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Chapter Text

With a quick kiss on the forehead Izuku was off to his weekly meeting with All Might.

"I told you to call me Toshinori, my boy." He smiled, eyes sparkling with amusement as Izuku mumbled something under his breath, embarrassed.

"I-I-" Izuku's eyes were on the send before his feet. Then on the trash ten feet behind All Might. Then on the water.

"None of that." He shook his head.

If Izuku doesn't listen like that Yagi could just bully him into submission. That's fine. It's not like it's the first time.

"Okay, but just think about you calling me that in public. Of course, it can be written off as a joke or a nickname, but one person listening long enough, you know, let's add you saying it with a completely serious face and familiarity, and my look. Yes, I look sick–" on that word he could raise his hand without even one glance at Izuku. Of course, the boy would not like to even think about such rude words towards him. It will only be 'Did someone said something to you today?', 'You know they're just bigots, right?'

Izuku didn't say anything, he even pursed his lips to shut himself. Yagi wanted to be heard uninterrupted.

"I look sick-" He pointedly looked into Izuku's eyes and began to lower his raised hand. "But, the hair or eye color are both unmistakable. And also my voice. I can't change my height too. And with everything combined, we eventually will get someone who can do anything with the information they got."

Sea breeze gently ruffled both of their hairs, but instead of looking like a complete fool with a bushed head, All Might looked intimidating by pure power of will.

He expectedly crossed his arms on his chest after that speech.

Young Izuku is rubbing on him. After this splash of words he just got out in one breath Toshinori's brain stopped working for a second. Yagi thought it was a Midoriya thing to ramble on and on without air...

Well it is, but Toshinori inherited only the part about the speech, not the oxygen one. Lame. Especially when you have only one working lung...

"Sorry, Yagi-san..." A little more and his head will be in his ribcage. Just with what force he squeezes it in his shoulders, huh?

Yagi first put his hands on the boy's shoulders and then pulled him into a hug with a big smile.

"By the way sorry for the speech. I'm not that concerned, I promise it's okay, I just wanted you to call me by my name. People who know it are usually close enough to call me Toshinori anyway. I knew you wouldn't tho." A chuckle.

Toshinori squeezed him even more to his chest.

With lil "Eep!" Izuku's head got back to its place. But Yagi continues to laugh at the boy's scandalized face.

That "Beach night" was peaceful. They always were, to be honest.

Yagi wanted to let the boy know how much work he'd done already. 

"Okay, my boy. I have something for today..." He waited for the boy's full attention, It's not like he'd ever wait for more than a second. "If you don't want to 'slack off' as you say, on training, then think of it as such, if you okay with just having some fun and playing today, then we are just having some fun and playing today."

Izuku saw a shoulder bag standing in the sand nearby ever since he first fist-bumped Yagi-san that evening but didn't want to pray into it.

Even if he knew that one-time Yagi-san put Izuku's whole bottle of water in his pocket. Even if Yagi-san didn't bring anything like a bag or backpack ever. Even if he knew that Yagi-san didn't like any of them because he could not find anything that went well with his high and complexion.

Even if Izuku knew that that bag was the exact pastel gray tone that Yagi-san loved he didn't ask because Oka-san taught him not to start to talk about people's things if they didn't start to talk about them first.

So now when Yagi-san lifted the bag on the bench on which they were sitting Izuku was greatly intrigued.

Yagi chuckled to himself. Izuku was bouncing on his sit and wasn't even aware of it. He was turned directly face and body to the beach and didn't twitch a muscle to show his interest, didn't even glance at the bag.

All Might still haven't met older Midoriya, but he already respected her greatly. Not only she was a single mother but all her life she worked as a lawyer. Court life is not easy. A person can commit so many terrible deeds, All Might know it personally, but going home to small a child after meeting about another home violence case and plastering a smile on your face is brave, if nothing else.

Izuku froze.

"Huh?" He tilted his head a little.

Toshinori smiled putting the bag back in the sand and holding his arm more towards Izuku, who stopped pretending he wasn't watching.

"A... Frisbee?" Izuku blinked once then twice.

Toshinori nodded a few times silently while standing up.

"You need a good understanding of -" he waved to Izuku to stand while watching intently the sand around on metal pieces or anything. Any garbage or even stones that can be harmful while not watching where they stand

Izuku can find problems when problems are non-existent in the situation – was the first rule that Toshinori learned about the boy. "the trajectory of objects, good, aim and" He couldn't find anything on this part of the beach so with little smile raised his head "and have a little bit of fun too."

Izuku huffed, but Toshi caught a little smile on his face too.

"Fine."

Chapter Text

"YEEP!" 

He jumped purely on instinct. Yagi made his moves so slow that Izuku thought it would fly into his hands like autumn leaves. But no. Yagi did something that made little plastic think break the very material of the universe.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

He blinked and raised his head only to see his mentors shit-eating grin.

"Huh..." He blinked again and Toshinori lost it. "H-Ho-How d-did... Huh!? "

The flabbergasted expression on his face was too shocked for All Might not to react.

He just a moment ago stood there and everything was fine, but Yagi-san was no liar. With someone as All Might as his player two Izuku will need every second of reaction training he got.

Again just like Yagi-san taught...

Some time later.

"It's okay to stutter my boy, hell I've even had it for some time. You need to take a second to reorganize your thoughts, and that's fine too. Remember to breathe properly, please. That's good, you're doing great... That's fine if you can't say something from the first time- In and out, my boy. In and out..."

