked curses at the top of it’s lungs.
”Get back here you mangy mutt! I’ll teach you to steal MY food!” He roared, explosions shooting off in every direction.
”I thought german shepard were known for their obedience.” Aizawa hissed quietly. With a scowl, he glared at the large dog. Instantly the explosions ceased.
”Whatever bastard just did that is going to pay!” The german shepard roared.
Shouta sighed and strode up to the dog. “Katsuki, correct?”
”Damn right.” Katsuki growled. “Who the fuck are you?”
”Aizawa Shouta.” The cat mewed, his voice monotone, almost bored. “Watch your mouth.” He said, pausing to blink. His eyes returned from their ruby red state, and he licked his paw, wiping it over his eyes to remove the dry feeling.
”I do whatever the fuck I want to, fleabag.” The dog bristled, small explosions going off at his paws. Aizawa simply gave him a bored look, and activated his quirk again, forcing the explosions to vanish.
Behind him, the girl who was chasing after Katsuki sighed in relief. “You’re the people from the quirked shelter, right?” At Yagi’s nod, she continued. “Well, if you couldn’t tell, that over there is Katsuki. He’s... quite the handful.” She mumbled the last sentence, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. “We don’t really have the equipment to deal with him... but you guys do! Here, I already filled out the paperwork for you. Just sign here and you can take him!” She said, plopping a small stack of paper into Yagi’s hands.
Toshinori blinked, stunned by the girl’s obvious excitement at the idea of getting Katsuki out of the shelter. “Oh, uh- alright then...” He said, fumbliing to get a pen out of his pocket.
As he glanced down at the paper, he saw Aizawa out of the corner of his eye. Hewas going full on ninja on the dog behind the girl. She took no notice of Katsuki’s aggravated howls.
Yagi gulped. What was he getting himself into?
With a sigh, he signed the paper.
One down. Eighteen to go.