Chapter Text
Izuku watched the cloud drift by lazily, sighing longingly. What would it be like to be that free? he wondered as his feet tapped against each other. Even after being accepted into UA Izuku still felt like he didn't belong, shouldn't be here. He didn't feel worthy. Even if he has a quirk now would people still think, feel and appreciate him as is? Izuku doubted it.
"Take a swan dive off a roof!"
"Worthless Deku."
"Quirkless freak."
Those were things his bullies in middle school had said and sometimes he wondered if they were right. Izuku liked to think they weren't. He sighed once more, shame flooding his chest, guilt of his next actions making his limbs feel as though they were weighed down. Izuku got up, beginning to walk towards the edge then all he had to do was jump. Izuku looked down as he considered the drop. No one would miss him, at least that was what he tried to believe. He'd miss Todoroki's sarcasm, Uraraka's endless optimism, hell he'd miss Dekusquad cuddles though if he were honest, what'd he miss most was-
"Kid? What're you doing?" Izuku heard a shocked and concerned voice speak from behind him. He knew that voice, of course he did. Aizawa always had razor sharp instincts when it came to his hell class, 1A. "Aizawa-Sensei I..." Izuku wasn't sure what to say, it was pretty obvious what he'd been planning to do. Finally, he turned to face his teacher all the while looking at his feet.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what Midoriya was doing on a roof. Shouta had noticed his kid student hadn't been his normally cheery, bright eyed, rambling self and therefore, had been keeping an eye on the boy. Looking at him now, Shouta hoped he hadn't made the wrong move making his presence known. The teen looked so lost, so tired that the dark haired hero doubted it was from lack of sleep.
He felt his chest constrict painfully as the gravity of the situation sunk in. His student, his Problem Child had been about to jump and take his own life. Shouta swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Midoriya," he said, choosing his next words carefully, "step away from the edge, please. I just want to help but I can't help if you don't talk to me." Shouta kept his stance relaxed and his hands visible, doing his best to keep things calm.
A sob came from Midoriya. "S-sensei why are you here?" the greenette asked through his tears. Shouta blinked. Did the boy not realized he was cared for? The thought left a foul taste in Shouta's mouth. Finally he answered the emerald eyed teen, "You're my student Midoriya. It'd be illogical not to be concerned by the behaviour I've noticed. And I care a great deal about you."
Izuku shuffled a few steps in the direction of his teacher, thinking the older man's words over. Someone actually noticed he was struggling? And cared enough to make sure he was okay? He bit his lip, hope a very tiny flame in his chest amongst the shame and guilt he was feeling. "You... you noticed? When?" Izuku dared to asked the underground hero. Shouta sighed, the shadow of a soft expression on his face. "I suppose the first time was when you would zone out during class and stopped mumbling, which isn't like you."
"The second time was when your friends asked you to hang out after dinner once but you declined, which again, isn't like you. You always make time to spend with them. But the thing that really concerned me was when your smile stopped meeting your eyes like it normally does." Shouta kept his eyes on the green haired kid, ready to spring into action if needed while remaining relaxed, or at least as relaxed as the situation allowed.
Izuku huffed a humorless laugh. "I guess not much gets past you." He paused for a moment, not sure how to continue but he took one look at Aizawa and only saw concern and a patient expression on his teacher's face. That flame of hope grew a little at the sight.
Shouta chuckled at the kid's response, silently encouraging the direction things were going. "Not really, no. I'm an underground hero for a reason Problem Child." Izuku cracked a small smile at that, though it quickly turned back into a frown, albeit a thoughtful one. "Did you really mean it? That you cared?" Izuku's voice sounded uncharacteristically quiet as he asked the question.
Shouta's frown now matched his student's. "Of course Midoriya. Why would I lie to you? When have I ever lied to you?" Izuku huffed, wanting to argue but knew his teacher was right. Aizawa had no reason to lie to him. A tense silence settled over the pair, Izuku being the one to break it (obviously). "I just want to belong..." There was a pause.
"Who says you don't?" Aizawa questioned.