Izuku didn't even caught it first few times, but as his night thoughts were wild he re-looked talks with All Might. One by one. And that particular late evening he, somehow, was getting to this monologue. Maybe because he felt guilty for having a panic attack, maybe because he couldn't answer properly, maybe because it's wasn't a first time they had stopped everything and Yagi was calming him down, maybe everything together. He would just think about it later...

Why exactly this one's so different?

"And even if you can't from second. Even-!" He even leaned forward a little to make himself as clear as as possible. "Even if you can't say something at all, that's fine. Ya hear me?" Izuku only nodded. "Come here."

It was his only warning. Yagi-san was hugging him with so much strength, Izuku actually could concentrate on breathing.

Now he knew what was it about. What was nagging him that evening about Toshinori.

His rambling.

All Might could mumbles too.

The thought was so surreal Izuku flinched.

Then he thought All Might's mumbling wasn't even a little bit as annoying as Izuku's was.

Then he started thinking about it and stopped right away. What a dumb thought. All Might would never mumble like him.

"Your hand-" Izuku never would have thought that one day he will get a teaching lesson on a frisbee from number one hero but here we are... "-should not be with much movement, but should not be still. Shoulder and forearm are the spring and your wrist is the one thing that will do all work."

Yagi's hand was repeating the same movement towards sand. Body turn, open elbow, sharp twist of the wrist. Izuku was hyper-fixated on Toshinori's palm.

"Do not rush, do not bend your hand too sharply"

Izuku mindlessly started massaging his wrist to not harm himself. Pulling a muscle or two per day was too easy to him. Izuku called himself dumb for that, but All Might called him eager and easily excited.

He slowly rolled his palm reminding himself of how exactly Toshinori's hands guided him. He was too focused to see Yagi's very fond expression.

"COME AT ME! GO! GO! GO!"

Izuku doesn't remember when he had so much fun outside last time. Now he certainly understands every single dog in every single movie that played with those plastic things.

He was wet through and through. Also dirty. Very dirty.

Salty sea water didn't mix well with sand and whatever that sand was blended with.

His arms and legs would be dead tomorrow but that's exactly what weekends are for, right?

"My boy..-"

All Might actually was panting, and what was it if not success, huh?

If noone will see Izuku's red face and gasping for breath lungs than cool. If anyone will... It's a lie. They didn't.

"There's.. - Your phone is ringing, i think."

At first Izuku was sad how quick Yagi calmed his breathing down much faster, but then his words sank in.

"Huh..."

And then he became hyper aware of sea, that already had settled down to only little waves; of complete silent street up the beach stairs; of mosquitoes and other attributes that all usually go with late-late evening.

Saying night instead of late-late evening was equivalent Izuku broke the rules.

Atmosphere was homey and comfortable, but suddenly Izuku's hands started to sweat.

He nearly dropped his phone when saw seven messages and already updated to two missed calls.

Chapter Text

"Izuku? Sunshine? Are you okay?" That's what he didn't want to hear. The worry in her voice, the wobbly tone that's bringing tears to his eyes too every time.

"S-sorry, mom. It's just~ I didn't watch the time and I'm sorry, I'm heading home."

Izuku already put his phone between his ear and shoulder, and with freed hands shook the sand from his backpack with quick movements.

"Izuku-"

"I'm so sorry!"

Yagi had time only to wave to the boy who already ran as fast as he could up the stairs, while man himself shook his head with fond smile. His hand froze in the air and he slowly dropped it down.

"I swear to god..." He crouched down in front of his bag. He didn't even want to assume that boy forgot to turn on his location. It was too scary thought. "I will put you on a leash someday..."

Toshinori opened the app and thank lord he saw blinking green dot and an arrow pointing the way to the boy.

Of course at first it was unbelievable to even ask Izuku of something, but with time Yagi understood boy've had enough of carefully selected words, or mean whispers in the hallways. Izuku needed honesty and honesty he did.

"I want you to broadcast me your location at all times. I have too many diagnosis in my medical history to add 'worry-based cardiac arrest' to it. Please and thank you." One day Yagi said with crossed arms looking at the boy intently.

Of course he didn't have to be intimidating or scary-looking, but Izuku should got the point of the whole thing ones and for all. It's not like he ever have been suspicious of Young Midoriya, but he've heard enough "So sorry, just forgot" in his age to be honest. not from the boy, of course not, Izuku is perfect, but still

He immediately felt guilty when Izuku's breathe hitched and boy raised his shoulders a little higher.

• No harsh tones or commands.

• Bluntness is appreciated.

• No criticism without any environment. Boy will feel bad.

He stored for himself that day.

Also that day he realised he picked up some habits from the boy... Notebooks.

Welp, just notes in his case, but still.

Ones he tried it he couldn't stop. It felt strangely therapeutic to write out some information and just stuff. Of course he understood that there's even therapists's recommendations about writing some sort of journal, but in this case it was even bigger of a plus in general. With as busy life as All Might's, he couldn't help but forgot thing or two.

No surprise that Izuku always was so punctual and reliable. And with such paranoid mind he would check everything more times per hour then he should... Why haven't Toshinori thought about it earlier... Dumbass...

But now wasn't the time to hit himself mentally. Or even physically... even if Chio really determined to beat him up just to keep him in her medical center for a few months at least.

Now he rubbed the place where she usually hit with her cane.

