Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was warm out. 

Jump jump jump

Skipping along one hand in his mothers bouncing on his toes, Izuku Midoriya giggled as he tried to jump over the cracks in the sidewalk when the words in his head said to.  They were happy words today.  Actually they were happy words most of the time, but sometimes if someone was being mean they said mean things they said Izuku should fight and stop the people being mean.  Mommy said that was his constant?  He couldn’t remember properly but mommy said it was a good thing because it told you right from wrong.  It was telling him that being mean was bad.  Izuku hadn’t fully understood because it wasn’t just telling him the people being mean was wrong it told Izuku to be mean back, but he hadn’t known how to explain that to mommy.  So instead he just enjoyed when the constant said good things and ignored it when it said mean things like telling him to fight.  

Like the voice that had always been there, Izuku had also always walked on his toes, mommy said that was why he had taken so long to learn.  At almost 5 and a half years old he was much better at jumping and walking and running on his toes then he used to be.  Izuku liked walking on his toes, it made him that bit taller but it also felt more comfortable. He wasn’t sure why but walking with  his feet fully on the ground felt weird and uncomfortable, Mommy had thought it was his quirk. Maybe he had to walk on his toes because he’d be able to run fast or something.  Mommy had told the Doctor all about it But then Dr. Tsubasa said that Izuku was quirkless.  He’d been kind of mean too.  He’d said Izuku should forget ever having a quirk because he’d never get one, all because he had toes or something was wrong with his toes?  He couldn’t remember exactly but he hated how it had made him feel.

He tried to stop walking on his toes after that but it hurt and felt strange but he kept trying until he cried because maybe if he didn’t walk on his toes then he could have a quirk.  Mommy had said that wasn’t the problem.  If walking on his toes felt better then he could walk on his toes,  Maybe Dr. Tsubasa was wrong, that happened, that was why people got second opinions.  Izuku trusted mommy, she was a nurse, she worked in a hospital with lots of doctors so she would know all about it.  So now they were waiting for a chance for Izuku to see a different doctor.

They weren’t seeing one today though.  Today was Saturday and that meant grocery shopping.  The shopping district was always kind of fun to be at.  It was full of lots of people with amazing quirks!  Mommy always let Izuku pick out a magazine at the grocery store and Izuku always picked the same one, the All Might one that came with cool toys or stickers or crafts!  His magazine was tucked safely in the shopping bag and Izuku was excited because it came with a cool All Might Keychain!  He was going to put it on his school bag as soon as he got home!

Being only five though Izuku was tired after so much shopping but mommy had promised Katsudon for dinner because he was a good boy.  Izuku loved mommys Katsudon so he just had to power through one last errand.  Mommy needed to go to the bank.  Izuku thought banks were boring but sometimes the people who worked there were nice.  Last time he had been given an All Might sticker because they were having a pro-pr-promotion (mommy taught him that word)  He hoped they were having another one.  He would love another All Might sticker. Maybe he could give it to Kacchan and they could be friends again?  Kacchan had been acting kind of mean lately ever since the doctor said Izuku didn’t have a quirk.

Kacchans a meanie

Izuku ignored those words.  He wasn’t a meanie he was just upset because Izuku didn’t have a quirk that was all, it would be ok soon, they were best friends!

There weren’t any more All Might stickers at the bank but a nice lady who was helping people in the line had offered Izuku a candy as long as his mommy said it was ok. Izuku had looked up and swore he’d eat extra veggies and brush his teeth really really good so could he please please have a candy?  Inko had laughed indulgently before nodding and thanking the nice lady before Iziuku did as well. Izuku knew it was important to say please and thank you when someone offered you something.

They were getting to the counter which meant it was almost time to go home, maybe mommy would let him look at his magazine on the train?  He hoped so, he folded the candy wrapper and put it in his pocket as Mommy walked up to the counter when he felt a weird angry tingle in his head and up his back.  He didn’t like it, he’d felt it before whenever Kacchan tried sneaking up on him it was a scary feeling like he suddenly wasn't safe

Danger bad! Danger!

