Chapter Text
Katsuki
It took a few days for Katsuki to get around to it, but Izuku finally pressured him into texting Eijiro. They hadn't had a real conversation since that day. The day Katsuki lied to his face, and almost got killed.
He was worried the longer he went without talking to him the more likely Eijiro was to leave.
So Izuku spent an entire day pestering Katsuki into picking up the phone, and texting him. He wanted to get a new phone, because Katsuki was forced to put on a front with this one. The lock screen– which had since been changed– was of Katsuki and his mother. Her contact lingered in his storage, and the longer it stayed there, the more Katsuki wanted to use it, and scream at her. It wouldn't do anything, but it was worth a shot. He turned his phone off the day he went to live with Aizawa, and it hadn't been on since.
Katsuki hadn't been to UA since his mother got arrested, and that only added to the drama.
Booting up the phone, he realized two things. One, this was going to be way harder than he thought. And two, he didn't account for Eijiro previously trying to contact him. There were dozens of missed calls, and unread messages. Time to face the music, then.
::Katsuki is Online::
(3d. 9:15am)Eijiro:
You aren't in class today
Are you sick?
I'll text later. Mr Aizawa is here
(3d. 4:57pm)Eijiro:
Schools out.
You missed a pretty cool lesson.
Are you okay?
(3d. 10:28pm)Eijiro:
Katsuki?
Are you okay?
________________
(2d. 8:03am)Eijiro:
Good morning!
The sun is shining
I'm ready for you to read these messages now
Katsuki?
I gotta go
Text me when you can
(2d. 12:43pm)Eijiro:
lunchtime!
Are you just really sick?
Are you okay?
[Missed Video Call]
(2d. 12:47pm)Eijiro:
Seriously, are you alright?
Are you mad at me?
[Missed Audio Call]
(2d. 12:52pm)Eijiro:
Katsuki, if I did something wrong, can you at least tell me what it is?
________________
(1d. 12:23pm)Eijiro:
lunch again.
Katsuki, I miss you
Are you okay?
Please text me when you get these...
(1d. 5:15)Eijiro:
I stopped by what I thought was your apartment building
They said that no one with the name Bakugou lived there.
Was that a lie?
Katsuki, please answer me
This is important
Did you lie to me?
________________
(Today. 12:39am)Eijiro:
I'm here if you need to talk, okay?
I just want to know you're okay.
Are you mad?
Was it something I did?
If you are, and it is, I'll listen to that too
Just please don't ignore me like this.
(Today. 7:50 am)Eijiro:
I'm about to go to school.
Will I see you there?
Please?
(Today)Katsuki:
Hey Eijiro
Sorry for the late replies
I'm so sorry I worried you
My phone was off
(Today)Eijiro:
I'm so glad you're okay!
What happened?
Did you get hurt?
Katsuki:
No...
I mean
Not really.
Not physically
There's a lot to say
And I don't really want to say it in here
Because it sucks and I don't want you to learn about this while I'm hiding behind a screen.
Eijiro:
Not physically?
Wait what?
Katsuki:
I'll be at school tomorrow.
He cleared me for it
Eijiro:
He cleared you???
Who's 'he'
Are you okay?
Katsuki:
Yeah, for the most part.
I'll tell you tomorrow
I'm sorry again for the inconvenience
And not seeing your messages...
Eijiro:
I was super worried about you!
Katsuki:
I know
I'm sorry again
I'll explain everything tomorrow.
Eijiro:
You better
Everyone in class is freaking out about your absence.
Except Mr Aizawa
And Little Aizawa
I have no idea what to call him. It's still weird that they share a name
Katsuki:
You should call him Izuku
It'll be funny
Eijiro:
Knowing him...
He would bite my head off
I'll stick to calling him Aizawa, unless he says I can do otherwise
I'm slightly scared of him
Katsuki:
To be honest, that's fair.
Just don't call him little to his face
He will eat you alive
Eijiro:
Yeah…
Please never give me that image ever again.
He's in my nightmares.
I gotta go
Lunch is ending
I'll see you tomorrow!
I love you!
ᕙ(`▽´)ᕗ
Katsuki:
See you
I love you too
::Katsuki is Offline::
That was way easier than it sounded. He felt bad for putting it off so long. Katsuki was about to do a celebratory dance around his bedroom (still packed up, just in case), but then he remembered that he still had to actually talk about it tomorrow. He had to look Eijiro in his deep red eyes, and say "I have been lying to you". Ugh, why couldn't recovery be easy?
The house was empty, and quiet. But it wasn't an unpleasant sort of silence. It was neat, and safe. Like the noise that would usually fill the lived-in rooms was only absent because it had to be.
Katsuki had been home alone plenty of times in the last three days. When Izuku heads out with his friend Mei– Katsuki didn't know her, but by Izuku description of her, and his excitement on similar personalities had Katsuki shuddering– and Aizawa went out for "work". Katsuki was only half sure it was work, because Izuku was oddly giggly whenever he said he was heading out. Aizawa never paid it much heed, but Izuku was starting be be obnoxious about it, so Katsuki had asked what was up.
"He does actually have work, but a few months ago, he started going on more patrols with Present Mic. So I'm making a joke about this "work" actually being secret dates with his crush," Izuku had said, grinning like it was the most amusing thing in the world.
Katsuki gathered two things from that. One, Izuku was a maniacal little asshole. And Two, Aizawa was either gay, or Izuku liked saying he was. He didnt know which. Maybe it was both.
He talked to Aizawa, and he allowed him to bring Eijiro here, to better explain the situation. He had to tell him that they were dating, but he had no reaction to it. So at least, if he wasn't gay, he was okay with having a gay son.
Izuku was also over eager to share his home with Eijiro, and Katsuki made a mental note to not let him be around Eijiro if he was going to try anything. He wasn't sure whether or not his brother(?) would do so, but Katsuki learned quickly that he was better safe than sorry.
So he started planning how he was going to break all this to his boyfriend. There was the cut and dry explanation, where Katsuki just said it all at once, and shut it down. The lengthy way that Katsuki was quite sure he didn't want to take, where he explained slowly, let Eijiro ask questions, and build up the story as it progressed in real life. There was the simple, yet heart wrenching way, where he explained exactly what lies he told, and why, and coupled that with telling him about his mother.
He knew which one he would prefer, but Katsuki had an issue with saying he'll do one thing, and then not doing it.
He'll see how it goes.
The next day, he stood in front of the classroom, with his brother, and new dad(?) flanking him, protecting him, something Katsuki greatly appreciated.
He didn't know what was waiting for him on the other side. He had been absent for four days. Almost an entire school week. It was Friday, because of course. Why not? Just send him back on the last day. He thought he would be ready, but now, he wasn't so sure.