Yagi sight quietly while he shook the sand off of the frisbee. As much as he loved nature, he didn't need his bag's bottom full of little scruby grains of sand.

Everything was quite.

A long time ago parents' stories from "a bad-bad man who will pick you up if you stay out late" turned into "bad-bad villain with bad-bad quirk will sell you to someone while you out late". And as much as All Might hated it, he couldn't be everywhere at once. It pained him to say it but those parents were right. It's been much safer on the streets because of heroes, but it's not only about them, is it? Petty thieves, robbers, even pickpocketers have quirks to rely on, this days. Not even talking about true villains, kidnappers or even murderers.

That's a sad thought to be honest.

"Give me all you have-" Toshinori stopped and looked up at the person. "- money-" He blinked.

Once then twise.

Sometimes mothers carefully looked past Toshinori or lightly changed the way they were going with their children. He heard whispers of teens sometimes on the street while walking past them. In short:

He looked terrible. He knew that. It scared people a lot, but this one thought he was to sick to fight back.

Believe it or not Izuku called him zombie one time. Of course he was looking like a tomato, apologized much more times than he should have. More than zero. And was embarrassed, but to be fair he truly meant it, when said that the comments like this from Izuku were always non-upseting.

The boy himself would never know it, but Yagi was proud of them both very much.

Proud for boy first Izuku is always first, because boy is comfortable enough to say something without overthinking or thinking at all first.

And proud for himself for making him so comfortable boy even offered hugs nowadays.

Toshinori wanted to cry and jump at the same time, when it first happened even. every time not only the first

"Hey!" Man hissed. Or Toshinori just assumed it was man.

His hands sparkled with something. He didn't want to try it on himself so soon. But it seem to be his week spot. It was only hands. Sparkly stuff wasn't going anywhere higher than the wrists.

As much as he still looked sick, Toshinori knew he was intimidating more than 2 meters tall man. It would be strange to assume that man wasn't trying to scare him with everything he's got.

It was only logical that the robber will try to seen more than he was.

One of sparks jumped higher than others, but nothing happens... From the first glance.

Muscles in his left wrist twitched involuntarily. Red spot appeared the same second. I will try to look like I'm suppressing my quirk, while it's only in my palms.

Yes, he tried to scare Toshinori.

No, he didn't succeed.

No, he wasn't resistant to his own quirk.

Yagi calmly stretched out his hand with the phone in it. 

He clearly caused some brain damage by the gesture.

Toshinori shrugged "I'm quirkless."

It was said too carefree, but he wasn't going to try more, or even consider it. It wasn't worth his time - first, and second, he was to exhausted from full day on work (it's not like Izuku will ever know. He would learn Toshinori's full schedule and would not be meeting him if Yagi had a work), and then 'training' on the beach, even if it was just a game.

Toshinori wasn't thinking about anything. Everything else was in a blur from that point.

The thief extends his hand. Fast Forward Throw. A blow to the scapula, quick tied-up on the floor of the alleyway. Speed dial. Quick greetings.

"Your working today, right?"

"How can i be of service, Yagi-san?"

"There was an attempt to rob me..."

Toshinori never heard a cat snorting, and hoped he would never hear it again. Sansa's vocal cords were able to make a purr, it was reasonable, cuz his head was a cat-head as young Midoriya theorised one day. So logically a human snort wasn't supposed to even be there, but it was, and now in All Might's nightmares would be ugly ass All for One with ugly ass cat snorts.

Chapter Text

Toshinori again was in the office, again past his bedtime, again with Tamakawa, again with a level of caffeine worth a few bags of coffee beans in his organism, but what wasn't usual was that he was filing paperwork as a victim of a crime this time.

Chiyo would have smacked him upside the head right now for overworking himself.

Toshinori couldn't be a full-time hero? He got a job with detective Naomasa, as a policeman.

Toshinori's "All Might time" got even smaller? He called Nedzu, to ask if he could teach the new generation at UA.

Sometimes Yagi wondered how people can live so boring lives. The only times he could sit still were the times when he slept sitting.

Night patrols are not enjoyable by any means. The worst people operate during this time, the worst crimes are taking place on those shady paths. No people on the streets thus no witnesses, and no cameras, so when a hero on duty drags another bloody criminal to the cell, no one bets an eye.

Sansa loves his work. He specializes in working with children.

Kitty that came to calm them down after the night invasion of their home, where they were supposed to be safe, works better than any person with a good voice or calm posture.

Sansa loved his work and wanted to go there immediately after waking up every day till one particular case...

To this moment he wants to believe that that was just a bad-bad dream.

Some time ago.

"Tamakawa-Kun, today's the eighth, right?"

"It's..." Sansa looked up from his paperwork. "Yeah, it's the eighth of April, what's of it, 'Masa-san?"

Tsukauchi sighed and Sansa felt a shiver run down his spine. He suddenly questioned his very reason for existence. Something bad will happen, and Tamakawa doesn't want to know what it is, but he already asked.

It turned out that his coworker wanted to ask to meet their new employee and show him around.

Unsettling feelings haven't disappeared, but Sansa's decided that was only his impatiens. Not a wise decision from his side. Ignoring his gut feeling is dumb, especially if you are a cat and your sixth sense tells you to run very-very far...

"Hello. Sansa, right?"

Too calm. Too even.

Sansa flinched.

Run Run Run Run Run

He nodded.