Before Izuku could understand what the voice was saying was dangerous a bunch of loud bangs rang out.  Izuku yelped like everyone else did because of how loud the sounds were before Mommy grabbed him, pulling him close.  A man with a scarf over the bottom half of his face was waving a gun around and shouting. With maybe five other people?  They were all dressed the same so Izuku guessed they were all partners… Were these people villains?  They had to be because good guys didn’t wave guns around and scare people.  As they shouted and made everyone in the bank group together and sit on the floor the voice in Izukus head was angry, so many angry words!  Izuku was kind of surprised, if the voice was part of him shouldn’t it be scarred like he was?  Not that it mattered but It was hard to push the voice down the raging roaring in his head was getting louder  

Hurt them, hurt them, keep mommy safe, do it, do it, use it, use it .  

Izuku whimpered, hands clamped tighter over his ears as his mother held him close.  He did want mommy to be safe but he couldn’t do anything. He didn't even have a quirk and these men were adults and had guns! Why did these bad men have to come and do bad things, where were the heroes, why wasn’t anyone here to save them?  He wanted to cry and he did a little tiny tears squeezing out as he sat curled in mommy lap with his hands over his ears and his eyes shut tight.

There was another loud bang that he heard through his and mommy's hands. He felt her hands shaking over his.  Mommy was scared but she was trying to be brave and Izuku knew he needed to be brave too! He peeked his eyes open but all he saw was red.  Laying on the floor was the nice lady who gave him the candy.  The once sweet taste now sour in his mouth from fear.  Was she dead?  He didn’t know then suddenly mommy screamed as one of the bad guys grabbed him pulling at him

Let him, turn on him, use it, use it, use it, he’ll hurt you, he’ll hurt mommy, hurt him first!

Mommy grabbed at him desperately begging them to leave him alone, Izuku could see that his mommy was scared but even as Izuku shook he looked her in the eye trying to smile. He wanted to be a good brave boy for mommy.

“Mommy I’m brave it’s ok.” he tried even as she cried 

“No! please he’s just a little boy please please I’ll go I’ll go please leave him alone please!” Mommys voice sounded weird, so scared as she begged he didn’t know what the word to describe it was until he was older. She was desperate.  The man looked between the two seeming to think about her offer before smirking

“Well, how could I say no to a mother.” he said, his voice was wrong if he could think right Izuku would have said it sounded like how slime felt.  The small boy yelped as the man tossed Izuku at the other hostages and grabbed Inko. Izuku tried to get up but one of the adults grabbed him and held him close protectively

“If you try to fight your boy is next.” the man warned and Mommy nodded walking over shaking but her face set.  So much was happening but also nothing at all, people talked a lot and the adult holding him looked nice with bright vibrant green eyes and long long blond hair that was tied up.  He had a brace on his throat that Izuku remembered from seeing at the hospital.  Mommy said they were for people who hurt their necks and throats

“ Just hold on little listener heroes will come .” the man said softly, his voice raspy and weak, that was probably why he had that thing on his neck.  The man was brushing the curls trying to sooth him in a way mommy did if he had bad dreams, something about what he said tickled in Izuku's brain but he couldn’t focus. He was trying to fight his fear and the voice and trying not to cry for mommy.

“They might hurt mommy.” he whimpered looking at the man who grabbed mommy and was holding her arm as he shouted at a couple others 

Let go, let go, save mommy

It whispered in his head it coxed and begged and for once Izuku didn’t feel like it was just being mean, the voice was scared to, it wanted to protect mommy to but Izuku was afraid,  what if it hurt mommy what if this was a trick?  There was more talking the meanest man who was probably the leader was holding Mommy tightly with one hand and shouting into a phone while another approached

“Still nothing? Perhaps you need more incentive!” the man shouted into the phone and Izuku watched horrified no he knew he knew deep inside that the bad man was going to hurt mommy, the nice blonde man pulled him close trying to turn him but Izuku could hear it he could feel it, everything was hurting his body ached his joints hurt he wanted this all to stop she was scared and he just wanted mommy he wanted them to be safe and go home and have Katsudon and watch All Might on TV beat bad guys!

-BANG-

Hizashi Yamada would say later during his statement that the sound must have been the trigger.  The boy in his arms had been shaking and trying too hard to be brave and he couldn’t let a kid watch his mother get shot.  He hated being so stuck, his last mission had put a terrible strain on his throat and vocal chords so even if he had revealed himself as present Mic he couldn’t do anything.  All he’d been able to do was text his partner ‘ROBBERY’ and ping his location.  The robbers had confiscated everyone's cell phones, or so they thought. While they had taken Hizashis everyday use phone they hadn’t found his hero phone they were watching too closely for him to do more than send the alert though.

