Chapter Text
When Hizashi arrived at the hospital after Shouta was attacked on patrol, he immediately asked to see his husband. The thought that death was within their sights as he was transported here via ambulance was enough to send Hizashi into a debilitating spiral of what if.
The villains did a number on him. A big number, it seemed. But Shouta fought for his life, and for the safety of the people trapped in the worst day of their lives, and now everything was okay. Every one was okay. Except for Shouta.
He almost died. Like legitimately, these villains could have fucking killed him.
There had been a group of them. The other heroes that arrived at the scene late, entirely after, or were involved as well, said there were at least ten, but some of them seemed under-experienced, like they were hired for this job. It was a day patrol, and Shouta had been assigned to one of the worst areas in the city; one of the routes for a top hero, it seemed.
Hizashi would have liked to tell himself that Shouta absolutely could handle that many. Blindfolded. In the dark. With one hand tied behind his back. But he couldn't.
One of the heroes, only a few years on the field, recounted the events from the beginning. The young man had been a hostage. One of the patrolling heroes from Endeavour's agency.
Shouta had been taking them out, left and right, a hero among villains. But one of them had a paralysis Quirk. The young hero said Stain was there around the time that Shouta went down, but he wasn't sure. Hizashi knew it wasn't Stain. If it was, his husband would likely be dead.
But they got Shouta with the paralysis, and kept him away from the fight after he took out an odd half of them.
Another one had a strength Quirk. Powered entirely by other people's fear. Shouta could have taken him out lickity-split, but with the paralysis, he was completely immobile, and was left to endure the beating, fueled by the hostages fear from the situation, and that Shouta was soundly being beaten. Shouta's own fear also helped charge the villain.
Yet another, the leader of the group, most likely, had a light Quirk. Not entirely unlike the Qing Qing baby at the dawn of the supernatural. While the light was similar in color, according to stories and accounts of the child, and this villain, it was not similar in the way of power, origin, and use. That child glowed like a little star on earth. A harmless light. This villain was a searing red, holding his hand to his husband's face like a branding iron. It crackled and fizzed as the dust from the battle touched his arm.
His anchored body, plus head trauma, and a light so bright it could give the average person migraines or worse made a cocktail of misery for Hizashi's husband, who, after the heat and light got to his eyes, was left to die in the building while the villains herded the hostages out. They left everyone they thought would die or be captured. Shouta, this young hero by the name of Malalloy, and several of the gang members that Shouta had taken out. Dead weight. Hizashi wouldn't be surprised if they were hired just to be disposable.
The cops, and ambulances got there fifteen minutes later. It was a quiet ordeal. No one knew it was going on, except the people involved. When they were told, they went to the address, and had to sweep the place for an ambush.
They found him out of paralysis, but still unmoving, body and mind taking a severe hit from the battle. There was a large, blistering burn on his upper face, covering his eyes, and Malalloy hovering over him, making sure he would still be alive for the paramedics.
Shouta got to the hospital as quickly as they could manage, and wrapped his injuries. The most pressing being his eyes.
They called Hizashi as soon as he was out, and in bed.
Now here he was, standing in front of his hospital room. On the other side of this door is Hizashi's entire world. A light that was nearly snuffed out by a punishment he didn't deserve.
When Malalloy spoke to him, his voice quivered with regret, "I'm sorry, you know," he mumbled, "that I couldn't protect him."
Of course, Hizashi's stiff attitude faltered when the young hero spoke, "You are not to blame. You're a victim, as much as my husband is. Don't hold yourself accountable for things that aren't your fault, okay?"
Maybe his voice shook just a little when he did, having just heard the basics of what had happened to Shouta, but Malalloy didn't call him out. He made a mental note to get the kid's name later. He was a decent hero, despite his sidekick role.
The door clicked behind him, touching the wall when he crossed the threshold of the doorway, and Shouta, on the bed, immediately tensed.
"Hello?" His voice held fear, and borderline hostility when his head snapped to the door, where Hizashi was standing.
Even when he looked at the door, he didn't acknowledge that it was Hizashi. Meaning the raven-haired man could not see him. That made sense, considering the thick bandages wrapped around his eyes.
This was the worst case scenario. Well, that wasn't really true. Either one of the hostages, Malalloy, or Shouta's death was the worst case scenario, but this was up there. Even if Shouta got his sight back, his Quirk would most definitely be severely limited, or lost entirely.
But he put a smile on his face, though Shouta couldn't see it, and spoke softly, "Sho."
"Hizashi," Shouta's worried voice melted into relief.
"Hey, darling," Hizashi sniffed, the stress of the situation bringing forth his tendencies to cry for no reason. But today he had every reason. "Can I come sit?"
Shouta was "looking" right at him, face unreadable due to the bandages. When those are removed, Hizashi will be able to learn how likely it is that Shouta will be able to see.
"Do you have to ask?" Shouta asked quietly, lowering his head slightly.