Aizawa, not usually one to wait, opened the door, and everyone instantly hushed. Katsuki felt like a dead man walking, with the way his classmates stared, and asked silent questions with their expressions alone.
He and Izuku, and Aizawa, were the last ones to enter. And they all entered at the same time. Which was strangely similar to how the Aizawa's revealed their relation. Katsuki wondered if they felt this nervous, and shuffled awkwardly to his seat. Eijiro, two rows back, and slightly out of Katsuki's line of sight, sent him a barely visible thumbs up, and a smile.
The class clearly knew better than to hound him with unpleasant questions, but maybe Katsuki would prefer that to the scrutinizing silence.
He took deep, supposedly calming breaths, in the hopes to drive off their eyes, but it didn't work, so he focused on ignoring them, instead.
The rest of the day followed in a similar fashion.
Classroom? Staring.
Training? Staring.
Eating? Staring. That one made Katsuki a little more uncomfortable.
Finally, at the end of the day, Izuku gave him a big hug, and told him 'that's how it feels', or something similar, and then comforted him.
Any second now, Eijiro would show up at his usual spot, and they would walk home. But you know, actually walking home this time. When that moment came, Katsuki prepared himself to tell his tale. His… pitiful… tortuous and problematical story of woe.
He sent a brief text to Aizawa, and told him not to wait up and just take Izuku home. He's walking. Hopefully the man would understand.
"Hey Kat," Eijiro smiled when he sat on the bench, angling slightly away from his own boyfriend. Maybe Katsuki was trying to preserve what little dignity he would have left after this gets out into the open, he didnt know.
"Hello," he greeted back, grimacing, "I owe you an explanation, right?"
"That would be nice, yes."
"I'll tell you as we walk. It's a longer trip now," Katsuki prompted, standing up, and offering Eijiro a hand.
"Because you lied about where you live?" Eijiro pointed out bluntly. He obviously wasn't happy about that. And, more or less, that was true.
They walked in silence for a moment, neither wanting to start any sort of conversation, in case it goes awry.
Eventually, though, Katsuki took a deep breath, "I hope this will make sense. So… I don't know, please bear with me here."
Eijiro nodded patiently, and took Katsuki's trembling hand. He didn't seem to mind how warm it must be.
"So… my mother. She's… Okay, that's hard to talk about. I'll start with the lie about my home. I was redirecting you away from where I actually lived because I was scared. I thought if you knew who I was related to, or if my mother found out, things would happen. She's… a touch homophobic."
Eijiro hung onto every word, and Katsuki could feel the hand around his own tighten.
"As you can see, that causes an issue. When I transferred to Mustafa Private, it wasn't because of my Quirk, like I told you. I transferred because she thought it was my old school that made me gay. It was actually because boys are really pretty, but she couldn't see that. She didn't like the man she married, so why should she care for the one I do?
"Well, I met you, and it was really only a matter of time until she found out. But I wanted to prolong that as much as possible, so I lied. At the time, this is actually where I lived."
Katsuki paused the explanation as they arrived at his old house. There was police tape surrounding it, and a few silhouettes inside, and Katsuki made no move to step closer.
Eijiro did, though, and marveled at the house that used to host Katsuki's worst nightmare.
He didn't like looking at it, he decided, and took a miniscule step back.
"I don't live here anymore. I just wanted to show you, so you know the whole story. The other day, I came into class with a big bruise on my jaw. That was the last day I lived here."
"Why did you leave?"
"Because of my mother. She gave me the bruise, and every other one before that," he said slowly, sadly. Eijiro's head snapped to look at him, with his eyes wide and shimmering with tears, "I knew from the beginning that what she was doing was child abuse, but I didn't care. She's famous. I couldn't ruin her life over something I could hide with makeup, or a flimsy, confident smile. Sometimes I wonder if she was aware that she was an abuser. But I don't know."
Eijiro took his hand back, and started guiding him away from the house, "Oh my god, Katsuki… are you okay now? Are you still living with her?"
"No," he answered, hearing Eijiro sigh in relief. If only he knew. Katsuki supposed he would soon, though, "It came to a head that day, four days ago. It all started when I left my phone at home, instead of taking it with me. Mother thought she should look through my stuff. See, I keep a little flag, and a picture of us underneath my phone case. So she found it. She, being the homophobe she is, did not like that."
Katsuki started walking in the direction of Aizawa's house, several blocks away. He hoped he had enough life-story to get there.
"Umm, long story short, of that, she attacked me. With a knife."
"Oh my god.."
"But before she actually got to hit me, I called Izuku. He was with Aizawa, since, you know, they're family. Aizawa showed up at my house before Mother actually got me with the knife, and he saved me. I fully believe that if I hadn't remembered I had Izuku's phone number, I would not be alive right now."
Eijiro was actually crying now. Katsuki couldn't blame him. It wasn't every day that one's boyfriend says he's a victim of child abuse, and an attempted murder.
"Anyways. Redirecting the conversation to where I'm currently staying, here it is."
Katsuki gestured to a house larger than their last stop. There were blossoming flowers, and swaying vines on the willow tree, and it looked strangely majestic. Eijiro looked to be admiring the home, and Katsuki walked along the path to the door, gesturing for Eijiro to follow him. He thought he heard muttering coming from his stunned, and worried boyfriend, but he didn't know what he was saying.
"So maybe I should reintroduce myself. My name is no longer Bakugou Katsuki. Or, well, it won't be once he actually adopts me, but this is me," he opened the door, and there they were. Izuku was lying on the floor, fiddling with gears and cardboard, with one of their three cats curled up in the small of his back, and Aizawa was in the kitchen. He had an apron that said 'Your Opinion Isn't In The Recipe', and was kneading some kind of dough.
But, when the door opened, and Katsuki announced their arrival, they looked up.
"Hey kid," Aizawa greeted, smiling at Katsuki, and nodding to Eijiro, "Kirishima."
"Hi Kacchan and Kacchan's boyfriend," Izuku said, preoccupied with whatever experimental weapon he was attempting to build.
Eijiro looked stunned, glancing from Katsuki, to Aizawa, to Izuku, and back.
"My name will be Aizawa Katsuki," he finally finished, "Please don't tell our classmates."
"I won't," he mumbled, pulling Katsuki into a warm hug, "I'm so sorry you went through all that and I had no idea! I'm glad you're happy! You are happy, right?"
Katsuki looked over his new home, his new family, and smiled at Eijiro, "Yeah, I am."
Shouta
If someone were to ask him, at literally any given moment before he brought Katsuki home, "Shouta, you had a dream to be a father. How many kids would you like?" He would say "just one is enough".