When the first woman had been shot Hizashi had been ready to try and fight but he had to hold it back.  He had no plan, no weapon, no idea of numbers or temperament. This man might just kill all the hostages if he felt threatened enough or Hizashi would just end up dead himself.  So he was stuck.  That was why he had been the one to grab the boy and hold him close and comforting when the villain had tossed him back after the mother took his place.  He was so impotent and he hated it but at least he could soothe the terrified child in his arms.

The boy mumbled a lot. It was almost as if he was talking to himself but he spoke too fast and too quietly for Hizashi to understand.  He tried reassuring him that heroes would be coming but the boy was too deep in his fear.  He had thought the boy would be too deep in his own head to notice when the villain had grown angry during his call with the negotiators, but the boy was more aware then Hizashi had given him credit for he had jolted and turned obviously aware of the danger his mother was in.  Hizashi couldn’t let him see what was coming, he just couldn't, so he pulled the kid close, pressing the little face into his shoulder as the kid struggled. He couldn't let the kid die, and he couldn’t let him see his mother die!  The gun went off and Hizashi felt the boys whole body heat up in his arms, a horrifying screech of sound escaping him.  On instinct Hizashi let go as the body he’d been holding sprang back with sickening cracks he would learn where bones and joints twisting and changing. 

“ MOMMY! ” the creature roared in an agonizing wail as it howled, sending an unnatural bone deep chill through the young hero as he looked at the transformed child.  It was an odd creature; he had become claws and fangs wicked sharp. What had been deep emerald green eyes were now black with sharp pin pricks of green in the centre. Scales rippled across his skin the same emerald green as bushy curly hair grew flowing down his back and along a thick tail.

“W-what the what the hell!” one of the robbers said, shaking the first to get his voice back but the moment he spoke the creature that had been a child whipped it’s head toward him and the man clammed up, a dark spot growing on his pants as fear took hold.  Hizashi could only watch in shock and maybe a bit of awe as the boy stalked forward a predator with its eyes fixed on prey

“ Mommy… hurt mommy… stop… bad… no MORE! ” The creature spoke slowly, the voice grating and all the more unnerving in how unnatural it was, the power in it.  Hizashi knew all about voice quirks but this wasn’t a quirk… or maybe it was? Somehow tied to this form of a creature?  Whatever the case it was terrifying.  Hizashi had faced some frightening things in his time as a hero but this kid… god.  His quirk was unlike anything the man had seen before.  When he shouted the final word the robbers were quick to drop their guns and Hizashi would swear he heard one whimpering.  Hizashi had a feeling the only reason he and the other hostages hadn’t become gibbering messes was because the kid wasn’t focused on them, had maybe even forgotten they were there in his focus on protecting his mother.  The villain in charge held the boy's mother firmly; she was sagged in his arms, twitching slightly. Hizashi could see the blood staining her cardigan where she’d been shot but her lips were moving, she was trying to speak.

“-zu…ku…” the voice was so faint and Hizashi might not have heard it if he wasn’t trained for it.  He watched as fin-like ears perked up poking out of the wild mane of green curls and his head whipped to the villain holding his mother. The small body tensed as he and the rest registered the villain had moved holding the gun to the woman's head.

“Fucking brat.  I should have just taken you, what a monster.  The world would thank me if I got rid of a creature like you.” he said he was pushing bravado.  The others might not see it but Hizashi could.  The man was terrified but was trying to fight through it the boy, Zuku?  Had stilled only the tail moving lashing side to side as it watched the man

“ No… hurt mommy… let go mommy. ” it hissed out growling lowly unnerving eyes never leaving the villain who was sweating shaking before rolling into a manic laughter jerking suddenly he moved his gun and it seemed like slow motion as Hizashi watched in cold horror as the villain shot at the boy,  then awe as the boy dodged it! The beast's body darted to the side and forward so fast it was almost a blur of green then blood, the mother crumpled to the floor as the villain lost his hold on her and his gun grasping as his throat over the gaping wound that had been torn out of it.  The hostages screamed in shock and fear as the man collapsed to his knees then the floor dead.  Despite the commotion his partners didn’t move the creature lifting its head mouth bloody as it looked at each of them then crawled over to the fallen woman and nudged her like a dog almost then pushed with his hands

