Chapter Text
"Mama, how did you and Dad meet?”
The question takes Inko by surprise, Izuku rarely asking questions about his father. “Oh, well it's quite the story.” Her sweet sadness as she thought back to when she first met her husband was clear in her smile.
Even Gran perked up at the topic of tonight's storytime, a smirk on his face as he settled on the child-sized chair.
“Please Mama?” Bright green eyes pleaded with her as she tucked her little boy into bed. She smoothed his hair back, unable to resist the plaintive request.
“Well, all right.” He cheered as she settled beside him on the bed, bright All Might themed blankets the only thing separating her from her three year old. The hero's face plastered the walls, lined her son's room as she thought of how best to tell the tale.
Well Izuku, your father and I met five years ago. Some mean men were… bothering me, and I told them to leave me alone. When they didn't, I showed off my quirk to make them go.
(The snickers from Gran were summarily ignored.)
Hisashi was passing by at the time, and was very impressed with me scaring them off in such a creative way. He looked very fine in his suit, and he was so kind.
We kept running into each other, and he'd treat me to dinner, and take me out dancing. No one had ever paid so much attention to a plain girl like me before.
“Mama, you're not plain.”
Oh thank you Izukkun.
“And I want to hear how you and dad met, not you and Father.”
Gran's snickers turned into raucous laughter, the old hero stomping his cane on the ground. Inko sat up, her cheeks coloring. “Izuku! You know Yagi-san isn't your dad. If you keep calling him that, your dad might hear and feel guilty. It's not Hisashi's fault that his work is so demanding.”
Izuku tucked his chin under the covers, eyes rebellious. “Toshi's busy too and still a better dad.”
Inko didn't know what she was doing wrong, to raise her boy with such attitude problems. “Izuku! You wanted to hear how your dad and I met, and if you don't want to hear it then there's no more story tonight.” Mitsuki was always telling her she just had to be firmer with Izuku.
Her baby boy hissed then, and Inko knew what was coming. His chubby, human cheeks melted away in a rush of scales. His nose and jaw elongated, while his skull narrowed and flattened. Small whiskers and nubby antlers sprouted, before Izuku ducked under the shifting blankets.
Great, another pair of shorts ruined by a tantrum . If Inko had known Izuku would have a hissy fit and shift, she'd have just put her baby in a nightshirt.
“A hissy fit doesn't change anything, you fuzzy noodle.” She patted the ropey length through the blanket, getting a grumble from the young dragon. “Good night, Izuku. Gran?”
“I'll sit with him until he falls asleep.” She nodded at the retired hero's words, rising to turn off the light. Turning as she closed the door, Inko was treated to the sight of Gran poking at the lump where Izuku was curled up with his cane.
Settling into the silent living room, she could hear the murmur of Gran's voice, the croons and noises from Izuku. He was probably indulging her baby again. Really, Inko wouldn't be surprised if this whole ‘Toshinori is Dad’ idea was his fault.
But he was such a good grandfather figure to Izuku, with neither her or Hisashi's parents being around. It wouldn't be fair to separate Izuku from Gran and Yagi-san, last time she'd done that, sent him to his father, Izuku hadn't looked the best when he came home.
Closing her eyes, Inko lay back against the leather couch, the material smooth and cool against her arms. Absently, she ran her hands over the seats, fingers finding the rips and gouges from Izuku's claws. Surely Izuku's bed was going to be shredded i the morning, *again*. If only his nails were affected by clippers. Sure, she'd been able to trim them down, file them so they were rounded and harmless, when he was younger. But as a young dragon already 8 feet long? His nails in dragon form weren't something that could be managed well.
The rule of 'no draconics in the house' was only remembered until her baby boy was upset.
Could she really blame him for latching on to a man who was here, when her husband was so absent? No, surely not. But Inko knew Hisashi cared, he had to.
Opening her eyes, Inko scanned the room. She was searching, hunting down signs of Hisashi in their daily life to prove to Izuku that he cared.
But...
The only signs of his presence in their life were possessions she had bought with the money he sent her. No warm family photos with him, no scattered hobbies, no art for him on the fridge.
She hesitated for a moment, before picking up the phone. As usual there was no answer, Inko waiting patiently until she got Hisashi's voicemail. “Hi dear, it's Inko. I know you've been busy lately, but is there any way you could come home for a while? Izuku's missing you terribly, and it's affecting his behavior again. I shouldn't bother you like this, but it can be hard without a father figure in his life. Boys are very fragile at this age. I love you.”