Toshinori sighed. He drifted into random thoughts a few minutes ago. His mind was full of Izuku of course. It's hard to spend hours on the beach with him and switch to work thoughts the next minute.

But soon report was written, lawbreakers were behind the bars and Yagi assumed it was a moment to really have a rest. But there's always but, because it's Yagi and Yagi can't have a goddam rest ones he decided he deserves it.

Chapter Text

Sansa's ear twitched. He isn't that much scared of Yagi anymore, being coworkers and all. But constant cautiousness around the man was an automatic response of his body long before Tamakawa even knew it, and train it out is not an easy task.

Currently he was searching for one particular case in big pile of documents.

"Murder... Murder... Another murder" he whispered softly. "vandalism..."

Sansa stopped with file in the air and tail frozen mid-swing.

His phone was ringing.

"How can i be of service, Yagi-san?"

"There was an attempt to rob me..."

He couldn't help but let out a surprised snort, immediately covering his mouth after, not knowing if it would sound rude to Yagi.

It was all quick work from. Of course it was. To be honest with Yagi-san everyone worked quickly. Someone to look like they worthy of something (mostly praise), someone to get over with working with Yagi as soon as possible.

Sansa thought he would pretend to be a small-small tree for a few hours. Nothing will happen, nothing will be wrong, everything will be fine...

Oh how wrong he was...

_

Yagi was in Tsukauchi's place.

Right in front of Sansa's desk.

Tamakawa didn't know what he had done in his past life to deserve this, but from now on he will never miss his church days. He swe- promises.

After guy has been tossed somewhere in the station Toshinori sat in nearby free desk...

And just maybe he sat down into Naomasa's chair. Just maybe it wasn't an accidental thing, just maybe he saw Tsukauchi sneaking candies from his desk, and just maybe when Naomasa will be back he will silently cuss Toshinori out.

_

Toshinori knew he was unnerving Sansa, but the amount of anxiety man has been radiating since evening was to much even for Yagi himself.

Finger tap-tap-tapping, knee bouncing, clenching and unclenching hand that was under the table, flicking his ears, curling his tail. Also Toshinori picked up breathing exercises and eye exercises with his periphery vision from Sansa. He was rolling his shoulders and wrists, was grinding his teeth and still bouncing that motherfucking knee.

"I will shoot you."

Sansa wanted to carefully look at Yagi, but completely froze, because Yagi was looking directly into his sole.

"I will."

Tamakawa wanted to quit. Tamakawa wanted to die.

But at the same time he wanted to see his mom. One last time.

"You've checked what time is it twelve times-" Yagi turned to look at the clock and Sansa's brain finally understood how to make his lungs work. But Yagi wasn't merciful in the slightest, so he made eye contact again. "-in last half an hour... Your hands are shaking right now. You're twitching your ears and nose, and every sound you make-"

Tamakawa decided to pray.

He didn't know what will happen and he didn't care. He wanted to go home. He wanted to wake up and understand that it was all a nightmare. From the day Naomasa asked to be guide for a ten minutes. From the moment he heard devils voice. From the moment he turned and had to look up into eyes that weren't blinking.

Past.

She wanted nothing to do with rapists and pedophiles, but from the moment she decided to be a hero, as a woman, it was pretty predictable that it will be her speciality.

Undercover work with voice and body like hers was a perfect job at the start of her career. 

She met Giran few times already. Not in person and not directly, so she hoped he has no idea about her herosona or look, at least.

Later made a contact, said was raped and wanted a few things to counteract that guy's quirk and kill him as well as torture him beforehand in the name of revenge.

And Giran grinned at that.

Agreed and started to list ways to make him miserable, firearm to do it and a few places.

_

Now she was in civilian clothing yet again. Watching him from a rooftop somewhere in Musutafu.

Giran was a sleazy bastard and catching him in the act wasn't an easy process. She didn't know if he had something detecting on him, or had a strong gut feeling but she didn't want to risk it and decided not to bring any cameras or microphones. Shouta said something about trustworthy detective in this area anyway...

Chapter Text

Naomasa met Toshinori a long time ago, and it was the best day of his life, even if he didn't know it then.

He became friends with brave and driven person and thinking about him as "Symbol of Peace" is kinda strange sometimes.

It broke his heart a little when Yagi said most of the time he felt lonely. It ripped his heart to shreds when he understood "All Might" can't physically and emotionally have anyone closer than 'nice acquaintances'.

Calling someone a friend is too much, when All Might, as a concept, is so foreign, and will Toshinori ever find someone for a friend as All Might, when people are so selfish these days?

Apparently yes.

If no, then where this photo came from, huh?

A part of clean beach is much more bigger. God I'm so proud of him I want to cry. Only thing that stops me is that Izuku will cry to, while we have to head out already. I don't know how I would live my life if I'll give him to his mother in tears...

'And better part of the department shitting themselves after the thought of you...' Tsukauchi shook his head and finally clicked on attachments.

Photos were disgustingly cute.

There were quite few of them. Of the beach itself, yeah, the area of clean sand is bigger yesterday's sunset and of two nincompoops themselves with ice cream cones. By the colours the kid had chocolate, and Toshi had vanilla... It was unexpectedly expected, to be honest.

Naomasa still didn't know what to make of Toshinori's rent about vanilla being bullied because of people's prejudice and cuz of crowd effect, same as pinapple pizza.

And Midoriya... He just looks like chocolate type of person for some reason.