“ Mmm… Mommy… ” he crooned out softly, the sound spurred Hizashi to action,  the bank doors slammed open as heavily suited officers charged in led by  a couple heroes who were quick to detain the remaining villains.  Hizashi kept his focus on the woman who was brushing her sons face and hair weakly

“‘Sok Z-zuku… M-mommys right here… oh… look a-at how pretty you are.  Y-you look like… a dragon… l-like your daddy… s-so pretty… y-you have a quirk… Mommy… mommy always knew you were special…” she said softly her voice was thick and liquidy the blood was filling her lungs and Hizashi wasn’t sure what he could do as he pressed his hands over the wound trying to staunch the bleeding with the chaos around them 

“Nn.. y-you… you h-have to… to take… take care of him…” it took Hizashi a moment to realize the woman's eyes were focused on him…

“Y-you looked at him… y-you aren’t afraid… t-this world.. I-it will hurt him… P-please… save my boy.” she choked out tears welling as the beastly child crooned and whined nudging her again

“ Mommy… mommy we go… K-katsudon… s-silly movie… you pick, n-no all Might Promise… please mommy. ” he begged nuzzling against her but Hizashi could see the light leaving her eyes. He was shouting for a paramedic, someone, anyone to help him help this woman to stop her death but he knew it was too late.  As the medics rushed over he scooped up the boy who thrashed and cried and screamed in that unnatural way, the paramedics freezing with that same unnatural fear until the boy slumped in his arms.  Hizashi watched as his form slowly began reverting to that of a small boy.  His bones and joints popping, the hair falling from his body and piling on the floor leaving only the longer hair on his head, the tail shrivelling until it vanished.  Hizashi looked up at his partner, the dark hair of Eraserhead settling now he was certain the boy was unconscious.  No longer roaring, the activity had started again but Hizashi couldn’t let go of the blood stained boy as he watched the dark eyed man tears in his own.

“S-she … she asked me to save him… I-I don’t… what do I…” he said weakly as the tall man crouched and gently brushed stray hair from his face

“We’ll figure it out, for now, let's make sure he’s not hurt.” he said gently, ever practical but his voice gentle.  They walked out of the bank together, Hizashi carefully cradling the child in his arms.  Taking him to an ambulance he was quickly loaded up and Hizashi climbed into Eraser following, Hizashi was grateful for that, he couldn’t handle this alone.  He felt so sick with grief.  His injury and impotence had meant two women had died and a young boy had been forced to see his mother die at the hands of a villain.  Hizashi couldn’t do anything to change that but he could help the boy he could do his best to fulfil his mothers wish

Chapter Text

Hizashi Yamada hadn’t been hurt at all during the robbery so when the ambulance got to the hospital he was able to stay with Zuku right until he went into the exam room.  As he was seen to Hizashi was given a few forms to fill out while Shouta spoke with Tsukauchi on the phone.  It turned out the boys name was Izuku Midoriya.  An ID found with the mother read Inko Midoriya, a quick search of the database had given them all they needed.

“I can’t go into details on the phone.  Suffice it to say it’s complicated. For now is Yamada willing to take temporary guardianship while The boy is in the hospital?” Tsukauchi asked when Aizawa put him on speaker, Mic nodded and spoke in his raspy voice that he would.

“Great I’ll be there as soon as this is settled and I can step away.  Inko Midoriya has unfortunately been declared Deceased however the first victim Tomoe Kiryu has been taken for emergency care, she may survive.” the detective said, he could only hope knowing one woman had survived might help ease the undoubtedly heavy guilt Present Mic must have been feeling.

“T-that’s good… I’m glad.” Hizashi managed softly fingers curling in the fabric of his pants.  It was so weird.  He didn’t feel like present Mic right now, he didn’t feel like anyone or anything except a failure.  Once the call ended he turned his attention to the paper work filling out what he could with what they had learned from Tsukauchi and turned it in at the desk.  Thankfully it wasn’t long before a doctor approached,  She was very… pink.  With a very obvious cat mutation bright blue eyes and wildly curly hair she smiled as she approached

“Midoriya Izuku, yes?” she asked looking at the two of them, Hizashi nodded standing quickly and taking her offered hand

“I’m Dr. Nyomi Tachiki, I’ve been placed in charge of his care.” she introduced nodding as Hizashi and Shouta introduced themselves

“Well, You’ll be relieved to know he’ll be just fine.  Right now he’s suffering from severe quirk exhaustion but other then that he’s completely unharmed… from the robbery anyway.'' She said expression twisting slightly gesturing for the two to follow though as she led them along to a private room shutting the door she drew the curtains and walked to the bed where the small boy was lying asleep.  He was oddly cute, calmly snuggled into the child size hospital bed, the hero print on the blanket that covered him bright cheerful colors that contrasted with the beeping machines monitoring his vitals.

