Chapter Text
Aizawa lets out a low growl as he fumbles with his alarm clock, knocking the alarm off. He rolls up out of bed, dragging his hands down his face. Dragging the skin down around his eyes as he does. The smell of pancakes filing in through the flat, making his stomach rumble. His amazing husband is already making breakfast it seems. He shuffles out of their bedroom, it was simple, a dresser, a wardrobe, a bed, two boxes for bedsides tables, one with a lamp on and one with an alarm clock on. He rubs his messy black hair as he stretches his arms above his head, yawning. Making his way through the tiny apartment space, the grubby carpet under his feet as he walks by the twin desks in the corner, files stacked on top for case work. Matching computers sit there, the second most expensive things they own... the most expensive thing would be the mattress Aizawa had insisted on it... sue him he likes a comfortable sleep after a night of heroing. He looks over the suitcases with the small TV balanced on top, the cheap sofa that also makes for good naps, which their cat, Twinkie, likes to use as his bed. There's also a cheap plastic chair aimed at the TV and the beat to shit second hand Z-Box series UV-9 sits nearby... the expensive thing Mic insisted on... give and take and all that. He walks by to their small kitchen with cheap appliances and wraps his body around Zashi how smiles softly at him as Zashi pushes back into him, flipping pancakes.
“Hmmmm Sho. You’re up early.” He says, going in for an early morning kiss, turning his back to the stove. Aizawa hums and pulls him in close, reciprocating the kiss. Zashi turns them both around and makes Aizawa sit on the counters behind them. Avoiding the sink on the next one over. Aizawa wraps his legs around Zashi as he peppers kisses down his neck, Aizawa rolling his head back to expose more. Each kiss making him more and more sensitive as he pulls Zashi in closer and closer. Trying to get him as close as he can, his fingers trailing up Zashi's chest under his shirt. Desperate little pants escaping his lips as Zashi pulls him in closer.
"Z-Zashi you're gonna burn the-" Aizawa's sentence cuts off in a small moan as Zashi kisses the most sensitive spot on his neck, sucking at it. Probably causing a hickey that'll have to cover. Hizashi kicks the cooker off with his foot, meaning they have as much time as they need or want to do whatever they want. Zashi takes Aizawa's shirt off. Aizawa does the same to him, both of them throwing the shirts to the ground. Hungry for each other. Naked chest grinding against each other as Zashi picks him up, Aizawa wrapping his legs around Zashi's waist, peppering his own kisses on his husbands exposed skin. Aizawa feels a genuine smile cross his face as Zashi takes him back into the room he just vacated before being tossed onto the bed and pinned there.
Yea, that expensive mattress was worth it.
Aizawa rolls off and lies back on his mattress, right next to his also naked husband, breathing heavily a small chuckle on his lips. Aizawa turns to his husband and starts running his fingers through his hair. He loves how silky it feels.
"Hmmmm," Zashi says, rolling onto his side and propping his head up on his hand, "as fun as this was you never said why you were up so early." Zashi says, a soft smirk on his face. Aizawa pouts slightly and sighs, not wanting to run the high he's on right now. But it has to happen eventually.
“Got a package to pick up this morning.” Aizawa says, holding his amazing husband closer. Hiding the guilty look on his face at the same time.
“Who’s sending you gifts?” Zashi asks, curiosity in his tone. Aizawa stiffens, his whole body tenses at the seemingly simple question. But this question has layers... lots and lots of layers.
“My… my sister.” Aizawa says, holding Zashi as close as he can.
“You’re fucking what?” Zashi whispers, his voice taking on a horrified tone. Aizawa sighs, yea valid reaction.
“My sister. She’s sending me something for graduation.” Aizawa says, blushing slightly.
“… Sho we graduated a year ago.” Zashi says, blinking as he sits up. Aizawa lets out a small groan and shuffles closer to him, wrapping his body around him. Resting his head on his shoulder.
“I know but she’s extending an olive branch. Who am I to deny her that…” Aizawa says, trailing off. Zashi pauses, his body tensing as he takes a breath in. Aizawa tenses right back and leans back, resting his upper body on the backs of his legs.