"I thought I might, because you might not want visitors," Hizashi explained, stepping forward with very deliberate footsteps, and sat in the chair next to the bed.
"I don't ever not want to see you, Hizashi," he whispered, hands bunched in the blanket in his lap. His face was pointed down at the rough material, and Hizashi recognized the body language as his husband trying not to cry, "I don't know if I can do that ever again, though. Is Malalloy okay?"
"He's fine. Very minor injuries, you don't have to worry," Hizashi chose to ignore Shouta's worrying about his sight in an effort to cheer him up, "How do you feel?"
"Like I just died and came back to life," Shouta whispered. His voice was uncharacteristically quiet as he angled his face in Hizashi's general direction.
"Is there anything you need? Water, or something?"
"No, thank you," Shouta sighed, "An officer from the station will be here soon to draw up a report."
As if on cue, there was a slow knock on the door, and both Shouta and Hizashi's attention went to it. There stood a fair-skinned officer with a beige trench coat on. He had a button up shirt on, which led Hizashi to believe that he was not an ordinary officer, if he was one at all.
"My name is Detective Tsukauchi-Midoriya, and I'm here to take your statement," he introduced himself with a really weird combination of two last names, but he didn't say anything. One's name is personal.
Hearing the events of this past afternoon again, through the eyes of someone who lived it, lived the pain, and the fear, was interesting. Shouta's voice trembled through an explanation of some points, and it got worse when the detective asked him to elaborate.
Hizsshi got a front row seat to Shouta's anxious breakdown about the events. The seconds he counted while he begged for the paralysis wear off, the hits he took when the villain with the fear Quirk attacked. The feeling of a light so big and bright and hot against his eyes as he struggled to keep up. The moment it all went dark. The moment the paramedics arrived. And the moment he woke up, stunned not by a Quirk, but from the fear of the unknown.
The detective was patient, and kind. Shouta had to take a few minutes any time the report wandered to his eyes, and Hizashi understood that. So did the detective.
"May I read this report aloud to confirm its accuracy?" He asked politely, clicking off the recorder, and shifting slightly in his seat.
Shouta's shoulders rolled, and his head moved a bit with his universal sign for contemplation, "That's fine, I think."
The detective cleared his throat, and he shifted the paper to see it better, and then he began listing off the information, voice level and controlled, even in the face of endless undeserved violence.
"Eraserhead vs. The Ascendency Movement
Date: March 23rd, 2123
Reporting Officer: Chief Detective Tsukauchi-Midoriya Noamasa
On March 23rd, at approximately 2:40 PM, a physical altercation occurred between the pro-hero Eraserhead and a group of ten villains calling themselves The Ascendancy Movement. The fight took place in the Musutafu Central Security Office.
According to eyewitness accounts, Eraserhead was patrolling the area when he encountered the Movement. The following villains and their quirks were identified as members of the Ascendancy Movement. Note that this list is not complete:
Sear (Quirk: Searing Light)
Fearmonger (Quirk: Terror Strength)
Specter (Quirk: Invisibility)
Pyro (Quirk: Pyrokinesis)
Shard (Quirk: Glass Air)
Apex (Quirk: Enhanced Durability)
The hero-killer, Stain, was also present at the scene, but it is not known whether he was affiliated with the Ascendancy Movement or acting independently. Stain's quirk is currently unknown.
Another hero, Malalloy, was also involved in the fight, but was quickly subdued. Malalloy sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Eraserhead unfortunately sustained major injuries. He was transported to the hospital for treatment and is currently in stable condition.
Six members of the Ascendency Movement managed to escape the scene before law enforcement arrived. A search is currently underway to locate and apprehend the suspects.
This incident is being investigated by Detective Tsukauchi-Midoriya Noamasa. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Musutafu Police District at 119.
End of report."
The room was silent for a moment, with the only sound in the room being the beeping of the heart monitor still attached to Shouta, and the quiet breaths of his husband as he struggled to hear what happened.
The detective was pensive and quiet, not demanding anything of the couple, not imposing his presence. Hizashi kind of liked him. More than other officers.
A nurse shuffled into the room, soft shoes nearly silent on the floor until she stopped, and all sounds ceased, "Recovery Girl is here to see you, as well as your assigned doctor."
The sound of Recovery Girl's cane on the tile floor was the only sound Hizashi heard for a long moment, until a pair of soft shoes next to it walked into the room. There was an excessive amount of people in the room, and Hizashi's skin crawled as he thought about how it must make Shouta uncomfortable. The fearful squeeze of the calloused hand on his own alerted Hizashi to his mood. Nervous, but working on calming down. Telling Hizashi not to do anything. Everyone was here for a reason.
"Hello, Aizawa," the doctor said slowly, "I'm here to check on your eyes, and have Recovery Girl heal any leftover damage."