“He’ll be ok his quirk exhaustion is due to a sudden flood of quirk factor cells in his system.  The EMTs told me what you told them, as I understand it he grew warm and suddenly transformed?” she asked to clarify, Hizashi nodded

“ Ah yes, he had been getting tense and frightened of cou- HCK! ” Hizashi coughed at the strain on his throat and vocal chords,  The doctor lifted a hand to stop him when he tried to speak again

“I know JSL, please feel free to use it.  I don’t want your throat to suffer any more damage.” she said with a smile, eyes glinting with knowledge, she knew who he was.  It wasn’t obvious to people when he was in civilian clothing but that wasn’t what was important right now, so he began to sign the rest of his explanation.

‘ Apologies,  as I was saying, he had been tense but, normal at first.  The moment his mother was shot it was like his whole body was on fire. Obviously there were no flames but I let him go on instinct.  Then I ….’ Hizashi paused in his story trying to think of the best way to explain what he had witnessed.

‘I could hear his joints all popping and creaking.  He was writhing on the floor and I could see the way his body almost rearranged parts of it’s self.  It looked incredibly painful and happened so fast. ’ Hizashi explained hands settling in his lap frowning. He wished he could purge the image and sounds from his memory but knew the doctor needed a clear account.

“I expected as much. This was more then just a stress transformation.  According to his file he was registered as quirkless citing a toe joint… I wish they would stop using that damn system.” she muttered in obvious disgust before sighing

“As you’ve guessed Midoriya-kun has a transformative type quirk, it is entirely likely that his transformed state walks digitigrade, on its toes rather like myself, as opposed to plantagrade, Like you two do.” she said showing them how she was walking on the toe pads of her, which Hizashi belatedly realized, were bare

“It’s very common in transformative or mutant quirks that walk digitigrade to have a stronger and more supportive fifth toes and a weaker Hollux or Big toe.  This has led to many false negatives in the past.  Because of this Izuku has likely not been receiving any kind of quirk counselling. My guess is he’s been subconsciously suppressing his quirk believing he didn’t have one common in false negative children.  Unfortunately that suppression only stalls the activation of the quirk it doesn’t prevent it completely. eventually the quirks starts to break through.  These break throughs are usually small in scale and can be identified and quickly handled, unfortunately the situation here caused an extreme stress reaction.  The heat Mr Yamada felt was the sudden surge in his quirk factor activating flooding his body with active cells.  This is a common effect of such eruption in quirks that stress activate..” she explained tapping the clip board on the end of the bed 

“His blood tests came back with an extraordinarily high active cell count in line with what would be expected of a stress activation. This does mean that he’ll recover with little to no side effects but let me make it clear, that he will need immediate Quirk counselling and training.  Continued suppression of an active quirk can cause long lasting physical and mental side effects.”  Hizashi nodded as she explained.  It made a lot of sense and explained why Miss Midoriya had said that Izuku ‘had a quirk’ if this hadn’t happened he probably would have shown more signs until she could get him to a doctor.  He looked up when he realized the doctor had started to speak again

“With that reassurance, my major concern for his health are these.”  she moved and carefully pulled down the covers showing the boys shoulders. Hizashi and Shouta leaned forward. The blond did not want to believe what he was seeing even as Shouta swore softly, there were small silvery starburst shaped scars across his shoulders.  Gently Doctor Tachiki rolled Izuku onto his side showing his upper back marred with more starbursts and a few odd slash like scars before easing him down and recovering him

“While I can’t say what caused these scars I can say that they were not all inflicted at once. These have happened over time within the last year, Particularly the small spark-like scars.  These match those for low grade explosions or firework sparks, I’ve seen them from firework accidents before but never like this, I’m deeply concerned that the quirkless diagnosis or something else has led to abuse or bullying.” she said firmly.  Hizashis breath hitched, the poor listener!  This was awful, the more he heard the sicker he felt and the more Mrs Midoriya's words made sense.  She asked him to protect her son.  Did she know?  He knew quirkless discrimination was bad, maybe she’d tried to do something and hadn’t managed it?  Well Hizashi already knew he’d protect this little listener no matter what!