“Wait was this the same sister who cut contact with you for-"
“Yes.” Aizawa says, knowing how that sentence ends, he doesn't want to hear it again. He can't hear it again, he takes a shaky breath and gives him a shaky smile.
“And you're taking her olive branch because?” Zashi asks, rising an eyebrow at Aizawa who lets out a small sigh.
“Because I miss her… as stupid as that sounds..." Aizawa says with a small huff, "we were close once upon a time..." Aizawa says, a soft smile on his face. They used to make forts out of blankets in their room, telling stories until the wee hours of the morning, whispering to each other about their future... what they would do when they're older... how they'll save people.
"And then she-"
"I know what she did Zashi." Aizawa says, curling into a ball a little bit. Closing himself down to the memories, she's changed. She has to have changed, that's why she reached out... right? "Ya know she got married a few years back and I missed the wedding Zashi… and she missed ours and well… I um... I want to at least try." Aizawa says, shuffling up next to Zashi and resting on his shoulder.
“Sho, you don’t have too.” Zashi says, taking his hand.
“I know. But I want too.” Aizawa says, he wants to go back to pillow forts and late night stories... as childish at that seems...
“Okay, as long as you want too. What time are you picking this package up?” Zashi asks, resting his head atop Aizawa's.
“Not til 10.” Aizawa says, he still has plenty of time. Zashi gives him the side eye of concern. Aizawa bristles slightly at the look, what is it? Why did he give him that look?
“Sho. My love. It’s 9:45.” Zashi says simply. Aizawa blinks.
“Fuck.” Aizawa says, springing to his feet and pulling on some clothes. In his haste he pulls on one of Zashi's bright pink Hawaiian shirts covered in pineapples and palm trees and a pair of his ripped black genes. He stumbles out of the bedroom and pulls on his sneakers, grabbing his capture weapon and opening a window. "Can you please save me some breakfast, and I know you're not due at work until later so I pick up this package and then we can do that all over again." Aizawa says, with a smirk. Zashi's face goes bright red as he lets out a small nod. Words failing him. Aizawa smirks as he takes to the sky.
He loves travelling like this. No worrying about people in the way or traffic or late buses. The wind in his hair as he makes his way to the pick up point... he just hopes whatever this package is he can carry it back like this. He should have brought a backpack...
He eventually lands outside where he's supposed to pick up this package. He gets his phone out and double, then triple checks he got it right. An airport? Why the fuck did his sister send him to an airport?! Did she fly into the country to give him a present???? Is he about to see her for the first time in years in a bright pink shirt that could be seen from space.
Yea no this is fine.
He takes a deep breath and pulls his scarf up over his mouth as a sort of makeshift mask as he makes his way into the busy busy building. People rushing about all over the place, some people leaving for other countries and some coming into the country, families with sleepy little kids pulling on those ride on cases, stressed out parents seeing where they need to go next. Businessmen and women pulling cases whilst still talking on headsets. Young groups of people excitedly talking to each other and taking selfies of themselves.
Then he feels three short sharp tugs on the hem of his shirt.
He whips around to see who would dare touch him. He sees nothing and then the tugs again.
His eyes slowly looks down.
Looking up at him with big green slightly slanted eyes is a young girl. She has thick black slightly curly hair tied into two pigtails, one tied with a bright pink scrunchie and one tied with a bright yellow scrunchie. She's looking up at him with her mouth hanging slightly open, breathing like a little kid does through her mouth. She has small bags under her eyes and she's squinting slightly as she looks up at him. She's wearing a rainbow dress stripes running horizontally across her top and on the slightly puffed out skirt vertical. She's wearing a pair of thick white tights with rainbow shoes on. She's wearing a little fuzzy brown bear backpack on her back.
Aizawa blinks unsure what to do. For some reason this child has chosen him to help her, and he's a hero Godsdamn it.