The gods know Izuku is a lot to handle, with his sass, and penchant for mischief, and the weapons he has a habit of building (No, Izuku, the answer is still no for the gun). He didn't think he'd need anyone else in the family to be happy. And then Katsuki came along.
The kid obviously went through a lot, considering his crystal clear distrust toward Shouta. He didn't like being in the kitchen if Shouta was holding a knife, which made him think that those threats were made regularly, and that made Shouta want to go on ahead and kill the bitch before her trial.
The open and shut trial that was taking place in two weeks time. During those two weeks, Tsu was going to have to deal with her attitude a great amount, and maybe he felt a little bad.
Just a little.
Maybe.
He would send him a gift card to the best cafe ever, just because he was working so hard on putting her behind bars. He was doing so much to help avoid making Katsuki go on trial, because the last thing that kid needed was to see the bitch again.
Yeah, if anyone asked that question a week ago, that would be Shouta's response.
Now, in the present, he would say…
"I would not let him go if the world was on fire."
The social workers hounded him for information, maybe trying to take him away, maybe not. Either way, his point was made. The glorious point that had Katsuki starry-eyed.
A quick meeting with Tsukauchi, and a formal introduction done by all of Shouta's friends gave Katsuki some much needed confidence. He's pretty sure Hizashi is just glad Katsuki isn't a hero-anti like Izuku.
His friends, Tensei, Hizashi, Nemuri, and Naomasa were eager to introduce themselves as aunts or uncles. Except for Hizashi. He just urged his kids to call him by his given name, Mic, or some other variation of those. Nemuri didn't seem to think it was an issue, so Shouta decided not to make a big deal of it.
"It's pretty cool to meet Aizawa 3.0, little dude," Tensei laughed. Katsuki, for his part, did not seem to enjoy being called that.
"Isn't Izuku the 3.0? I'm older than him," Katsuki defended.
"Yeah, that may be, but Izuku was here a whole year before you, so," Nemuri waved him off.
Katsuki didn't seem to mind, though.
Naomasa tried to start some kind of discussion about the Bakugou Debacle, but Shouta was quick to shut him down, "Look at him, over there. He's happy. Let's talk about it later."
Izuku was off somewhere. Shouta didn't know if he should worry about that. Tenya was looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
Katsuki seemed content to be surrounded by adults he could trust, even if he did stiffen when Nemuri got a little too close to the knife block. Shouta should sign him up for therapy. He wondered if that conversation would be as difficult to bring up with him as it was for Izuku.
"Hey, where's mini-you?" One of his friends asked him. He didn't know which.
"He's not a mini-me," Shouta sneered, "And he's probably in the attic."
"The fact that you just automatically knew who we were talking about says everything Sho-Sho," Nemuri purred, draping herself over the sofa.
"You found me," Izuku giggled maniacally, hanging by his knees on the ceiling fan.
"I think you found us, little menace," Shouta sighed, stepping over to give Izuku room to drop.
Nemuri looked a little perturbed by Izuku's wall climbing chaos habits, but Shouta lived with him. She didn't know anything about their life. Shouta loved Izuku very much, and Nemuri probably would never understand that. Izuku has a touch of issues, but nothing so bad he's scary.
He was just a little unconventional, but he and Katsuki got along so well, it was great. Two kids. That sounds just right.
He felt a mid-level weight on his back, and a warm sigh against his neck. He supposed he could carry Izuku around for a little bit.
Despite how little she knew of Shouta and Izuku, she was a great figure in the kid's life, and one of the only heroes that Izuku tolerated. Midnight = Kayama Nemuri = Good. All Might = Bad. Yamada Hizashi = Good, but Present Mic = Not The Best At All. Izuku showed him all the math. It checked out.
His favorite equation was Eraserhead = Aizawa Shouta = Good Hero = Best Dad. Maybe that was on his father's day card this year. Maybe it was enough to have Shouta tearing up. The world may never know.
Yes, Shouta had his answer to the previous question that no one really asked, but he's pretending someone cares. But, he mused, he didn't know what Izuku would say.
"Hey, Izuku? What is the ideal number of siblings, in your opinion?"
"As many as you're willing to adopt. If that's me and Kacchan, that's fine," Izuku hummed, propping his elbows on Shouta's back. It was enough to have him wincing in slight discomfort, "But, if you adopt, say… two other kids, after Kacchan, that would also be pretty cool. Why?"
"No reason. The question's been on my mind since you came to live with me, kid, that's all," Shouta replied. He felt his kiddo's weight slump against his back, and arms snake their way around his neck to make sure he doesn't fall. Not that Shouta would drop him.
Katsuki looked completely content, over there. He was talking to Tenya like they were equals. That's great. Izuku had long since accepted that he and Tenya were sort-of-but-not-quite cousins. Tenya had been quick to accept him, but sort of pulled back when Izuku fully came out of his shell. Tenya obviously liked him, but he wasn't one of the 'I can trust you with my secrets' cousins yet. Which was smart. One probably couldn't do that. Izuku would probably sell your secrets for pocket change. He likes to say he takes after Shouta in that department, which Shouta highly resented. He was an excellent secret keeper.
Katsuki, despite only having been settled in the house for a few days, took to the life of a pro-hero's kid like a fish to water. He and Izuku got along great, and Shouta thought it best to look the other way when he saw them planning some sort of mischief a few days back.
He took to it almost suspiciously well, and Shouta took the liberty of googling Bakugou Mitsuki, to see what must be going on.
Her name, however tainted, was well known. She (was) a fashion designer and model. But, further scrolling revealed that the world already knew what she had done, and Shouta was right to take Katsuki away, and out of the spotlight.
'Shocking turn of events! Popular model, and rising star of fashion Bakugou Mitsuki has been arrested for crimes related to the son no one knew she had, Bakugou Katsuki!'
'Fashion Industry Failure? Bakugou Mitsuki's arrest leaves the world speechless as they contemplate what's next!'
'New articles all over Japan are talking about the arrest of Bakugou Mitsuki with an enthusiasm they don't show for everything. Are the charges true? Did Bakugou actually commit all these heinous crimes? Does she deserve a second chance, to preserve her career?'
'Nationwide accusation of false charges following Bakugou Mitsuki's arrest! Was it staged? Is her son even real? The answer will shock you!'
'Does the recent controversy of Bakugou v. Japan hold a candle to the mysterious disappearance of Bakugou Masaru two years ago? Click here to debate similarities!'
It was all bullshit, in Shouta's opinion. Of course she deserved the charges. And no, of course she doesn't deserve a second chance! What kind of bullshit question is that? Just because someone's famous, doesn't mean they get a free pass.
Although… he should probably look into Bakugou Masaru. It's a terrible idea to ask Katsuki, but he does need to figure that out. He disappeared. But Shouta didn't know if he disappeared like he went poof, or if he was murdered. He kind of hoped for the former, but there was really no helping it.