“For now he’s sleeping off the effects of his transformation.  Once he wakes up I’ll be able to give him a more thorough exam and run a second blood test to check his cell count, but I don’t think there will be anything else. He may wake up with nausea so if you intend to stay then please keep that in mind.” she said digging out a pager from her coat pocket as it went off

“I have another patient,  Please inform a nurse or the front desk if you need anything.” she said before leaving with a short quick bow.  The two men sat Hizashi taking the small hand in his and rubbing it gently as Shouta pinched the bridge of his nose rubbing it between his fingers. It was a lot to take in, but at least Izuku was healthy. It could have been a lot worse.  Hizashi found himself brushing the long curly green hair from the boy's sleeping face.  Someone had cleaned the blood up from around his mouth, and Hizashi couldn’t help hoping they had rinsed his mouth as well.  He hated the thought of the kid waking up with the taste of blood.  He hoped the kid didn’t remember attacking the robber who had shot his mom.  He was already going to be a wreck knowing his mom had passed away. Hizashi couldn’t imagine the trauma he’d feel knowing he’d killed a man.

It was another two hours before Tsukauchi was able to meet them.  In that time Shouta had gone to get them coffee and tea from a vending machine down the hall. It wasn’t the best but it soothed Hizashi's throat and he was grateful.

‘ You don’t have to stay, I know you had a late night .’ Hizashi had signed before accepting the tea, Shouta shook his head

“And leave you here? Nah, don’t think I could sleep until I know what's going on with your stray anyway.” Shouta had said calmly as he downed his hot coffee in one fell chug like the monster he was.  A knock at the door had grabbed their attention and Shouta went to open it revealing an exhausted looking detective.

“Yamada, Aizawa… Hows the kid?” he asked with a half smile as the door shut and he took a seat in one of the plastic chairs.  To spare his throat Hizashi looked to Shouta who explained Izuku's condition, Tsukauchi nodded letting out a sigh of relief 

“Well that’s some good news at least.  I do have a little more. Due to the circumstances Izuku won’t be questioned or facing any investigation regarding what happened at the bank.  What I can tell you now is that the robbery was an attempt by a group hoping for the release of several members of a larger organization.  The one in charge was Keisuke Hamada, he has a long history of weapons charges, assault, battery, two counts of attempted murder and a long string of thefts.  He was declared dead on scene due to blood loss.” Tsukauchi explained Hizashi nodded looking at Izuku, he remembered the way the creature he had been had struck, it had been so fast, tearing a chunk from the man's throat, it had been an animal's instinct.

“The official story is that his gun misfired after he tried to shoot an unnamed child hostage, striking him in the throat and leading to him bleeding out.  No one wants this kid to be hurt anymore then he already has and it’s hard to say if Hamada wouldn’t have killed more hostages if Izuku hadn’t changed.” he explained Hizashi nodded relieved at least the kid wouldn’t have to deal with that.

“Before anything else I do need your statement about what happened, can we go over that real fast?” the detective asked, Hizashi nodded and moved to sit with him while Shouta took his chair to keep an eye on the kid.

‘I went to the bank to discuss mortgages for property for a radio station and agency.  While waiting to meet with a bank representative I noticed seven people enter the bank through the main door. I was immediately on edge because of the way they walked in formation.  The man who I assumed to be the leader based on his clothing being different from the others immediately pulled out a gun and began to fire in the air.  Everyone in the bank was rounded up and forced to sit on the floor in the main lobby including me.  We were stripped of wallets purses and cell phones at that time’ Hizashi explained scowling still annoyed he hadn’t been able to do much