“Can I help you?” Aizawa asks, dropping into a squat. She looks half Japanese so she should understand what he's saying... right? The little girl holds up one finger and swings her bag around. Rummaging around in there, showing a small water bottle, some colouring pencils, a colouring book and a slightly grubby white cuddly rabbit toy. It looks well loved. She pulls out a letter and hands it to him. It's addressed to him
'Hey Sho Sho!
Long time no see! This you're adorable little niece Aizawa Jīyu! She's also your present! Look after her for me alright, I'll send money once a month to cover her expenses! Just make sure she gets the help she needs for her quirk and keep her safe! :)
Love,
Zomi.'
Aizawa blinks, looking down at the note, then back to the child who is apparently his niece, then back to the note. His blood boiling. Then back to the child, then back down to the note. His sister sent a child to him... a small fragile child with no warning, he can't look after a child! He looks back to the child, who is apparently his niece, she's shifting on her feet and hugging her backpack so tightly. Aizawa takes a deep breath, this isn't her fault. She's an innocent in all this.
“You’re my niece?” He says finally, rising an eyebrow. The girl tilts her head to one side, looking confused. The more he looks at her the more he can see his sister's and by extension his features in the little girls face, his nose, his sister's lips but the green eyes and slightly shiny quality to her skin must come from her father. She shrugs her backpack back onto her back and looks at him, eyes a little bit wet.
“English?” The girl asks in heavily accented Japanese, the accent sounds English... so that's where his sister ended up. Britain. Worlds away.
“Do you speak Japanese?” He asks, his sister couldn't have sent a child halfway across the world to live with her estranged uncle when she doesn't know how to speak or understand Japanese. Like his sister was still as irresponsible enough to do that.
“English.” The girl, Jīyu says again. More tears in her eyes. Aizawa feels a bubble of rage in his stomach. His sister apparently is stupid enough to send a minor to another country when she doesn't know the fucking language. He takes a deep breath, again this isn't his nieces' fault. She's a victim in this.
“Okay.” Aizawa stands and the girl grabs his hand which she takes happily, showing off her rainbow nails. A member of what looks to be cabin crew rushes over with a small child sized suitcase, with some kind of unknown pro hero on it. Well unknown to him... whoever it is has bright pink hair and eyes, wearing a white bodysuit and knee high boots as she poses with one arm in the air and one leg bent. Her pink hair is pulled into pigtails and tied with two white scrunchies... there's something familiar about her... maybe he's seen her online or on a virtual meeting or something.
“You must be her Uncle! Do you speak English?” The flight attendant asks in fluent Japanese. She's got bright red hair pulled into a slick bun and she's wearing a dark blue British Airway's uniform.
“No. But my… partner does.” Aizawa says, looking at the child with a little hesitation... nerves are normal right? This is a whole ass human he could mess up... his sister should also be here...right? RIGHT?!
“Well she doesn’t speak much Japanese… so good luck I guess.” The flight attendant says with a shrug. Aizawa blinks, so she really doesn't speak Japanese well enough to blend into Japanese culture and society... great.
“Wait, is her mother not here?” Aizawa asks before he can stop himself. The flight attendant gives him a sceptical look with a little hesitance thrown in for good measure. She straightens her posture a little bit and grips the bag in her hands a little tighter, swallowing thickly.
“No??? She’s been flying as an unaccompanied minor… you ARE the person she’s supposed to meet right?” The cabin crew lady says shooting a concerned look at Jīyu.
“Uncle Sho-Sho!” The girl says, again with a heavy accent as she clings to him a little tighter. Burying her head into his side. Aizawa blinks and wraps his arm around the child, his fugging niece. The one he didn't know he had until she showed up here. Her fluffy bear shaped backpack meeting his fingers as he places a hand on her back to steady her. She's clinging to him as tight as she can, trembling slightly. What has she been through? The flight attendant squats down and talks to her in English. Jīyu speaks back in English and the woman sighs, standing and looks slightly relieved.