He was pulled out of his reverie when Katsuki laughed. And he smiled. Izuku was right. Two is enough, but if there are more coming along, no one would oppose. At least, he wouldn't.
Katsuki
Mr Aizawa and his friends were weird. He's not complaining, Katsuki was weird too, but these people had whole different lives outside of heroism that Katsuki just never considered.
He had all day to contemplate that. All the time after they left for various patrols, or personal duties. He had all day in class, too. When his peers weren't staring at him with concern or apprehension, that is. And then he had the afternoon at home(?).
No one could blame him for not knowing why they stared. After all, the only thing he used his phone for nowadays was texting Izuku, Aizawa, or Eijiro, and even then they weren't super long conversations. Apparently, according to Ashido and Iida (he said to call him Tenya, because they would technically be cousins, but Katsuki didn't want to), there was some kind of media investigation of his family, which, in all honesty, was something he would like to avoid.
He was proud that he avoided the news stories thus far, and wondered how glorified his mother is in them.
'Following Bakugou Mitsuki's arrest, the nation is wondering… Where is young Katsuki? Where is he hiding? The population questions his whereabouts with unease.'
'Bakugou Katsuki, the son of former model Bakugou Mitsuki, has been reported missing by officials handling this unfortunate case.'
'Bakugou Mitsuki awaits trial! What will she say about these pedestal charges? Click here to find out!'
'Do you think Bakugou Mitsuki is innocent? Take this Quiz to find out!'
'Groups of Japan's population start an uprising! Witnesses say they are advocating for the release of Bakugou Mitsuki.'
'The Jury is in! The Japan v. Bakugou Mitsuki case is in full swing. The court announced the trial date to be June 3rd. Stay tuned.'
Wow. That was… a lot. Japan thought he was missing? That's strange. He thought the country knew he attended UA.
He was missing?
Was there a ransom?
Could he technically 'turn himself in' and collect it?
"No," Izuku sighed, like he was answering Katsuki's thoughts, "You don't have a ransom. People just really like drama."
"How do you know? That I don't have a ransom," Katsuki questioned. There were a great many mysteries when it came to Aizawa Izuku.
His new brother gave him a flat look, and Katsuki immediately knew he googled it or something. Now the question was… "Were you going to collect my bounty," he asked, a little offended.
Izuku was startled, like he was shocked. Katsuki instinctually checked the room for Kaminari. Of course, they were at home, so he obviously wasn't there.
"I don't see what the big deal is," Izuku breezed, "You were thinking about doing it yourself. I just took the initiative."
Katsuki supposed that was fair. He put his phone down, and sighed. He should probably talk to Aizawa about his disappearance. And also what he's supposed to call him now that calling him Mr Aizawa was getting awkward.
So, to avoid putting it off, he strolled out of his room, "Hey, Aizawa?"
"Yeah? That is it, Kid," Aizawa asked, not hesitating to look up from his papers.
"I'm legally missing?"
"Yes, that's an issue Tsu and I are working to resolve. Has it started to affect you?"
"No, not really," Katsuki dismissed, taking a seat in one of the chairs near Aizawa, "I was just wondering."
"Just wondering, huh," Aizawa huffed, peering at Katsuki with eyes that seemed to read his soul, "There's something else, right?"
"How'd you know," Katsuki asked. That's a pretty cool skill to have.
"Call it intuition," Aizawa replied, "I've dealt with Izuku's issues for a while, and he has a habit of not telling me the full story."
Ah. That made sense. Izuku didn't seem like the type to make things easy for people.
"Well, two things, I guess," Katsuki started, watching Aizawa push the papers away, and give him his full attention. Katsuki appreciated that, "My dad. He left, but when he did, he said he would be back. I guess I'm worried that he'll come and take me."
He watched Aizawa's face fall, and he winced. He did not want to have this conversation.
"Well, I can promise that he won't do anything. Tsu and I handled it," Aizawa reassured him, "He agreed to leave you alone. On paper. Essentially, he gave you up to foster care following your mother's arrest, and I am now legally your guardian. I can't say I was for a single moment before that, and what I did is technically considered kidnapping. But Tsu looked the other way because A, he knows and trusts me, and B, it's a sensitive situation and I promise you would be worse off if you spent even a moment in foster care. You're stuck with us, kid."
That… made Katsuki feel tons better. Well, some of it. Hearing that your birth dad abandoned you on a legal document felt like a kick to his heart, but he could handle it. He always would.
"Well, that brings up my next topic," Katsuki cringed. This topic was one he wanted to avoid, also. It wasn't as bad as the others, and was, dare he say it, positive, but it felt like such an awkward thing to ask.
"Shoot, kid. I'm all ears."
"What… uh.. What do I–" Katsuki hadn't stuttered this much since elementary school. Huh, "What do I call you?"
That stunned him, Katsuki noticed. He looked completely shell-shocked.
"...what?"
"It's just that calling you Sensei, or Mr Aizawa, or something in your own home gets a little awkward. I feel like I shouldn't do that. So what should I call you?"
Katsuki trailed off, hoping for Aizawa to continue the conversation without Katsuki's voice getting in the way. He didn't, and Katsuki was about to question whether or not he was going to answer it at all, Izuku dropped from the ceiling fan. Katsuki wondered how strong that thing was, and how often Aizawa had to replace it.
"You should call him dad," Izuku casually slurped on a juice box, "It might make him cry, and I'm trying to collect his tears."
"...why?"
Izuku stared at him intensely for a long, agonizing second, before he took the little plastic straw out of his mouth and said, "No reason."
Katsuki felt, in that moment, that he was right to be afraid of him.
Aizawa, ever aware, snapped out of his dad-trance, and scolded Izuku for interrupting them, "Izuku, it's rude to barge in."
"Maybe don't have your private conversations in my house, then," he justified, throwing his empty box into the garbage can several meters away. Katsuki heard a little whisper of 'first try', but decided to focus on the issue at hand.
"So, what am I supposed to call you? If you want me to continue just calling you Aizawa, that's fine, but I thought I'd ask."
"Were you listening to me?"
"Frankly, no," Katsuki admitted.
"Fair enough. Caio," Izuku shrugged, pattering down the hallway, and into his bedroom.
"Izuku's right, Katsuki. You can call me whatever you'd like, as long as they are masculine terms," Aizawa told him, looking right at him as if that would improve his focus on what he was saying. Magically, it did, "Seriously, whatever term you'd like to use. Whatever you're comfortable with. And as long as it's still Mr Aizawa in school, because I'm pretty sure enough you'll get in trouble otherwise."
"Izuku doesn't call you that," he pointed out.
"Izuku doesn't do a lot of things, even though he should," he countered, "was that all you needed?"