He swiped to the left and immediately snorted, by the outrageous expression on Midoriya's face, Toshinori did something for sure, because boy was giving him a stink eye, and also Naomasa didn't think he would dip his nose into ice cream without Toshi's help. He can bet All Might was hiding a shit eating grin behind his own cone on the picture.

Next photo was filmed by happy Midoriya who was smiling like nothing in the world mattered, and visibly annoyed Toshinori was sitting next to him with pursed lips and a piece of half melted ice cream on his cheek.

Next photo was really blurry with Midoriya in the middle of sprinting away from Yagi, who was in the middle of standing up from the bench on the background. Toshinori looked like something between an angry kitten and a raging bull.

Me

You look like angry penguin at best, you can't musk love even with '😠😠' expression, don't even try.

Call you when I'm out, k?

Toshi

😱😱😟

K

Me

Do not 😟 me. You look like you pouting cuz he's leaving you alone.

🫲😰🥺🍨

Toshi

'm not 🙄

Me

Ur

Toshi

Mnot

Me

Ur

Toshi

Mnot

Me

Ur

Toshi

Mnot 😟

Me

U r 😠

Toshi

😥

Tsukauchi huffed.

"Dork..."

"Hm?" Sansa looked up at him.

"No, nothing." He quickly closed the app and went to the registry. Also there are few emails and-

"Sorry if I'm prying too much..." Naomasa looked up and met gase of an amused cat. "But who are you texting?"

Naomasa wanted to answer and get back to work, but Tamakawa decided to further his thoughts.

"I just haven't seen that smile on you."

"What smile?"

"You know... Like- Um..." Again pause and Tsukauchi lifted one brow, while Sansa huffed. "High schooler who just saw their junior crush slipping love letter to their locker, you know?" Tsukauchi lifted both eyebrows and Sansa groaned. "... Kinda admiration and fondness... You know, like 'I love you and I'm so proud right now, but also so-so happy, oh god'- Something like that."

And Tsukauchi froze.

Chapter Text

Sansa's ears flattened to a degree he didn't know they could. He slowly started to back off on his chair, but a second later Yagi's rent was interrupted.

Sansa flinched.

—

Toshinori began doing a breathing exercise to stop himself from doing something he will regret later on. Sansa was anxious because of something and Yagi didn't have any authority over him to just say "Turn off your emotions please, or I'm going to blow your head straight off." But as soon as his thoughts turned in the right direction again they both heard the door to the main office open.

Someone was delivered and needed to be interrogated.

Well here goes nothing.

Yagi quickly grabbed his coat, because he didn't want to stay much longer than he already did, and wanted to say something like "Sorry, Sansa", but wasn't able to because the rage he felt nearly broke the door handle just now.

Sansa will probably appreciate him going away as soon as possible tho.

—

Yagi was irritated. He knew it.

There was no reason to be so hostel to Sansa. He knew that too.

It didn't necessarily mean that he could- He nearly stepped back he was so shocked. Seeing him again was like a dream come true.

"It is such a nice night, isn't it, Giran? I'm so happy to see you. This time it will be as quiet, as the last one, I hope?"

He smiled with bloody teeth and had something settle in his chest when recognition wiped a lazy smile from Giran's face.

It was a horrible misunderstanding.

Their first meeting wasn't his proudest moment.

It was dark late evening, and he just ran out of time. Yagi didn't know it at the time, but Giran only heard his bloody coughing, so decided to investigate.

Everything went wrong, to be honest.

He just started to work with Naomasa, so was advised to at least read all the names on the "Wanted" board. He was a little offended. He doesn't do anything just for someone to get off his back, so obviously he learned their names and faces.

Giran was an informant. It was bad.

From Toshinori's point of view, he just gave a criminal his secret identity like a free popsicle, and his bloody coughs as a gummy along the way.

Of course, Giran was slammed into the wall with viciousness some villains will be jealous of.

"You sleazy piece of shit." He spat lowly. "What the fuck are you doing here, Giran? Don't you think if you sniff around for too long someone might cut your nose right off, huh?"

Gone was a man with horrible sounding, drowning-like dying some sort of fit, there was only a living demon who wanted to destroy and kill.

Giran was the first to be seen by him.

From his side of this whole thing he just has been slammed into a wall by a random dude, who knows him by name? Maybe the whole coughing thing was a logical ruse to get him to come closer. Are there more people outside of the closed space to not let him run away? Will he be able to run ever again in his life?

"L-listen, man" He crocked out. "I'm on a few hit lists right now. I know I'm-m in big trouble." Giran visibly gulped. "I can probably do whatever you want me to do, just say who to avoid. I promise I'll do everything I can."

Yagi slowly breathed out. Giran didn't see him transform. It was stupid. There wasn't even any smoke when he came around. He overreacted and he was embarrassed.

"Get out of my sight." He hissed. "Quickly. I will find you when I need to."

He ran.

It was a risk he will take this time. There was a reason he didn't hate how he transformed. Yes, it strained his body from time to time, but the mist he let out was perfect not to be seen. Instead of seeing some dude before seeing All Might, they saw smoke.

He should've known Giran would too.

It was practically night and the grey cloud wasn't even there. It dissolved by the time someone saw him.

Yagi breathed deeply and slowly for a few seconds before even hearing footsteps.

He was dumb. He knew that.

He needed to call Naomasa.

He needed to call Naomasa.

Giran is smart and with a foggy brain, that's already dreamed of rest, Yagi better be supervised by someone who can slap him hard across the face, if it was needed without hesitation.