“Take good care of your niece. She’s a great kid.” The flight attendant says, walking off after gently ruffling Jīyu's hair, and leaving the bag behind. Jīyu grabs it, despite the bag being as tall as she is. A determined look on her face. She starts walking forward but doesn't get very far before Aizawa takes the bag off her. She whips around and looks at him dead eyed with a slightly scowl on her face. Then she does the grabby hands at her suitcase. She's a smart kid... and reminds Aizawa of himself when he was younger. Headfast and as independent as they can be at that age...meaning she'll be a handful.
“I carry.” Aizawa says in the best English he can, which isn't very good... he's lucky he paid someone to take his English test for him and they showed up. Jīyu pouts a little bit, her brow furrowing down but she gives a short sharp nod, grabbing his hand as tight as she can. She’s so small. He then realises he can't get back to the apartment the way he came which means... public transport.
As they walk Jīyu tugs on his hand and points to a shop.
"What's up?" He asks, she just blinks up at him. Pointing to the shop again. Aizawa sighs and walks in with her. She walks over to the drinks cabinet, looking at him. "Oh, you're thirsty." Aizawa says, looking at the drinks and picking the cheapest one there. Some banana milk. He picks it up and walks over to the counter. A woman with long green hair tied back in a bun looks over the counter, her big green eyes heavy with bags.
"Oh she's precious, what's her name!" The woman says, she's wearing a name badge on her tabard, Inko. Aizawa doesn't answer her. "I have a son who's her age is all." She says. Jīyu just stares at her, a the same dead eyed at Inko. Not even blinking. Just staring. Inko shifts on her feet and her smile turns tense. Aizawa feels the urge to smile like a madman at the fact his niece already has The Intimidating Stare™️ down pat. Inko just rings up the milk and Aizawa pays, then they leave. Jīyu opens the milk and gives it a quick sniff. Looking a little sceptical. She then takes a kick sip and she stops walking. Her eyes widening in awe as she sips it. Her eyes turning pink and the pupils into hearts. Aizawa blinks at that, is that her quirk? Changing her eyes? Why would that need extra help? Aizawa gently urges her to start moving and Jīyu starts happily trotting along beside him. Sipping her milk, her whole eye turning electric blue as banana's start scrolling across them. Falling from the top and pooling at the bottom until her eyes are full. Causing them to explode out and go back to their regular green colour.
Aizawa heads back to his one bed apartment
One bed.
Three peoples.
One napping sofa needed for a cat.
No outdoor space.
Shit.
That is not going to work long term... it's barely big enough for Zashi, Twinkie and himself. But Zashi and himself are just starting out! They have like minus 100 money! They can barely afford that crap box apartment with their current combined salaries, they only have Twinkie because they found her in a Twinkie box! They got her a litterbox that cleaned itself, a food dispenser and a small tiny scratching post. Why would Zomi do this???? She must know how hard it is to be just starting out as a hero... the hours, the shitty pay, the last minute calls. It's not conducive for child rearing! He lets out a small sigh and opens the door to his apartment complex, it's a little dingy with a guard at the front desk Aizawa's seen a handful of times... he usually exits and enters via a window. The guard gives him the side eye as he enters. He has salmon pink dreads pulled up into a bun and he's wearing a grey security officers uniform complete with orange vest.
"Sorry mate, residents only." He says, Aizawa pauses.
"I am a resident." Aizawa says with a small sigh. Jīyu clings to him a little tighter. Nervous.
"Prove it. Apartment number." The man says, turning to his computer screen. Aizawa sighs.
"Apartment 2A." He says, curbing his eyeroll. Being sassy won't help him here. Jīyu tugs on his shirt. He looks down at her and she's gone pale and looks sick. He drops the suitcase and picks her up. She hugs him close, burying her face into his side. The man pauses.
"Your kid alright?" He asks, his eyes looking up and down him and Jīyu.
"She's not feeling well. She's had a long trip." Aizawa says, jostling her slightly. Jīyu turns herself to face him, puke welling up in her mouth before she lets it fly. She hits the man dead centre with her vomit. She looks down and ashamed. Aizawa pauses, not sure what to do. The man pauses, wiping some of the vomit from his cheeks.