Izuku's gaze finally met Aizawa's, a tiredness that broke the pro's heart to recognize on the younger's face. "Everyone it seems. I mean, the only reason I've made it this far is because... Never mind..." Shouta studied his student, trying to figure out what was left unsaid. He's normally so cheerful and yet it seems as though he's holding a heavier weight than peer pressure. Shouta thought he knew the problem child in front of him. Was he that oblivious? Shouta shook himself out of his reverie.
"Whoever told you that was an idiot Problem Child." Shouta said, voice soft yet firm. "You belong here at U.A, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If they do, you come to me and I'll set them straight." Emerald eyes glistened with unshed tears, the boys posture finally relaxing. Shouta held out a hand which Izuku took hesitantly, eyes now full of anxiety. Shouta pulled the kid into a hug, letting the greenette hide in the crook of his neck.
Izuku felt the last of his barriers break when Aizawa hugged him, tears threatening to spill as he rested his head on the hero's shoulder. "I assume you'd rather not face your classmates right now?" Aizawa questioned quietly. Izuku nodded, too overwhelmed to speak just yet. Shouta ran a hand through Izuku's curls. "Alright then, we'll go to my dorm. Sound good?" Another nod.
The two stood there a moment longer then Shouta led the youth towards his dorm apartment, the sun setting behind them.
~
Shouta led Izuku through the halls to his teacher's apartment dorm, stopping once they reached his door. "Something I should warn you about." Shouta turned to his student who seemed slightly anxious so he ruffled the kid's hair, calming Izuku preemptively. "It's nothing serious, just that I don't live alone. I live with my husband."
Izuku's curiosity was piqued and assuaged by that. "Who's your husband?" the green eyed teen asked, shyness on his face amongst all the other emotions. Shouta allowed a faint smile onto his face as he unlocked the door and pushed it open. "Come in and see." he said quietly.
Walking in and toeing his shoes off with Izuku following suit Shouta called out "I'm home, Zashi." Izuku trailed behind Aizawa as he strode further into the apartment. A blond head with black rimmed glasses and a bright smile looked up from his seat on the livingroom sofa.
"Sho, babe I missed you!" the blond Izuku now recognized as Present Mic greeted Aizawa, his thoughtful frown from whatever he had been doing replaced with a smile that was both bright yet tender. "And I see you've brought back a stray." teased Hizashi, his smile turning into a sly grin. Izuku ducked his head, blushing while Aizawa chuckled but quickly went back to his somber expression from before.
"Midor- Izuku why don't you go clean up? I need to talk with Hizashi for a minute." Shouta suggested, not unkindly to which Izuku nodded numbly. "Bathroom's just down the hall past the spare room." Hizashi chimed in, tone friendly as ever as he pointed Izuku in the direction of the bathroom. Once Izuku closed the door Hizashi turned back to his husband.
"Shouta what's going on? Did something happen to Midoriya?" Hizashi asked, voice laced with concern. He hadn't missed the underlying seriousness, the urgency in his husband's voice. Shouta rubbed his hands down his face, getting his thoughts on track. Taking a breath, Shouta began. "I was checking on the kids in the 1-A dorms but I didn't see Midoriya anywhere. So I checked each floor, going from bottom to top and found him on the roof."
"When I got there it looked like he was ready to jump so I asked him what he was doing up there. Midoriya didn't, didn't answer at first. I was only really getting short responses but eventually I got him to reconsider and to avoid overwhelming him by leaving him with the other students, I brought him here."
Waiting for a response, Shouta looked at the green eyed blonde expectantly. "Well, while we don't know what drove him to this," Hizashi finally spoke, uncharacteristically calm and serious, "I know for damn sure we're gonna take care of him and get to the bottom of this. Right?" Shouta nodded an affirmative, determined to help the young greenette.
They heard water stop running and Hizashi took that as his cue to break the silence. "Well, I'm going to make some soup. It's a chilly night and I'm sure we could all use some comfort right now." Shouta nodded, leaning on the blonde, nuzzling him to show his appreciation for his support.
The night wasn't over yet.