Work Text:
Alternative to Dont touch me. How Izuku finds his home.
Prompt: I thought I lost you.
Tsukauchi's POV
Groggily coming to was never a good sign. It typically meant one of two things. Either he had been drugged and kidnapped again. Or it meant that he had been shot and consequently drugged in surgery. Neither was very appealing to the detective.
The scent of antiseptic in the air told him it was likely the second. Then his hearing registered the beeping of a heart monitor. This confirmed that he was at least in a hospital. His last memories were him and Sansa going on a raid. Then nothing. What in the world happened? There was only one way to find out c
Opening his eyes he saw the white ceiling of a hospital room. Turning his head to the side he found Eraserhead watching him. The two sets of dark eyes clashed both trying to gain information.
Finally Naomasa questioned tiredly, "What happened? The last thing I remember is being in the car with Sansa. We were preparing for a raid."
Eraser pinched the bridge of his nose as he growled, "Of course that's the last thing you remember," at his confused look Eraser continued, "The raid went sideways. None of the heroes knew what was going on. If it wasnt for Kage..."
Naomasa sat up ignoring the way his side screamed. Frantically he asked, "Kage was there? Is he okay?"
Eraser pushed him back down onto the bed gently. His eyes flicked over to the otherside his bed. Naomasa turned his head to find Kage in asleep in a chair beside him.
For a moment the detective could only blink dumbly at the sight. Kage was in his usual black hoodie and pants but there was a big difference. His usual cowl was pooled around his neck. He was so young, Naomasa realized. Kage couldn't have been older than fourteen or fifteen.
Eraser said quietly, "He risked everything to ensure you and Sansa made it. It was his emergency signal that alerted the nearby heroes to your plight."
Murky memories began returning after that. The raid had been a trap to take down the two best detectives on the force. It would have succeeded if Kage hadnt appeared when he did.
Naomasa had seen one of the drug dealers raise his weapon towards Kage. There was no time to think. His body simply moved on it own and put itself between the drug dealer and Kage. This ended with him being shot.
He didnt know what happened after that. The next thing he remembered was waking up here in the hospital.
It was at his look that Eraser continued, "Kage activated his emergency signal after you went down. Every hero in the area rushed to your aid. You were very lucky Tsukauchi."
"How?"
Eraser shook his head as he said, "The kid refused to leave your side. Even knowing that he could go to jail for vigilantism. Which as it turns out we couldnt arrest him for anyways," at Naomasa's dumbfounded look he clarified, "The kid is quirkless. Vigilante laws dont apply to him."
Before anything else could be said there was a shuffling. Kage awoke with a start brilliant green eyes flashed uncertainly around the room. They briefly stopped on Eraser and gave him a nod. When they saw Naomasa there was a wide mix of emotions. Fear, uncertainty, and the smallest amount of hope.
Naomasa smiled gently as he said, "I hear I have you to thank for my continued existence. That you risked your vigilante identity to ensure I survived. Thank you, Kage."
Anger flashed across the kid's face erasing all of the precious emotions. He snarled angrily his voice unnervingly young, "Why the hell did you do something so stupid? That bullet could have killed you, Tsukauchi!"
"And it would have definitely killed you, Kage," he replied softly.
There was another flash of emotion too fast for him to catch this time. He almost missed the whispered, "No one would care. Most would be happy that I was gone. I'm just a quirkless Deku after all."
Hot anger filled Naomasa as he ordered in his firmest tone, "Kage come here."
Reluctantly the child stood and shuffled over to the bed. Catching the kid's eyes he said, "Listen to me, Kage. You are not useless. Anyone who says you are lied to you. A quirk does not make a person or a hero. Your heart does."
There was a soft hiccup from Kage his green eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Naomasa sat up wincing slightly as he did so and grabbed Kage by the front of his shirt. Gently he guided the kid to lay down beside him on the bed.
A pointed look was given to Easer who nodded. The underground hero left the room with a last look to Kage. For his part the kid didn't even acknowledge his exit. Thin arms loosely encircled Naomasa and Kage's shoulders shook with silent sobs.
Naomasa whispered as he raised a hand to push back the hood, "I've got you, kid. You wont be left alone again. I promise."
Pushing the hood back revealed dark green curls. He lightly ran a hand through the curls trying desperately to calm the child.
Kage hiccuped, "You cant promise that. I thought lost you tonight. I cant lose anyone else."
"And you won't," he swore quietly.