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Midoriya Hisashi liked to think that he could take anything life could throw at him. Teaching at a public school tended to have that effect, and he knew that nothing could ever top the time a student plagiarized from a yaoi hentai website. Yes, he thought, nothing could catch him off guard anymore.
Parenthood was dead set on proving him wrong.
Hisashi had been having a nice, calm conversation with Inko. Izuku was off playing with the little Bakugou boy, and everything was calm. It should have been a nice day, right?
Wrong.
Because the next thing he knew, something sharp went into his ankle and Hisashi went down.
Personally, he was very proud of not making a noise as he did so. He absolutely did not yelp, no matter what Inko may say. No, not a sound at all.
As it turned out, little Bakugou Katsuki had spotted the family roomba and decided that it would be a good idea to tape a knife on top. And Izuku, his dearest child, his own flesh and blood, had encouraged him.
“It’s not that bad,” Hisashi insisted to a concerned Inko, “The stabbing speed of a roomba isn’t that great.”
Except it was that bad, because the knife had pierced a tendon. Which required a trip to the hospital. And a surgery. That was expensive .
Years later, he was still walking with a limp.
---
For some parents, getting a call from your child’s school was the norm. However, Midoriya Izuku was a very well behaved child. So, when the phone rang, the parents were a little bit concerned.
“Hello?” Inko was the one who picked it up. “Yes, this is she speaking. What?” That sounded concerned, and Hisashi sent a questioning glance. “What do you mean, they called a priest? We’ll- We’ll be right there.” She hung up. “Apparently Izuku was chanting in another language while he was sleeping.”
“They do realize his father a Latin teacher, right?” Hisashi knew that one day, he would find this whole situation hilarious. But right now, he was worried for his son. Did the teachers isolate him while they figured out the cause of the ‘possession’? Was Izuku locked in a janitor’s closet somewhere? Was he okay?
As it turned out, Izuku was fine. The priest had recognized the chanting as basic conjugations, and assured the teachers that the toddler was not, in fact, possessed by a demon. Izuku had woken up from nap time refreshed and without an idea that anything was wrong.
The teacher, on the other hand, got a lecture from Midoriya Hisashi on why he should check the parents’ professions before calling an exorcist.
---
Hisashi was talking to an old co worker when he felt a tug on his pant leg.
“Dad, can Kacchan and I go sledding?”
He looked down at his son’s pleading eyes and almost said yes. But luckily, he remained strong.
“I’m sorry, Zuku,” he ruffled the green hair. “I’m on a phone call and I can’t make sure you’re safe.” Izuku pouted for a bit, but seemed to think of something and perked up.
“Can we go sledding inside then?”
“Sure,” Hisashi replied, too busy with the other man’s remark to think about what indoor sledding meant.
Less than five minutes later and Hisashi heard a loud thud.
“I have to go,” he said, hanging up as he sprinted to where the sound came from.
At the bottom of the stairs, Izuku was shaking Katsuki, who was sitting in a laundry basket. With his head in the wall. There was a muffled I’m okay while Hisashi stared in shock.
Inko was going to kill him.
---
The babysitter cancelled.
Of course she did.
Because Midoriya Hisashi couldn’t have one nice thing. No, fate had decided that going out for dinner with his wife on their anniversary was too good for the teacher. Realistically, he knew it wasn’t her fault. The flu was going around, and from the way she sounded over the phone, she was either sick or a really good actor. Either way, if he couldn’t find a babysitter by tonight, they were going to have to cancel their own plans. And most of the time beforehand was going to be spent in class, teaching a sea full of idiot teenagers.
Wait a minute.
Hisashi had to struggle to keep his face from breaking out into a mischievous grin. He was practically covered in teenagers who were willing to do almost anything to keep up their grades. In fact, he might not even have to pay them! But who was best for this? Hisashi let his eyes wander around the room, eventually setting on a light-haired girl near the back. Perfect.
“Shimura, may I see you after class?”
The girl’s red eyes widened in fear, and Hisashi realized that maybe that wasn’t the best way to ask her.
Oh well.
It was too late now.
---
The date went nicely, and Shimura Tenko was more than happy to work for extra credit. When he and Inko got home, Izuku was already in bed, and Shimura was huddled over a handheld gaming system.
“It went well,” the girl told them. “His friend came over, and I showed them a bit of Ocarina of Time. The friend decided he looked like one of the characters and now keeps calling him ‘Deku’. He wouldn’t listen when I tried to tell him it was an insult.”
“That’s fine,” Inko assured. “As long as he doesn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure they’ll grow out of it eventually.”
---
Despite his near-impossible standards, Midoriya Hisashi really did care about his students. Kind of. So, when he hears sobbing around the corner, he goes to investigate.
There, huddled against a wall, is Shimura Tenko.
She looks awful. There are tears streaming down her cheeks, and she’s shaking heavily. As a parent, Hisashi feels his heart ache.
“Hey,” he speaks softly as to not scare her. Shimura’s head snaps up, and her eyes widen.
“Sensei!” She chokes out. “I’m sorry, I just- I didn’t mean to bother you!” She looks like she’s going to scramble up, but Hisashi holds out a hand to stop her. He crouches down.
“You didn’t bother me. What’s wrong?” He notices a bruise on her cheek, and sincerely hopes it was from another student.
“Nothing! It’s just… I told Father something, and he wasn’t very happy with me. And… He kicked me out.” He did what .
“Do you have a place to stay?” Hisashi asked warily, trying to keep the rage out of his voice, and Shimura nods. Thank god.