Shouta's hand squeezed his hand again, but this time he seemed hopeful. Maybe Recovery Girl could heal the damage, and he could see, and keep his eyesight.
Shouta nodded to the doctors, but didn't say anything, and he stiffened slightly as the doctor walked a little closer to the bed and reached for his face. Hizashi's palpable worry must have affected Shouta too, because the man flinched when the doctor's gentle hands touched the bandages.
As they came away, the scarring around Shouta's eyes was shown, eyes held shut by fear. He supposed it must also be a sensitivity to light. Hizashi held his breath, looking at the bright red burn spanning his upper face, above his nose.
Recovery girl told him not to open his eyes, because of the light, and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. The burn looked a little bright, less red, and the blisters were gone almost in the blink of an eye.
It was like the wound went forward in time, right in front of them, the damaged skin healing itself miraculously.
All the miracles in the world couldn't lift the silence that fell over the group when Recovery Girl asked that he open his eyes.
The milky white of his once beautiful blue eyes startled Hizashi when they turned to look at him.
"Is anyone there," Shouta asked, tilting his head to attempt to hear movement, "Hizashi, is anyone still there?"
"We're all here," Recovery Girl said, "and I have bad news."
"That I'll never see again?" Shouta asked, voice turning and shaking as he tried not to cry. Hizashi could see the tears building in his husband's stark-white eyes, "I know. I can tell."
"I'm so sorry," the doctor said.
"Hey, I'm alive, right?" Shouta was obviously trying to make himself and everyone else feel better, "I'll just never be a hero again. I'm now permanently disabled. That's… fun."
Hizashi held his husband's hand tightly, comforting him as the doctor rewrapped his eyes.
The doctors filed out, one after the other, and it was finally just him, Shouta, and the detective again.
"The report is accurate," Shouta whispered to him, "Can you send me a copy to look over when–"
He paused, and Hizashi waited patiently for him to continue.
"Can you send Hizashi a copy to look over when you get the chance?"
The detective smiled at Hizashi, and confirmed that he would do so.
Hizashi left the chair to escort Detective Tsukauchi-Midoriya to the door, whispering questions about the villains. He promised he would send any info on the organization as soon as it was available. He thanked him for his time, and sent him on his way.
He spoke to the nurse as well, wondering if it was alright if he stayed the night with Shouta, and of course he was allowed, as the hero's spouse.
He sat on the sofa in the very corner of the hospital room, confirming his presence as soon as Shouta worriedly asked if he was still there, until he just sat next to them, hand in his, until the hospitalized man fell asleep.
Then he waited for several hours, until he heard the near-silent ping of his work phone's messaging system, and he saw that it was a file from the detective.
Hooking it to his laptop, he read through the report on the organization, and its leader.
"The Ascendancy Movement is a multi-faceted organization with bases in America, Russia, Australia, Spain, and Japan, that seeks to become the world's leading authority on economic, political, and social issues through immoral and unethical means. The movement believes that the end justifies the means, and they are willing to resort to deceit, manipulation, and other immoral methods to achieve their goals.
The Ascendancy Movement advocates for a transcendent system where individuals with exceptional skill and Quirks rise to leadership positions, and they believe that power and wealth should be concentrated in the hands of a select few, and they are willing to exploit and oppress others to maintain their dominance."
This movement seemed… nefarious. The leader of this branch was the one that caused this dubious harm to Hizashi's husband.
"Name: Netsu Akarui
Alias: Sear
Affiliation: The Ascendancy Movement
Age: 43
Appearance: Netsu stands at an imposing 6'5" with a muscular, broad-shouldered build that makes him an intimidating presence. He has short-cropped, dark hair and a thick beard that is streaked with gray. His face is rugged and weathered, with deep-set blue eyes and a prominent nose.
He often wears a sleeveless black tank top that shows off his arms, and a pair of faded blue jeans. It is believed that he wears minimal attire to allow his Quirk access to his attacks.
Quirk: Searing Light
Quirk Description: Searing Light Quirk can generate intense heat from his hands, allowing him to superheat objects or people he touches. However, his Quirk is limited to heating only his hands; the rest of his body remains unaffected. When activated, Sear's hands emit a bright yellow glow and become hot to the touch. Additionally, his body has a mutation that causes him to glow bright yellow.
The Searing Light Quirk allows the villain to control the temperature of his hands, ranging from mildly warm to scorching hot. Sear can also focus the heat into a concentrated heat in his fingers, or spread it over a larger area. However, the heat generated by Sear's hands cannot be transferred beyond the point of contact, limiting his ability to affect distant objects or opponents.
We at Musutafu Police District implore you to come forward if you have any information on the whereabouts of this dangerous criminal."
Hizashi must have spent hours combing through these reports to find something they might have missed, and he would continue to do so until every corner of the world was scoured for details.
Tomorrow, Shouta would start work on getting himself used to his new condition, and Hizashi would be there every step of the way.