Naomasa will.

He didn't look away from him. Not for a second. "Room 3... Mister, we can keep you for 6 hours at the station, without any further documentation needed. I will be honored to write a report later by myself."

Giran's supervisor quickly tugged him further into the hall.

Naomasa must be right again. Sometimes bystanders are scared just because. There was no reason for cops to look so stricken, really.

Yeah maybe "Toshi, wash your mouth, I'm eating, I don't wanna look at the blood oozing out of there right now." slowly grew into "Toshi, mouth." with time, but it doesn't mean he looks horrible all the time, right?

Maybe he is... If the person reading turned upside down paper right now was to go by...

"What are you doing here?" Now he was just exasperated. Giran was packed with another person. Another really annoying person.

"Take the handcuffs off of her." He demanded, trying not to look at her, obvious attempts to... Show off.

She slowly looked up, obviously checking him out, and with a flirty smirk responded quietly stretching out words with a suggestive voice.

"Mmm~... I really-really wanted to see the gentleman, who caught my eye the other day~ Ahh..." She pouted, looking at her wrists. "Don't you wanna see me in handcuffs, Sir?"

Both guys, (the upside-down-paper one, and the one who was holding her) did not say a word about potentially giving a criminal free roam. Listening to Yagi could've been a fatal mistake just now, but he was too distracted keeping his body language natural to reprimand anyone.

"Ahh~... You're so stiff, Sir." Should have expected that. "Let me help you~" Should have not.

Chapter Text

It was Midnight.

Because of course, it was.

Just his luck.

Giran's companion was The R-Rated Hero: Midnight herself and Toshinori's head pulsed with painful throb again.

The procedure during the mission is the same after it.

Don't break the character and you'll be fine.

Maybe it'll help later on, maybe right away, but let the cops take you, silently show your license or just let them know the number of the case you were working on, and everything will go smoothly.

This kind of work is the exact reason why heroes are not allowed to use too much force. You don't want to break someone's hands just to, later on, understand that you nearly ended someone's hero career, do you? Sometimes the reason "Lawbreakers are people too" wasn't enough for students, and All Might himself remembered those lectures that looked more like their teacher bargaining with everyone else not to kill on the field until it looked like a last resort and only chance to end the situation.

"You're so rigid, Yagi-san~"

She was circling him like a shark. Heels clicking softly, hips swaying slowly.

She's in her civilian clothing... That's a plus.

Seeing her with a whip in their hands actually made him think about leaving Japan and visiting David suddenly and without looking back.

Toshinori stood still. It was annoying, but Naomasa needed to be called, and at least she wouldn't be obnoxiously moaning in the background like last time... Right?

Okay, apparently she wouldn't, but will press her... Breasts into his forearm with a content sigh and a quick sentence about how tired she was. Also, she said something about still having some energy for pounding, but all Toshinori could hear is exasperation on the other end.

"Oi, Come on! I'm literally dressing up to work right now."

Toshinori quickly shook his head.

He didn't know why would he imagine Naomasa in the state of undress after such words, so he just pretended Midnight's lude commentary affected him. (Somehow he was a little disappointed that he didn't know Naomasa's complexion, but he didn't want to think about that.)

"Yeah." He compressed the want to rub his neck as hard as he could. "I know..."

Toshinori heard a tap on the other end, and a huff Tsukauchi just let out sounded different.

Ah, loudspeaker. He was getting dressed, right...

Toshinori turned, and with embarrassment realized Miss Midnight was still attached to his right elbow. She swayed with the movement but caught herself in time.

"Giran is here. Needs to be processed." He needed to stop his thoughts, he was in character, apologizing awkwardly (as he usually does) will not only look idiotic (as it usually does) but also confusing to everyone around.

"Oh, you need me only for my quirk." Tsukauchi sniffed dramatically. "Understood."

Toshinori nearly stuttered out a no, but caught himself in time. He needed to concentrate. It was just teasing from his friend's side, everything was fine.

He shakily breathed out and thought he heard another huff, but couldn't describe the exact emotion behind it. Naomasa was too far from the phone.

"Actually, I think I've got this interrogation covered, your quirk will certainly help, but I need a partner more."

Midnight whipped her head so fast that Toshinori felt every millisecond of it, but he was holding his phone in his right hand, so he couldn't see her expression. He didn't want to, frankly.

Silence.

Midnight probably assumed he was listening to reply, but no.

Complete silence on the other end too.

Was something a miss?

"Naomasa?"

A light cough. "Yeah..." Pause. "The stupid tie just won't stay still."

"I can help you with that, you just need to hurry, we don't have that much time. People like Giran will use every law they know to get out as soon as possible."

"Mhm~" Light shuffle. "But he wouldn't want to include anyone other than his lawyer tho... It's awfully predictable how terrified they are about being in front of a judge, even as wronged side. We can probably bluff with that, what do you think?"

"Yeah."

Yagi slowed his phase. He was the one guiding Midnight of course, and with her leaning on him it could seem like he finally was tired from constant pull down, but no. They were in front of the room he wanted her in, and Toshinori didn't know how to end the call. Being one-on-one with Midnight sounded like hell, but it still wasn't a good reason to ignore her roaming while he talked. Toshinori needed to let her know where to sit and ask if she wanted anything, if he does do it will be rude to Naomasa who will be waiting on the other end.

It was a brief second of awkwardness that felt more like a minute, but suddenly he heard a groan and nearly dropped his phone. There were few steps left, no need to lose his cool.