“My grandmother picked me up. She’s a lot nicer than he is, I think.” Silence. Her eyes move around the hall, eventually settling on the clock. She gets up. “I’m late for class -- thank you for worrying. And, uh. You’ll probably learn why soon.” Shimura walks off.
Hisashi has no idea what that was supposed to mean.
At least, not until a week later, when Shimura Tenko is changed in the system to Shimura Tomura and his student walks in to class wearing the boys uniform.
---
“Dad?” Izuku calls quietly, eyes darting around the room. He looks unsure. He looks scared. Hisashi immediately goes into papa-bear mode.
“Is everything okay? Are things alright at school?” If not, Hisashi can and will sue. His wife is a lawyer, and Izuku will be graduating to middle school next year anyways.
“Yeah, things are okay. It’s just… You know how when I wore a suit to that restaurant and Mom said that all the ladies would love me?” Hisashi nods slowly, unsure of where this is going. “Well, I…” Izuku starts crying, and Hisashi is by his side in an instant.
“It’s okay, Izuku; whatever it is it's okay, I promise.” Hisashi is reminded of the time he found Shimura in the hall. That was years ago, but his face is still vivid in Hisashi’s mind.
“I don’t like girls!” Izuku sobs, and Hisashi rubs his back.
“You’re only ten,” He tries to comfort, “You’ll like them more when you’re-”
“NO!” Izuku shouts, instantly cowering in on himself. “I mean I don’t like girls. ” Oh. Oh. Hisashi understands now. He cracks a small smile.
“The boys will love you too,” he offers, hoping that it’s the right thing to say.
“You’re not mad?” Izuku’s voice is timid, but the tears have stopped.
“Why would I be mad?” Did somebody tell him it was wrong?
“You always said you wanted grandchildren…” Izuku trails off, and Hisashi laughs.
“That's what adoption is for. But don’t you think you’re a little young to be thinking about kids? I’m not that old.”
“You’re not?” Izuku fake gasps. Hisashi laughs again before pulling his son into a hug.
“Izuku, I promise. Whoever you want to love, I will support you. Always.”
---
Hisashi comes home one day to see Izuku laying on the ground.
“Teenage angst?” He jokes, and Izuku nods.
“I fucked up,” the boy groans, and Hisashi freezes. Izuku never swears. “I fucked up big time , and now I’m just preparing for death to take me.”
“It can’t be that bad,” Hisashi reassures, but he himself isn’t quite convinced. Izuku, while a teenager, is also an optimist. So, if he thinks everything is ruined, something probably did go wrong. “What did you even do?” He asks, and Izuku sighs heavily.
“I was with Kacchan and I said something really, really stupid, and oh God the friendship is ruined and that’s a lifetime of bonding down the drain .” Izuku takes a few deep breaths.
“Did you apologize?” The two had fought before, but Izuku always remained optimistic that things would turn out okay. This had to have been really bad.
“Yeah, but… I don't know if it’ll fix things. I cannot stress enough how stupid the thing I said was.”
“You’ve been friends with Katsuki since you were a year old. Do you really think he’ll break things off now? He’s too stubborn to let one remark chase him away.” Izuku sighs.
“Yeah, I… I guess you’re right. Thanks, Dad.” His phone buzzes. Izuku looks at it, then scrambles up and starts walking towards the front door.
“Where are you going?” Hisashi asks.
“Kacchan- He wants to talk. I’m meeting him at the park.” Izuku reaches the door, turning back to see Hisashi smiling.
“I told you it would be alright. What did you even say, anyways?”
Izuku turns red and runs out the door.
---
While dinner with the Bakugous is not as common as it was when the boys were younger, the two families still tried to meet up every once in a while.
What would normally happen was that Inko and Mitsuki would talk animatedly. Izuku would add in the occasional remark, and Katsuki would roll his eyes. Hisashi would ask a few questions, and Masaru would just listen.
Not this time.
Instead, Izuku and Katsuki huddle together, having a quiet conversation of their own. Hisashi can’t make it out, but he doesn’t miss the way their cheeks are dusted with red.
He does, however, miss the way that Katsuki is putting a hand on his son’s leg.
---
Spontaneous dinner trips were uncommon, but still exciting. After making Izuku promise to stay home and watch the house, Hisashi and Inko were off.
The restaurant was nice, even if it took a while, and Hisashi found himself gazing at his wife.
“You know, you’re just as beautiful as the day I met you,” he says. She lets out a giggle.
“And you’re still just as charming.” They fall into a comfortable silence. Hisashi breaks it.
“I can’t believe Izuku is going to college soon,” he sighs. “They grow up so fast, don’t they?”
---
The Midoriyas come home to the lights off and quiet.
“Izuku?” Inko calls. No response. Did their son go out without telling them? That wasn't something Izuku would do, and there was no sign of a break in. “Maybe his room?” Hisashi nodded and started making his way to the boy’s room. When he got right outside the door, he could make out voices.
“Ah, fucking hell! ” That was… Katsuki? But normally when the boys were together, they could hear their laughter from the other room.
“Kacchan! Kacchan, please! ” Izuku’s voice was high pitched, and he sounded like he was trying not to cry. What the hell was going on? Hisashi slammed open the door.
He immediately wished he hadn't.
Both boys were staring at him with wide eyes. Hisashi stared back. He supposed it was like a car crash -- despite the horror of what you see, you just can't look away.
“Uh… Hi, Dad,” Izuku says awkwardly.
“Hello, Izuku.”
“Hi, Mr. Midoriya.”
“Hello, Katsuki.”
A very awkward silence.
“Can you, uh…” Izuku trails off, gesturing towards the door.
“Yeah.” Hisashi shuts it.
They really do grow up fast.