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Aizawa is standing in front of a small, but well maintained gravestone. It had a few other offerings, but it was nothing compared to the memorial raised in honour of All Might’s passing. This grave was tended to by a few who truly knew the man behind the legend. The retired hero was one of the few individuals who cared deeply for the dead man. It had been a few years since the passing of Yagi Toshinori. The gravestone had Yagi’s name beautifully carved and yet it felt empty. Everyone had assumed that All Might never had a partner, but only a selected few new better. The location where his own name should have been carved alongside Yagi’s was blank. His name should have been painted the same colour as blood, symbolizing that the other man had not died alone, that he had someone who loved him dearly and who was waiting to reunite with him.
The semi-retired hero fiddled with a necklace where two matching silver bands rested. The pair had recently obtained wedding rings, after Yagi had officially retired. They had discussed about making their relationship public, but with League of Vilain activity it was safer if everything continued to follow the current status quo. Both individuals knew that it was more important to protect the students rather than draw more unneeded attention to themselves, and in extension the students. In the end, it was for the best, the students thrived and had enough media attention without their teachers contributing to the chaos. Although sometimes, even after all these years, he wonders if the logical ruse was wroth the ceaseless heart ache whenever he visited the half blank grave. Aizawa’s friends vaguely understood why he continued to grieve after all these years. They had watched what they had assumed to be a “budding” relationship that was destroyed before it’s prime. In reality, the pair had met years before either man started to work at UA.
Their first meeting was far from romantic and Aizawa maintained that he had not agreed to partnering with the blonde. He had been forced by his agency to partner with the boisterous Number One Pro Hero for various situations. The underground hero’s quirk complimented All Might’s, when brute strength alone was not the best option, but they still required a heavy hitter. The duo made an amazing team, with All Might absorbing the media attention away from Eraserhead, and Eraserhead being able to neutralize opponents battle. The two had an unexplainable magnetic connection, that continued to pull them closer, like a moth to a flame. The pair fumbled through their attraction and their eventual union.
Only Nedzu, Gran Torino and Recovery Girl learned about their marriage. They worked to ensure that no one realized that the two were spouses. Yagi and Gran Torino had witnessed the crippling guilt that occurred when Nana Shimura’s family had been attacked due to their association with her. Now that concern had exponentially grown since All Might was this untouchable symbol of peace. Anyone who wanted to harm All Might would have focused upon his loved ones. They lived in two separate apartments, their assets were never combined, all the government paperwork was classified and they assumed their familiar roles. Everyone agreed that it was for the best; however, the lovers could not help but dream of a time where they could be like any normal married pair.
As the years passed, Aizawa was forced to visit the grave less frequently. Now, he was only able to visit for a few of their major anniversaries. The retired hero knelt by the shrine, the old bony knees creaking as he moved. He was accompanied by his husband’s son, in everything but blood and name. They both stared at the stone and talked in hushed voices. Aizawa wanted to ensure that Izuku knew he did not need to fear for his own happiness as they once had. The world had changed, but All Might’s legacy and Deku’s rise to the position of Japan’s Number One Hero helped forge a stronger sense of community amongst the younger heroes. Plus, he doubted that Yagi would want to see Izuku not seize his own chance at happiness by trying to follow in his mentor’s steps. Izuku took everything his old teacher said to heart as he contemplated his own life. The silence was broken by Aizawa’s wet cough. The retired hero knew his time was fast approaching, but today’s anniversary was about celebrating love and imparting knowledge.
For now, it was time to leave with a parting words of love to his husband. Izuku insisted on escorting him back to his apartment. They parted with a hug before Aizawa slinked away into the darkness of his apartment. He knew time was running out and he had a few finishing arrangements before he could rest easily. The old man shuffled through the apartment, turning on lights to search for the folder that contained information for the group that carved Yagi’s stone. He called left a message about what he wanted carved into the grave. Now the retired hero could rest easy. Aizawa died two months after that phone call. His name had been carved next to Yagi’s and underneath their names, written in English, was “My Beloved Husband”, the first thing Yagi had said to him once they were pronounced as husbands.