"Stupid fucking tie..." Naomasa murmured far enough from the phone for Toshinori not understanding anything, but near enough for him to guess. "OI, I'm holding you to your promise about the tie. I'm done."

"Okay-okay." Yagi smiled and opened the door.

Tsukauchi huffed "Bye." And without waiting for a response ended the call.

Perfect.

Now his only problem is an exhausted woman on his right.

"Sit." She fell into the chair.

Yagi didn't really notice it sooner, but still got the impression she was only acting her bubbly flirting this time. Grabbing his arm was okay, theoretically, he could've just shaken her off, but for one second she stumbled and his bicep got full fours of her nails dug into it.

Now when he has time to think about it, wasn't he the one who theorized about no one giving a fuck on night shifts? She probably got mocked and manhandled tonight and couldn't do anything about it.

"Water?"

Toshinori looked at the coat he was holding, at Kayama, who nodded with hand a on the table and face in them, back at the coat, then sight.

He slowly unraveled it to let her hear the noise of the fabric, and calmly, with sure movements covered her back and shoulders, pretending he didn't notice how she tensed.

Chapter Text

When Naomasa hung up the phone, he had to think for a minute after that.

The tie offer? Was it something that was supposed to be a friendly gesture or... That's as far as this thought will go.

The "partner"? Usually, it's a completely normal word in a police setting, but Toshinori never used it before, as normal cops do. That's also as far as this thought will go.

After some time of fighting with the stupid fabric around his neck (it was even more challenging because of his hands shaking), Naomasa decided to take Toshinori up on his offer.

The Giran situation was, admittedly, intriguing to a fault, so right after the tie fiasco, Naomasa ran out of his apartment. The taxi wasn't that far away.

Toshinori knew it won't be long before his friend arrives.

He needed coffee though. He needed coffee and a strategy. Giran would be just amused by the "good cop, bad cop". Yeah a little frightened, but there should be a particular timing about this whole thing.

Coffee first though.

Chiyo's gonna break his shins this time around. They just talked (more like a lecture) about overworking and healthy schedules.

Coffee.

His… Companion presumably needed it too.

He wanted to step back from the coffeemaker and offer Miss a cup, but Midnight crashed¹.

She was completely out, and Toshinori already wanted to breathe out in relief, but of course, there's never relief for him, is there?

Her phone rang.

A phone that was laying right in front of her. At first, he wanted to chastise people who searched her, but he didn't want to know where she had hid it.

Come to think of it, the ring was annoying. It was annoying and more importantly long.

He was standing behind her, looking at her covered back, leaning on the counter with the coffee machine.

The vibrations of her device should be very unpleasant, Toshinori thought and with furrowing eyebrows, he quickly came back to her unmoving form. He made sure to make noise, but it didn't matter.

She was still completely slumped. Concerning.

The phone stopped its hysterics abruptly. Good.

Toshinori checked her pulse. It was there, and completely normal, her ribcage movement was clear, nothing rugged, and nothing except soft breathing.

The phone rang again. He should've expected it, really.

Exhaling, he picked it up.

"Hello."

"Where is she?"

"Let's start with who you are."

"Is she okay?" Second voice. Showed more worry.

"Completely exhausted."

"Where is she?" The first one again. Impatient and stern.

"Musutafu Police station. Office 2.3"

"Didn't you jus-"

Toshinori hangs up.

That voice appeared in his nightmares sometimes, of course he remembered that rugged, sure tone. He only needed to hear at least two phrases from it, and now he was sure who it was.

Those nightmares were about calming young Midoriya if he gets expelled from UA. The rumors made him shiver. Before really deciding on where to send young Izuku (he needed to guarantee him a license, it was the boy's decision, but they needed to be realistic) he had heard of one of the hero course homeroom teachers expelling anyone who looked at him funny. After meeting the man he was scared even more.

It felt like Eraserhead would fire him on the spot, even though he couldn't possibly do that.

Naomasa wasn't long, per usual.

In the room he walked in with the 'Pretty Lady'. The shift must've changed while Yagi drank his coffee.

The nickname Pretty Lady stuck a long time ago, the first week when Tsukauchi was walking him around, introducing him to everyone, and whispered when they walked out of her office: "Honestly I was always forgetting her name, and 'till I got to the point I was comfortable to ask again I called her pretty lady in my head."

Toshinori just quirked his non-existent eyebrow at him at the time, but he totally could see where Tsukauchi-Kun was coming from.

While she wasn't a supermodel, after all his time spent in America he saw a talent right away.

Most black women there wore their hair in tight braids or protective hairstyles, but Miss Pretty Lady wore it as a big, puffy afro with pride. Toshinori could see her blooming at times, while she looked in the mirror. Clearly, Naomasa could see the confidence it brought her too, if the nickname is to go off of.

He finally focused his eyes.

Melokuhle, which apparently means “One who represents good things” or “stand for what is right” (yes, he had asked), had her arm crossed, and one eyebrow up.

"I um- That's pro hero Midnight-" Tsukauchi frowned, Toshinori didn't like that. "And I believe you'll take good care of her while we chat with someone she brought in today. Her friends are already coming to pick her up."

She only hummed to that, still unimpressed with him and went on making herself a cup too.

Toshinori looked back at Tsukauchi, who hung his coat already, and bowed a little, trying to show a greeting and a sorry in one go.