"Yeah. Thanks dad."
As he walked away, he saw him stiffen in surprise, and his breathing hitch. Izuku was right. It did make him cry.
Shouta
"How long will it take," Shouta demanded upon his arrival in Tsu's office.
"How long will what take, E," he sighed, not lifting his head to look at Shouta.
"How long will it take for this adoption to go through," he clarified, feeling worked up by what happened earlier in the day, "he called me dad today!"
He sighed again, and looked up. Wow. He looked exhausted. "That's great, I'm so happy for you," he said, monotonous.
Shouta fiddled with his pockets for a second longer than necessary, and flipped the gift like a coin. Tsu's eyes tracked it with wariness, and flinched when Shouta launched it at him, "Gift card for that book cafe you like," he said while his friend examined it. His eyes widened in realization, and the face he made at Shouta had him laughing.
"It's not that big a deal. I figured you deserved it with everything you're going through right now," he gestured to Bakugou, glaring at the two of them from behind her cell gates. When she opened her mouth, no sound came out. Odd. She yelled at them from behind the bars, screaming obscenities at them. Shouta didn't even want to think about what see was saying.
"Shizukana came back from vacation today. Sweet, sweet silence, E. I have never been more thankful for that lovely woman."
"What did she do?"
"Her Quirk is called 'Soundproofing'. She makes an area of at most fifteen meters completely soundproof," he sighed in obvious relief, "Best of all, the person inside the bubble can still hear themself, so with best luck, Ms Bakugou assumes I just got really good at ignoring her all of a sudden."
"That's glorious. I'm happy for you," he said honestly. That actually might be one of the most vindictive things they could legally do to her for now, so it felt good to have that victory.
"How're the kids?"
"Izuku is still a little menace, but did you really expect otherwise?" Tsu shook his head no, "And Katsuki called me dad for the first time. Which is why I'm here."
"To gloat?"
"No," Shouta sighed, "I'm here to ask how long you think the trial and adoption will take?"
"I don't know the exact date, but I have an idea for a surprise for Katsuki, if you're up for it," he started. Say what you want about this detective. He was known to his friends as the life of the party. The one who would suggest all those crazy things you thought about doing because it looked fun. The one to raise the roof at events. As long as he did so legally.
"I'm listening," Shouta replied. Surely this will be interesting.
"I'll bet the paperwork will go through in… say, a month. But we tell him it'll be two," he said conspiratorially, like this was a heist, "So when the adoption goes through, when it does, you can hold some kind of party. If he likes parties. I don't know what kids like."
"Don't you have a little sister?"
"Yes, but when she was Katsuki's age, I was in my late twenties, and having a time and a half with my job. Besides, as far as I'm aware, all kids are different, and Katsuki has trauma. Makoto doesn't. Probably." Tsukauchi said, defending his stance on the subject.
"So, moving on, you want me to, what, lie to my son?"
"Not lie," he corrected, "Misinform."
"To 'misinform' intentionally is like, the definition of lying," Shouta pointed out.
"If you don't want to do this, literally just say that."
"No, I'm in," Shouta affirmed, excited, "Sounds like fun."
"Great. Do you want the others in on it? And do you want to tell Izuku?"
Shouta gave him a flat look, followed by his eyebrow raising,"Izuku would sell you to Satan for a corn chip. You think he won't tell Katsuki just for drama?"
"Fair enough," Tsukauchi replied, like it was new information that Izuku would intentionally be obnoxious, just because he could, "Nem, Hizashi, and Tensei?"
"Uhh… I suppose. It depends on whether or not Katsuki cares for house guests, because I really just want to make that day as special as possible."
Shouta didn't know a whole lot about Katsuki, but he supposed bonding time was in their direct future. He began planning this cute little reveal, thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong. Maybe he should buy dinner, and a new movie? He knew cooking is out of the question, because knives and all that. Shouta, a professional overthinker, started thinking about Katsuki's birthday as well. The court date was the 3rd of June. That's in two weeks. Katsuki's birthday was back in April, and Shouta may or may not have started planning a surprise (late) birthday party. He could use that as an excuse to plan a party, and surprise Katsuki with the adoption.
Surprising Katsuki was a feat in and of itself. The kid was incredibly perceptive, and Shouta didn't know if that was because he was naturally vigilant, or if it was a habit he picked up from his old house. He always planned everything. He made sure he knew what to expect. That's why he was caught off guard so often. Things just don't go the way he thought they would. Shouta didn't let himself feel so bad that he wasn't what he expected, because in most cases that was a good thing. At least he's so open about making sure Shouts knew that he appreciated all those little things that Shouta never considered. He and Izuku both pointed out little things Shouta did to support or accept them, but they were second nature to him. It felt right to do those things. He never considered that something so insignificant in Shouta's eyes meant so much to those kids.
He never did those things because he thought he had to, or because he thought the kids needed an extra eye (they do, but not that way). He wondered if they thought he did.
Back to planning, he needed to figure this all out. Depending on when the adoption goes through, Shouta could be looking at anything from two weeks to two months on the paperwork, and Shouta really wanted to give him the actual documents, not just a promise that it'll happen very soon.
At least he could plan everything in advance, and make sure everything goes smoothly up until that point.
He didn't have to worry about Izuku's birthday, because that wasn't until mid to late July. School events and planning always got in the way, so he was determined to have them go exactly as planned.
Starting with….
"The Unforeseen Simulations Joint, or USJ," Thirteen proudly explained. This was their project, their entire UA lifeline. Shout could tell how much work they put into construction of the nine different domes. The building itself, the entrance, the central plaza, and the six different disaster zones circling it.
He could tell the kids were excited. He only has nineteen students with him today. The absentee? His son, Aizawa Izuku. The kid was in the class for the spite, but did not want to spend all day, quote "getting sweaty and bruised doing stupid circus tricks for spare peanuts", and "why would I spend my time participating in the clown act when I can blow things up". Which is why he was with the support course students, and his best friend, Hatsume Mei.
Izuku and Maijima got along fine, both being harbingers of chaos and misery, so Shouta wasn't worried about leaving Izuku with him.
Katsuki woke up with a tiny cough, but he wasn't worried about it, and went to school anyway.
Shouta very much wished he stayed home. What he wouldn't give to have any of those kids safe at home instead of right here right now.
The swirling purple mist in the very center of the USJ clashed strongly with the fun little peace of the building. The same peace that was quickly dying.
Shouta immediately jumped into the fray, taking out villains, as many as he could. There's only so much a single hero could do, but he could not let those kids know how terrified he was. They were off guard. They were ambushed.
Thirteen was up there, corralling his kids, and keeping them safe.