"Ya know what? Why don't you go on upstairs." He says, standing. "I have to go get Kaminari off his break." He says, waddling off, leaving a trail of vomit behind him. Jīyu looks at him and smiles, a cheeky cheeky smile, the iris and pupils of her eyes turning into devil emojis with flames behind them. Evil chuckles escaping her lips.
Did she just do that on purpose?
Aizawa has mad respect for this kid.
He negotiates her and her suitcase to the lift and presses the button for his floor. Jīyu hops down, looking down at her vomit covered dress and lets out a small huff before looking up to him and saying something in English with a wicked grin. God that grin reminds him of himself at that age. The only issue is, he has no idea what she just fucking said. Aizawa clears his throat and bounces on his feet.
“I uh… no English.” Aizawa says, blushing and looking away. He rubs the back of his neck. Jīyu gives a sad little nod and curls in on herself a little. They get to his floor and Jīyu walks a little ways ahead of him, swinging her arms as she walks, a small skip in her step. She keeps looking back at him to make sure he's still there. Aizawa clears his throat when he stands outside his apartment. Jīyu jolts and spins around and runs back to him. He ruffles her hair and opens the apartment door.
"Zashi it's me!" Aizawa calls out, walking past the bathroom.
"This isn't the window." Zashi says, coming around the corner a smirk on his face. Unfortunately that's the only thing he's wearing. On instinct Aizawa covers Jiyu's eyes with both his hands over both her eyes.
"That is a child!" Zashi says, grabbing his shirt and covering his junk.
"No it's a cat- YES IT'S A CHILD!" Aizawa says, pushing Jīyu into the bathroom. "You can clean yourself up in there. There's a shower, if you need any help scream loudly. Okay?" Aizawa says. Jīyu keeps trying to open the door. "Crap she doesn't know Japanese!"
"You can have a shower! If you need any help let us know okay sweetheart." Zashi translates. The door rattling stops and the shower door opens.
"Sho, why did you being home a child?" Zashi asks, walking into the bedroom and pulling on pyjama bottoms.
"That's the package my sister sent me!" Aizawa whispers back. Keeping an ear out for Jīyu struggling in the shower. He takes off his puke covered shirt and dumps it into the washing basket. He then pulls on a black cat skirt and some dark grey joggers. Comfortable again at last. He walks back out and opens Jīyu's suitcase. He's blinded by the sheer colour coming out of this case. There is nothing black or grey in that suitcase. The dullest thing is a forest green shirt with an orange fox on it.
"Your sister sent you a child as a graduation gift?!" Zashi hisses as he ducks down, starting to sort through the clothes to get an outfit together for her. Disturbingly there's no pants at all in the suitcase, just dresses and skirts and pinafore dresses and nighties... it feels wrong.
"Yes she did." Aizawa says, picking out an electric blue shirt and bright green skirt. Zashi just gently shakes his head and starts sorting through the clothes, picking out the forest green shirt and a white skirt. Despite the bright colours Zashi favours he does in fact have a good fashion sense... he just chooses to ignore it most of the time.
"The actual fuck?" Zashi hisses, "who just sends a child away? Do you know why?" Zashi asks, his voice trembling in rage.
"Nope." Aizawa shakes his head slightly with a small huff. "I want to ring her and drag answers out of her."
"Then go. I'll help-"
"Jīyu."
"I'll help Jīyu get dressed." Zashi says, with a small smile. Aizawa nods and heads off to the bedroom. Gripping his phone tightly in his hand, nearly crushing it with the force he's exerting on it. He then dials the number his sister gave him. He presses the phone to his ear, his leg hammering up and down like a jackhammer as it rings. Then an answer.
“SHO SHO!” His sister says, the smile clear in her voice and her tone is so peppy. How can she be so happy! She just sent her fucking child away!
“Don’t you fucking Sho Sho me! You sent me a child! I’m nineteen Nozomi! I can’t, my hero career is just starting out! Why did you send her to me?!” He snaps, his quirk flaring slightly due to the anger he's feeling. He takes a deep breath and it calms, his eyes going back to normal as his hair stops it's dramatic blowing in the breeze performance.