Naomasa only rolled his eyes and pulled something out of his pocket, holding it out with a challenge in his eyes.

Oh.

The tie.

Toshinori huffed, and got closer.

He put Tsukauchi's collar up first, then looped the fabric around his neck and... Well then he had to tilt Naomasa's chin up, to see the knot, because they were standing pretty close. Lightly, of course. Just with his fingers. He didn't want to come off as rude.

Everything was done.

"I can teach you, if you want." Toshinori looked up into his eyes.

Naomasa wasn't moving. Not breathing. Strange.

"No- I-I mean it's- it's- I-I can- Not like- I- Let's go." Naomasa turned around, and practically rushed out of the door.

Toshinori was... Puzzled.

He turned.

Melokuhle's eyes were watering.

She was holding her mouth with both of her hands.

She closed her eyes and let out a (impressively) loud snort.

"Did-... Did I do something wrong?"

Okay. Forget what he said about All for One and ugly cat snorts.

That. That was a truly evil laugh right there.

Chapter Text

Interrogations were always quick.

Yagi was supposed to be helping only in violent cases. Together with Tsukauchi, they worked like a well oiled machine. With the type of work they have been doing for years they quickly made a system.

Naomasa was good with words, but Toshinori had fighting spirit.

While All Might smiled and spoke philosophically about justice, Yagi fought like a caged animal. Yagi knew dark, Yagi was there, and he survived.

Toshinori needed to live quirkless, but there was no living while being quirkless, was there?

There was only two lean roads, one thinner than the other. First to recovery from his mental scars, second was death.

So he fought.

And kept his fighting spirit up day and night to see the world changing year to year.

They worked together from case to case. Talking slowly in between about their lives.

They worked together like an old but well oiled machine, and there was no stopping them till the world they were living in was different.

Good different.

He opened the door a little at first, but then decided to come in fully.

The shift changed, Sansa must've gone home already.

"We need to do it quickly. I-"

"We?"

Toshinori blinked. Naomasa was digging something out of his table, rearranging files.

"I've told you. Giran is-"

"Toshinori. We?"

"I don't understand-"

Naomasa finally looked up.

"Quickly. Last time you slept."

Now Yagi looked down.

"Thought so." Naomasa rolled his eyes, and went back to his desk.

"Listen I-"

"Nope. No. No-no-no. No, you are not." He shook his head, looking down again. "You are going home, you are going to sleep, you are going to rest."

"Nao-"

"Or I'm calling Recovery girl."

It wasn't long before they moved to the hallway. One of the doors opened, but Toshinori was standing with his back to it, and Naomasa, after peeking out, didn't say anything, so everything was okay... Presumably. 

"No, you're going home, I don't care." His eyes flicked to the side, but got back to Toshinori's face. Most likely Melokuhle just got out for a moment.

"Listen. I-"

"I'm not listening." Naomasa nearly closed his ears like a child, Yagi saw his hand twitch up, so he just huffed, without saying anything. "You will not go out for a walk." Tsukauchi slapped his pockets a few times and Toshinori had one absurd thought, but didn't even get to finish it. Naomasa was holding his keys out for him to take.

"You will not go out for groceries. You will not go search for problems. You. Will. Go. Home." He dangled them nearly in front of his face.

His keys.

"And sleep."

It turned out his thought wasn't as absurd as he thought.

Naomasa was giving him his keys.

Apparently his face showed as much confusion as he felt, so Naomasa grabbed his hand and put his keys there.

"You are going to rest. You are going to lay in bed for a few hours with closed eyes and see different small films under your eyelids." Naomasa closed his hand with the keys in it, and quickly nodded a few times, talking to Toshinori like he would talk to a child.

"They are called dreams." His eyes widened as if he was telling him a huge secret. "And people usually see them when they have a normal sleep schedule."

Naomasa hit him upside the head.

Ouch.

"You don't have to be so-"

"Oi, shush!"

"Na-"

"I said shush. You're going to sleep for a few hours, hear that? And I'm going to know if you're lying. Not pretend I woke you up in the morning. Not pretend you just woke up by yourself. Not pretend you're okay and making breakfast. Sleep."

Okay.

Ouch №2.

"You're as bad as Recovery Girl."

He left moping.

"Don't believe him. You're worse than Recovery Girl."

Naomasa huffed

"How can I help you, Eraserhead?"

"That was brilliant! I'll do the same thing with Shouta next time!!"

"Oh, you're here too? I thought it was only Eraser."

"Nah, if it's Midnight we're talking about we're always trying to take her home together. And of course-" Present Mic lowered his glasses and wiggled his eyebrows. "How can we miss such a thing."

Naomasa nearly redden.

Nearly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Mhm. Of course you don't." Eraser. "You know… Mic asked me to move in with him after we'd been dating for three years." His voice was nonchalant and calm, but Tsukauchi still wanted to rip his hair out. "And you did it just like that." He snapped his fingers looking at the entrance Toshinori just left from, as if rewatching the scene. "I think we need some pointers from you, you know?"

"On your bravery!"

"And how's the things in bed?" Midnight stepped into the hall.

Naomasa choked on air, Present Mic on laugher. EraserHead tucked his head into his scarf, Midnight just looked smug.

"He's just so tall, you know?" She wet her lips. "And bony."

Nope.

Na-ah.

No.

He's not doing it tonight.

He bolted.

But not without the last comment from Midnight.

"If you have any questions I teach sex ed-"

NO.