God, he wished All Might wasn't so flaky. So unreliable. Shouta wanted to punch him too. He wasn't at fault for this, but Shouta's fear of one of his kids or his colleague or himself dying stemmed directly from All Might's glaringly obvious absence.
He was getting tired. He already took out something close to ninety of the two hundred henchmen, and he was starting to get sluggish. He was glad these thugs were all second rate, two bit criminals, instead of big shots with crusty over there. A terrifying thought creeped into the back of his mind, when he realized that the pale, lean villain standing off kilter on the ground near the fountain was the only one there. Where is the mist?
He saw movement out of the corner of his eye, in the lake. He saw Asui, and Shinsou clamber onto the ship, and he froze. Why were they over there?!
A split seconds hesitation could mean the end. He knew that. But he wasn't prepared, and that may have just cost him his own, or someone else's life. He felt his flesh peel away from his elbow, and the wound burned. That was incredibly painful, what is that?!
His arm, now useless, was limp at his sighed and he panted with exhaustion. He saw the mist return, but he was not happy with it. Asui and Shinsou in the water meant his kids were scattered.
Regardless of his useless arm, he had to keep going, he wrapped his scarf around a villain, and he watched them go down. The villain, the boss, Shouta thinks, was saying something, but Shouta didn't know what. All he knew was that there was a large shadow looming over him, and he felt agonizing fear before it attacked.
There he was, the creature sitting atop his back. It snapped both of his arms, slamming his face into the concrete with enough force to knock him out. But it didn't. He persisted. He had to keep these kids safe. He had to stay alive. He had two kids at home, and they both relied on him. He could not, would not, die here. He was in unimaginable pain, but maybe he was grateful. If he wasn't in pain, he was dead.
He heard Shigaraki Tomura speed somewhere else, and he distantly heard the splash of water. Water? Where was the water? There was a water zone. His students were in it. No. Nonono. It took all of his might, but he lifted his head, and erased that fucker's Quirk. Asui would die if he didn't.
His students did not look happy with his state, but, well, he wasn't either. He had to get out of here.
A huge weight got off of him. Oh no. Where was the creature going now?! He had to– he had to stop it. He couldn't breathe.
He heard a crash, something exploding. Katsuki. Another, louder crash, and someone started cheering.
"All Might!" They screamed excitedly. All Might was here? No, he had the time limit. His class was going to die. He was going to die. No…
He had to get them out of here. He couldn't…. He couldn't get up.
How was he going to protect them?
He passed out.
Izuku
He had been in the teacher's lounge with Hizashi when he got the news. The USJ had been attacked. Tenya came barging in, out of breath, tears shining in his eyes, and he delivered the news that a class trip was ambushed.
The same trip that his dad and brother were on.
He wasn't allowed to go. Hizashi wiped his tears when they fell, and gave him a hug, "I'm going to make sure they're okay. Stay here, okay? Stay safe."
And then he was alone. No teachers. His dad wasn't here. He was being attacked. His brother was being attacked. What if they were dead?
Izuku just got a family. He can't lose them. He couldn't even wait with Recovery Girl, because she went too. Tsukauchi was supposed to go. Police, heroes, doctors, everyone but Izuku was there, and he wasn't allowed to go. Even Nezu was going! He knew his dad wouldn't want him to go, but frankly he didn't give a shit about what he wanted right now. What if his dad was dying? Izuku wanted to be there. What if that was the last place he ever lived in? Izuku wanted to be there. What if that was where Aizawa Shouta took his last breath, and Izuku wasn't there to say goodbye?
What if he died?
What if Katsuki died?
What if his classmates and acquaintances all died?
What if there was no one left?
He felt like he was alone for a long time. It felt like forever. Eventually Hizashi came. He was fine. No scratches, no injuries. He volunteered to come back and get Izuku.
He announced to the school that they were free to go home. Then he got Izuku buckled in his car, and they wordlessly sped to the hospital. Well, almost wordless.
"Is he okay," Izuku asked, choking on his tears.
Hizashi seemed to immediately know who 'he' was. Which he was glad for. He didn't want to talk any more than necessary.
"He's alive."
"That's not a yes," Izuku snapped, "Is he okay?"
"Izuku they're doing their best. I'm not a doctor. Last I saw, he was alive, and the doctors had hope."
Looks like Hizashi was also distraught. Izuku didn't doubt that. His best friend was at risk of dying in the incredibly near future. Izuku didn't question him further. Every so often, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hizashi's grip on the steering wheel tighten, and they sped up just over the speed limit. Then they would slow down a little, and he would hear a sad, slow, almost silent deep breath. He bets they were supposed to be calming, but it didn't seem to be working.
Upon their arrival at the hospital, very few students were admitted. Most of them were just incredibly exhausted. Katsuki was nowhere to be found. Maybe he was one of the few in the beds. Maybe he was with their dad.
Izuku wanted to find him before he went in there. He didn't think he was ready to go in alone.
Hizashi gestured for Izuku to go in, but when he looked in, Katsuki was not there. He shook his head.
"Izuku, I think your dad would have liked you to visit him," Hizashi prompted, his voice uncharacteristically downtrodden and raspy.
He twitched. 'Would have liked'? It sounded like he was already dead. He shook his head again.
Then Hizashi nodded, and walked in without him. He had to find his brother.
A quick headcount revealed six students missing. Koda, Kaminari, Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, Aoyama, and Katsuki.
"Little Aizawa," he heard someone say, "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think he's doing here, Hagakure? His dad's in the hospital!"
"Poor kid. He must be so sad."
"Why isn't he in Mr Aizawa's room?"
"Do you think he's scared?"
"He just looks numb."
"Little Aizawa—"
"Izuku," he heard a very distinct voice call to him, putting their hands over his ears. He didn't realize how much that would help. It was Lavender. Hitoshi. It was relief in the form of a person, "Come with me."
He walked with Izuku, after he put lightweight headphones on his ears. The lack of noise, and everything hitting him was making him cry.
Hitoshi led him up several flights of stairs, and up to the roof access door.
"Your brother is out there. I figured that's who you were looking for."
"I didn't tell you…"
"You didn't need to. It's plain as day. Go talk to him. You need each other," Hitoshi soothed, giving him a gentle hug.
"Your headphones?"
"Keep them. You need them more than I do. I'll see you later, Izuku," he walked away, and left Izuku to talk to Katsuki.
Sure enough, he was out there. He was sobbing, shouting silently, if that made sense.
"Hey, Kacchan," Izuku sighed, taking a seat next to his brother, "how are you doing after all that?"
"Izuku, what if he dies?"