“I couldn’t exactly send her mum and dad now could I.” His sister says rolling her eyes down the line. Aizawa feels his quirk flare again, anger ticking back in.
“Nozomi! I can barely afford to live. I’m working graveyard shifts! I can’t-"
“Then leave her with your husband." She says, Aizawa feels his blood run cold and his breath hitch a little bit, "Yes I know about him. He’s limelight aka daylight and you’re still stupidly underground which means night shifts. Besides she’ll be in school most of the day! You’ll be fine.” His sister is as non-callant as ever... he loves her, he loves her, he loves her but he still wants to fucking murder her.
“I cannot afford to feed and clothe and house a child." Aizawa says, he really really can't. And he doesn't know how much she's going to send.
“I said I'll send money jeeze." A small sigh and another eyeroll, "My husband and I just can’t deal with her plus I’m expecting again! I know so exciting! So you can take her and I’ll have this one and when everything is settled I’ll take her back.” His sister says, with a small sigh. The peppy tone to her voice wavering slightly. H-Has she been crying? A flicker of concern crawls into his stomach for a brief second. "Besides... she can brush up on her Japanese." Aaaaaaannnnnddddd the anger is back.
“This is something you ASK another person. You don’t just dump a child on another person!” Aizawa snaps, his quirk fully activated as he stares at the door. She just thought he could do this? They had the same fucking shitty parents, he won't be good at this. He can feel it in his bones. Like a gnawing anxiety curling in the pit of his stomach.
“Shouta.” His sister says, sounding oddly serious, his sister is never serious, why is she serious, “she needs more than we can give. My husband… he loves her but he’s not-" she pauses, sucking in a deep breath, "he just doesn’t like her. She deserves a fresh start.” She says. Aizawa's hair flops back down and his eyes return to their usual steely grey. The anger in him giving way to a sort of resigned bitter acknowledge meant that of course his sister hasn't changed. She's just as selfish as ever. He blinks the tears away as quick as they form.
“So you can have a do over baby?” He spits. She sent her away so she could have a new baby and start all over? Why?
“Shouta.” His sister says, voice shaking slightly
“No! You sent her away because why? She’s what? 3? She spoke back to you? She didn't do what you wanted? She wants to wear fucking trousers?!" He hisses down the phone. He can feel the flinch his sister has down the phone.
“Four actually.” She says, voice cold. Aizawa sits a little straighter as a realisation creeps down his spine. A horrible dawning realisation that makes his stomach fill with ice cold dread.
“Nozomi, please tell me you didn’t send me your child because of her quirk.” He says, Jiyu's quirk isn't exactly the most impressive. It is cute tho, and great for distraction in a pinch... and expressing emotions when you don't know the fucking language.
A deafening silence on the other end of the line.
“Nozomi-"
"It's not as simple as you seem to think Sho-Sho. We had to do something so we sent her out of the country. To you. I know you can help her. You have to help her." More tears make it's way into her voice.
"Nozomi, you can't just send me a child! I can't-"
"There's a file I can send you. Just, please don't judge her too harshly." Nozomi says with a sigh before hanging up the phone. Aizawa sits there, unsure of what to do next. He hears giggling coming from the living room, he cracks open the door a fraction. Zashi is pulling funny faces at Jīyu who's giggling at him, Twinkie on her knee. Zashi has his cheeks puffed out and his eyes crossed and his hair tucked behind his ears which he's pulled forward to stick out more. Jīyu is giggling her little head off, her eyes two big smiley faces.
Aizawa feels a soft smile cross his face at the very parental sight, or maybe a big brother? Could two teenagers raise her? Properly?
Damn.
He needs a coffee. He stands and walks out of his room, not seeing the file and newspaper articles his sister sent him.
One of which reads,
'4 year olds quirk puts boy in coma.'
I um... I decorated the shitty apartment Aizawa and Mic currently live in... it's two 19 year olds first apartment
