Chapter Text
Shouta Aizawa couldn't get out of the building fast enough. All UA staff had met that night that night to discuss school policies, and the newly employed (after a year of begging from one of his best friends, Nemuri Kayama) 23 year old just wanted to go home and snuggle with his husband and cats.
He and the other teachers were at the door near the cafeteria, when a rustling noise was heard.
"Did the rest of you hear that?" Asked Kan Sekijirou, to which his fellow staff nodded. Lunch Rush went to check it out, as it came from near the food prep area, and yelped when he saw what it was, prompting the others to rush to him.
*~*
Izuku was a smart little boy, even at 8 years old. He knew Auntie Mitsuki and Uncle Masaru didn't have enough money to take him in after his mom died in a villain attack. He knew they were hard pressed as is, hoping for their fashion designs to pick up, and he couldn't put more stress on them. So he'd run away two nights before, while they were asleep; leaving only a note telling them that he was okay and not to look for him (they would anyways, they always would).
He hadn't eaten since he left, and finished the rest of his water that afternoon. He stumbled across UA an hour later, and told himself that even if it was stealing, it was survival. He knew he could get in; he'd always had an affinity for computer programming and coding, even hacking, and he figured with enough time he could probably get into the kitchens and take some food.
He was right, within 6 hours (thanks to his laptop that he managed to salvage from the fire) he was in the UA cafeteria. Despite being a genius, however, he was still only a child, and quickly forgot himself while stuffing food into his mouth and pockets, when he heard voices. A part of him, the part that often felt icky and made him cry (his mom called it "anxiety") told him to leave; but he recognized those voices. The teachers must've had a late night meeting, they would surely catch him now. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he knew he was being too loud and they probably heard him.
Sure enough, within minutes someone (Lunch Rush! He loved heroes, his mother had always called it a "special interest," and deep down he was ecstatic to meet so many) peered over the counter, eyes widening as they fell on him eating the leftover bread from that day's lunch.
"Guys, it's a child."
"I'll get Nezu!" Izuku heard a feminine voice say as footsteps ran off, more coming in his direction. Soon enough, around 8 heroes had come around the counter, and Izuku felt the energy building up at seeing so many heroes. He let it out by swaying back and forth excitedly, eyes lighting up as he looked in awe at the faces around him, voice suddenly speaking out in excitement.
"You're Lunch Rush! And Snipe, and Power Loader, Present Mic, 13, Vlad King, Ectoplasm, and Eraserhead!" The underground hero was taken aback at being recognized, so his husband took over, walking closer to the small green child.
"That's right little listener!" He said, voice light but gentle so as not to startle him. "What's your name?"
"Izuku Midoriya!"
"Can you tell me what you're doing here?"
"I got hungry, and I knew UA would have extra food, I'm sorry I stole but I haven't eaten in two days..."
The blond's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you not get food at home? Don't your parents feed you?" Only the child noticed when the mouse-dog-rat had entered the kitchen (with Midnight!), but he carried on since the principal didn't ask any questions.
"Daddy left to America 4 years ago, and mama died in a fire a few days ago," his lower lip wobbled, but he carried on, remembering when people would stop him in his talking and ask for context, "Auntie and Uncle, not bio-biological Auntie and Uncle, they're mama's friends, they wanted to take me in but they don't have enough money to support me along with themselves and Kacchan, so I ran away while they slept so they could still eat, I don't think they were while I was there."
"May I ask," Nezu interrupted as Hizashi seemed taken aback, "how did you get in here in the first place? I know for certain our security was on, so if there's a place that can be infiltrated I need to know at once."
"Oh, I don't think others can infiltrate it. Uncle always said that my computer skills were better than most adults, and Uncle isn't the type to exaggerate too much about things like that. Plus, it took the better part of 6 hours, I don't think many have the patience for that."
"Wait, did you just insin- imply that you hacked into UA?" Snipe asked.
"I know what insinuate means," Izuku said matter of factly, but not as if he was hurt at the idea that he didn't. "And yes. I can show you if you'd like?" The principal nodded, so he took his laptop out of the small bag he brought with him and pulled up the code he used to bypass the cameras, bots, and alarms.
"Fascinating," Nezu said, slightly maniacal grin overtaking his face.
"I couldn't even do something like that, and I don't think I know of anyone who can except maybe David Shield himself. You did this in only 6 hours?"
"5 hours and 58.3 minutes, to be precise."
"You must have an intelligence quirk then, huh kid," Eraserhead said, still scanning the computer screen.
"Actually, I'm quirkless." All of the heroes stopped in their tracks because this 8 year old developed a code to bypass UA security, quirkless. Nezu let out a light chuckle that had his employees quaking in fear.
"Midoriya, I must ask, would you be interested in becoming a ward of UA? We'd have to contact your aunt and uncle, of course, but you show some amazing potential and I'd like the chance to work with you personally.
The young boy's eyes lit up and he began jumping around, repeating "yes" until it no longer sounded like a word, only breaking it up with a "please and thank you" every once in awhile, with a complete change in tone as if it was part of a whole different sentence that the affirmations.
*~*
Mitsuki, Masaru, and Katsuki Bakugo burst through the door to Nezu's office later that night and engulfed the green haired 8 year old, all mumbling over how worried they were for him (even the begrudging Katsuki, who dropped the nickname "Deku" for the "Izukun" that hadn't been present since before he got his quirk) and reprimanding him for doing such a dangerous thing.
Once things had calmed a bit, Nezu explained what he saw and his proposition, laying out that Izuku would be safe and cared for at all times.
"And we would still be able to contact him?" Masaru asked after a pregnant pause.
"Of course, you would be free to visit him whenever you wish. You must understand, we often would come up with a different solution had it not been for your reported financial difficulties. Due to such, you are also going to receive a small stipend for the next year, as a thank you should you choose to pass him into our care, and to make sure you all can get food on the table should you refuse. I do so dearly wish you consider it, however, as there will not be many places that can help get his mind to flourish as we could, and should the stipend run out before you are back on your feet there is nothing more we can do."
Mitsuki took a breath. "And you're sure you want this Izuku?" The boy nodded quickly, cocking his head to the side as he continued playing with her fingers that were resting on the back of his chair.
Mitsuki and Masaru shared a look, and the former spoke up. "Alright, I relinquish my legal guardianship of Izuku Midoriya to UA, as soon as I get a contract signed with the terms we agree on. I cannot afford to take any risks, not with him."
"Of course, Mrs. Bakugo. I know there are still some lawyers on site at the court house if you'd like to come with me."
"I'll bring the boys back," Masaru said. "Come on, we have to pack Izuku up and you two need to go to bed."
"Pack him up? Does that mean I don't get to see him anymore?" Katsuki asked tearfully. His bullying toward the other boy had calmed down upon Inko's death, and the two were closer than they were before his own explosion quirk came in.
"Of course not, don't worry. Principal Nezu said we are allowed to visit him anytime; we just can't get enough money for him to live with us right now. You'll still see each other all the time, and knowing your mom he might even go to the same school."
The blond nodded in relief, taking the other boy's hand and leading him out the door. "C'mon, Deku!" He still used the name, partially because his mental state couldn't take too many blows this week (even just to his ego), and partially because the freckled boy admitted that he kind of liked it, since his best friend gave it to him. "You need to get all your shit packed!"
Masaru sighed at his son's language, praying that this wouldn't be the wrong decision.
Luckily, his prayers were answered; 7 years later he thought that this might be the best possible outcome.