And there was the dreaded question. Izuku didn't know. He supposed they be sent to foster care, stuck together until some kind family decided to take pity on one of them and separate the two of them. Because of their enrollment at UA, they'd see each other every school day until they graduate, but that's only if the fosters are okay with them staying in that school. Some people hate heroes even more than Izuku did. He supposed they'd have a chance of being together for the rest of their time as teenagers, and lose touch when Kacchan becomes a hero. Perhaps some other hero would take their dad's place. But it wouldn't be the same. But he didn't say any of that. That's not what Kacchan needs right now.
"I don't know," is what he said instead. It was a lie, but he didn't have another option.
"I don't want him to die."
"No one does. Do you want to go see him?"
"No. That makes it real. If I stay up here, I can pretend I'm just being dramatic, and making a mountain out of a molehill. If I leave, I have to see all of our classmates with their injuries, and I get to see dad in a coma."
That was… fair. Izuku couldn't lie, "Hizashi is waiting for us. I know this is hard, but I'm sure dad would like us to be there."
"I'm not ready yet. Can we wait just a few more minutes?"
"Of course."
It took another ten and a half minutes, but Katsuki finally stood up, and held a helping hand out to Izuku. Together, they walked back down all those stairs, and into the room with their dad attached to a heart monitor. He was in a coma.
"The doctors came by a few minutes ago," Hizashi said quietly, on the other side of the bed, "they said he's stable, but they don't know when he'll wake up. He lost a lot of blood. I'm sorry kids."
Izuku choked on his sorrow. He could handle this. He had to get through this, for Katsuki. He just joined the family, and now they were at risk of losing their guardian, and dad.
Izuku didn't consider it before, but surely Hizashi would take them if their dad died. Maybe.
Hopefully.
Hopefully, their dad wouldn't pass, and they would have nothing to worry about. But Izuku couldn't help but think the worst.
Two hours after they came and joined Hizashi in the hospital room, there was a knock on the door.
Hizashi, asleep, and Katsuki scared, Izuku went to answer it. His eyes darkened with malice when he laid eyes on who was on the other side.
"May I come in to see Aizawa," All Might asked sadly. Izuku had no tolerance for him right now, so he shook his head. "Please, child. I would like to make sure he's alright."
"He's in a coma. He lost a lot of blood. That's how alright he is, you asshole," Izuku sneered, "How hurt did you get, huh? Any fatal injuries that I can celebrate?"
"Young man, that is not very polite! I was simply asking to make sure he would be alright in the future!"
"We don't know if he will be," Izuku replied, glaring at All Might with all of his might, "let's step outside."
He clicked the door shut behind him, hoping to avoid disturbing his family.
"May I have a list of his injuries?"
"Why?"
"I was late to the lesson. I would like to know what injuries he had, to study the villain that did this," he said, like that justified the question.
"You… were late to the lesson? To the ambush? To the attack that nearly killed my dad, and left him in a coma?"
Izuku was… angry. That wasn't a new feeling in fact, it was quite common for Izuku to feel that way. Especially when it came to All Might.
"Yes, I would say I was a little over half an hour late," he said airly, like it was no big deal, "By the time I arrived, Aizawa had already taken several hits. He must have been nearing unconsciousness."
"So, if you had been on time, my father would not be injured? Or at least, not to the extent where his two sons are worried he'll die?"
All Might looked at him confusedly. Izuku thought, not for the first time, that All Might was an idiot. A cruel, stupid, emotionless idiot.
"Yes, I believe so," he agreed.
Izuku felt a rage bubble in his chest. He didn't like this man before. Now, it was worse. This man not only crushed his dreams, but he admitted to being the problem, and a main catalyst to his dad's status.
"You stupid! Stupid! Poor excuse for a hero! My dad almost died! It's all your fault!" Izuku screeched. He was hitting All Might over and over, in the chest, anywhere he could reach.
"He might never… he might die. Because of you! Why were you late?! I was at the school, I was safe, but You weren't there! That's your entire thing! My dad might not wake up because you weren't where you were supposed to be! It's all your fault, and I hate you!"
Izuku continued to hit and fight him until he drew the attention of everyone in the halls. Katsuki, and the rest of his classmates, some pedestrians, and a few off-duty heroes saw him trying to fight against this really tall blond man, but Izuku didn't care. This man almost tore his family apart, and Izuku would never forgive him.
"Izuku," Hizashi shouted, trying to pull him away from All Might. The force of Izuku's pure rage kept him from succeeding, "Izuku, calm down! Get off him!"
"No! Dad might die because of him! I won't stop! I want to hurt him!" Izuku screamed, sobbing.
"Your dad is fine! Get off of him," Hizashi soothed, but it didn't work. Izuku broke away from his embrace, and glared at All Might.
Then, he turned and sprinted down the hallway, and away from his family and friends, and the nurses shouting for him to stop running.
He ran.
And he ran.
For a while, he thought he was lost, but lost faded into familiar streets, and he ran all the way home. His lock wasn't sufficient. He needed somewhere no one would look for him.
There's only one place in the world like that. Only one place that everyone knows not to disturb. His clubhouse.
There he sat, in the corner of the Aizawa residences attic, wailing for his dad. And there he sat for hours and hours. It felt like it was all night. Then he heard the front door click shut, and a familiar voice called out to him.
It was…
Hitoshi.
Hitoshi
Shinsou Hitoshi, Aizawa Izuku's best friend, hero course student with a brainwashing Quirk, member of Class 1-A, and, according to his friends, super charming, did not know what to do. Izuku's brother, Katsuki, had told him that Izuku stormed out of the hospital after he had a meltdown and attacked All Might. Present Mic said they should leave him be. He needed time.
Hitoshi begged to differ. When his dad passed away in a villain attack a few years ago, his mum 'gave him time', and that was exactly what he didn't need. Katsuki agreed. The kid wasn't sure he wanted to leave his dad's side, just in case, so he was given a key to their house to go check on him. (Katsuki checked the 'stalker' app on his phone, and confirmed that Izuku was, in fact, at home).
Hitoshi walked along the streets as quickly as possible, while also conserving energy. It must have taken hours to actually navigate these streets, regardless of the Aizawa's address punched into his phone, and the semi-constant directions said in a monotone voice with a fake American accent.
Eventually, though, Hitoshi reached a house with a majestic front lawn. The swaying willow gave off vibes of toned magic, despite the sad energy the property gave off, with Hitoshi's knowledge of Mr Aizawa's current condition.
He let himself in, knowing that no one would answer if he knocked, and called into the house, "Izuku?"
No answer. Hitoshi didn't really expect anything different, but it would have been nice if this interaction was cut and dry.
He checked every room. Izuku's had a lock on it, but the door was wide open. The bathroom, storage, and utility closet were all void of Izuku as well. Katsuki's room was almost distressingly empty. Also Izuku-less.
For a brief, sad moment, Hitoshi may have thought that he would be in Aizawa's room. It felt the most like a place Izuku would go if he wanted to be close to his dad, but not next to him.
But he wasn't there.
"Izuku?" He called again, hoping for some kind of answer. He checked the cabinets, under the table, under the couch, in the backyard, and everywhere else he could think to check.
"Izuku," he shouted through the house. He could have sworn it echoed.
It was a beautiful home. The front yard had a willow tree, and a rose garden that Hitoshi admired. In the backyard, there was a large oak tree, with a tire swing that looked a little too homemade to be safe. The grass was green, and the siding on the house was a rustic brown colour. If Hitoshi didn't know any better, he'd say it was a family home. Maybe it was.
When he counted the rooms (looking for Izuku), on the first floor there were two bedrooms, a bathroom, a closet, the second floor had another two bedrooms, another bathroom, two closets, but one looked more like another bedroom considering how large it was.
He heard a slight shuffling in the ceiling, and Hitoshi made the connection that there was somewhere else he entirely forgot to look. Katsuki talked about a 'secret clubhouse' that Izuku spent a lot of time in. He looked all over the hallways for the ladder, or stairs.
There was a trapdoor, and a ladder in Izuku's room. Hitoshi pulled it open, and shimmied into the 'attic'. It looked more like the roof space was intentionally closed off from use, but Izuku got in anyway. There were empty boxes, and a grubby window that overlooked the front lawn, and another on the opposite end that reflected the back. He felt like he was intruding on this personal space.
There was a workshop of sorts in the far corner, and Hitoshi spotted various projects. But, of all the very Izuku-like things he saw, he did not see Izuku himself.
"Go away," he heard Izuku's tearful voice command. It echoed, and Hitoshi wasn't sure where it came from.
"I'm here to check up on you, Izuku. Your brother sent me," he soothed. He hoped Ashido was right, and his voice was calming.
"I'm fine," he sniffled in response. Hitoshi didn't believe that for a second.
He started looking for Izuku, rummaging through some of the larger boxes, and under the furniture, "Okay, then. Can we talk?"
"Go away," Izuku repeated. Hitoshi was getting closer.
"I just want to make sure you're alright."
"I said I'm fine! Please go away," there he was. Hitoshi moved a somewhat heavy box off the the side, and he found Izuku curled up with his knees to his chest on a makeshift futon, and a pile of blankets. It looked like a bed.
"Can I sit down?" He asked politely, ignoring Izuku's request for his departure, "Just for a little bit?"
Izuku looked up at him skeptically, but Hitoshi supposed he didn't see any hint of interrogation, and gestured for him to sit, "I guess,"
"Thank you," Hitoshi said politely, sitting right next to Izuku. He made no move to initiate physical contact. Izuku, however, did, and leaned into his side.
"Why do heroes get to hurt people," he asked sadly, still crying, "Why do they get to hurt people, and I get punished if I fight back?"
Hitoshi had to think for a moment on how to word that, "I think the world got too used to having heroes that they forgot what they're really for. You've been hurt by heroes before, then?"
"So much. They failed me over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again," Izuku cried, "They never care about what they ruin for people. It's all for fame, now. It's not fair."
"No," Hitoshi agreed, "It's not…"
"Have you ever been hurt by the heroes," Izuku asked quietly, like he didn't want to speak anymore.
"Yeah, a few times," Hitoshi sighed, "My dad passed away in a villain attack a couple years ago. Endeavor didn't save him."
"The Mustutafu Bank bombing?"
"Yeah," he cringed, "why?"
"That's where my mum died…"
Oh. Oh wow. Looks like they share a bit of trauma. That's a terrible thing to share. He freed his arm, and pulled Izuku into a side-embrace. He felt Izuku's arms wrap around his mid-rim. They were comforting each other?
Huh.
Hitoshi got plenty of love from his moms, but he supposed he hadn't gotten quite enough comfort and closure, and being near and close to someone who had gone through the exact same thing helped a little.
Eventually, tears built in Hitoshi's eyes as well, and they restarted with Izuku, and they cried together, arms holding the two of them close.
Maybe ten minutes later, Hitoshi felt Izuku's breathing even out, and his tears slowed as he fell asleep.
Soon after that, the effects of what happened that morning caught up to him, and the exhaustion creeped up on him, and he fell asleep as well.
It didn't feel like very long, but eventually his ring tone woke him up. It was obnoxious, and loud, and Hitoshi worried that it was going to startle Izuku, and ruin his sleep.
Little did he know, right then…
"My dad's awake!" Katsuki exclaimed excitedly, "I called Izuku, but he didn't pick up. Is he okay?"
"He's with me. He fell asleep," he informed him, smiling. Izuku was so cute, "That's great news! We're on our way to see you guys."
Katsuki thanked him absently, and hung up.
That was great news! He's sure Izuku would be happy. Now the dilemma. Wake Izuku, and inform him of the update, or let him sleep. Both had benefits. On one hand, Izuku probably really missed his dad, and keeping him from knowing that he's alive and well could have drastic consequences. But on the other hand, he had a really long day, and needed his rest. Never mind the fact that he was super cute curled up on those blankets, dead to the world, and snoring softly.
Not the time.
He reached over and shook Izuku. Like it was even a question on what he should do. It took a little work, but he shook Izuku awake, and watched him rub at his eyes sleepily. His heart may have skipped a beat when he mumbled his name in that sleep-heavy voice, but he ignored it in favor of the good news, "You're dad's awake," he cheered, smiling pleasant at Izuku.
"...What?" Izuku sounded so hopeful, but also so scared. Like he was scared of Hitoshi being wrong. He was scared that it was all a dream. He was just… scared.
"Yeah! He woke up, and he's asking for you," Hitoshi laughed, pulling Izuku into a hug, "let's go see him."
"...Okay!"
It took way less time to walk from the house back to the hospital, Hitoshi noted. Maybe it was because Izuku knew the way back. Maybe it was because of the lighter feeling in his chest.
Upon their arrival back at the hospital room, Izuku glanced around warily for All Might. Of course, he wasn't there. No one but close friends and family were allowed in the room, and Hitoshi hesitated at the door. Was he allowed to come in?
Izuku pulled him in anyways. It felt nice to be included, and see Izuku so excited, and see Aizawa up in bed, and smiling.
Izuku rushed to give him a hug, and Katsuki leaned in too. Present Mic hung back, smiling, and crying a little. Well, crying a lot, and trying to hide it, so Hitoshi gave him the benefit of the doubt.
"Thanks, kid," he whispered to Hitoshi while they both watched the Aizawas embrace.
"No problem," he replied. It was good enough to just see this reunion happen.
"We're going to be okay," he heard Aizawa whisper to his kids. Then he looked up at Present Mic, and Hitoshi, and smiled at them too.