‘Because I work as a hero I have two phones, a work phone and a private phone.  They took the private phone.  I used my work phone to send a text to my hero partner Eraserhead to inform him of the robbery in progress and my location.  Unfortunately two men were watching us very closely so I wasn’t able to continue any communication after that initial alert.  Assessing the situation, including the men's weapons and hostages I determined that I couldn’t act due to being in recovery from a quirk related injury and the risk to the hostages.  My intention was to observe and wait until I had a chance to communicate with the outside again.  Before I could, however, the leader of the attackers, who never gave his name and was only referred to as ‘boss’ by the other six men, took one of the hostages by the arm.  He kept her with him at all times until he spoke at length on the phone with who I assume was a police negotiator.  He wasn’t happy with what he was tol and shot the hostage.  He proceeded to make a grab for another hostage, this one a Minor.  His mother begged for the man to take her instead and he agreed, tossing the minor back to us.  I held him to keep him from chasing after his mother, I also tried to reassure and sooth the child.’  Hizashi could still hear her voice, how she had begged so desperately for the man to take her, how Izuku was just a child.

‘My best guess is about an hour passed before the man was once again contacted by the negotiator.  He was once again dissatisfied by what he was told and shot his second hostage causing a sudden quirk manifestation in the child.  Through the use of his quirk the child was able to prevent the criminals from shooting by emitting what seemed to be a fear inducing sound that cause a paralysed state in the men.  The leader then attempted to shoot the boy resulting in an injury to his throat, when he collapsed from his injury I went to try and help his second hostage while a separate hostage went to aid the first who had been shot.  At this time the police infiltrated the building.  Unfortunately the second hostage shot passed while I attempted to administer first aid requesting I take care of her son prior to her passing.’ Hizashi's hands were shaking a little by the time he finished but he was ok.  He knew that later he would have to write out a much more detailed statement but he knew for now this would do.  Tsukauchi finished writing out what Hizashi had told him then flipped the notebook closed and sighed, slipping off his hat.

“Now comes the complicated part. The kids care and what's going to happen to him when he wakes up.”  Ooohhh Hizashi didn’t like that tone, that was a tone when Tsukauchi, or Shouta, or anyone, had bad news, heavy news.

‘How is it complicated?’ Hizashi signed finally, Tsukauchi sighed looking to the still sleeping boy seeming to think a moment before,

“His father was the European hero Draconis.” the man said, dropping the biggest bomb on them.  Hizashi felt vaguely sick and he saw the way Shouta went stiff.  Draconis had been a great hero over in Europe though he’d been officially registered as a welsh hero he had done rescue work all around particularly northern nations.  He’d had a dragon transformation type quirk.  Izuku's odd appearance when he had changed suddenly made sense. At first Hizashi had tried to rationalize it as a dragon but it had been wrong in ways but now it made sense.  Draconis had been a European style dragon looking exactly what one would expect from western fantasy films and books.  While Izuku had a lot of things one would expect of an eastern dragon, horns that had been more like antlers, the mane-like hair that had trailed down his back to the end of the tail,  the sinuous way he moved.  What hadn’t fit had been the blend of the European dragon, his father.  The way he’d walked on his toes, the fin like ears, how his body had not elongated to be snakelike but had retained an almost lizard look, how he had moved on both all four limbs and on just his back legs.  Izuku had been an amazing blend of an eastern and western dragon!

Draconis had been amazing, he and several other heroes had come to Japan investigating a large scale human trafficking ring.  In that time it was known he had pretty much fallen in love with Japan and a woman, though her identity had been kept a secret.  He had decided he would transfer to Japan and only returned to Wales to finish his last few cases.  Unfortunately one of the last raids he was on had gone bad, while they had managed to destroy one of the largest weapons shipments to be brought into the UK, the losses had been huge, every officer and almost all the heroes on the team had died either during the raid or afterwards from injuries sustained.

“Izuku Midoriya is a legacy child, and, it seems, with the activation of his quirk, he’s now set to inherit all of the Draconis agency assets which have been held in trust for him until his quirk manifested.” Tsukauchi explained.  Wow, this was complicated.  Legacy children were very heavily guarded because of their power and potential.  Heck it was incredibly well known that the number two heroes’ children almost never left their estate for safety reasons especially after the death of the eldest.

“The commission wants to take custody and it won’t be long before authorities in Wales will try and get to him as well.  This kid is about to become the rope in a major political tug of war.” Tsukauchi explained with disgust.  He was happy to be a detective but that didn’t mean he had to like the politics of things.

‘ There has to be something I can do.  His mother begged me to protect her son,  I could…. I couldn't save her, the least I can do is fulfil her dying wish. ’ Hizashi signed hands clenched as he finished and looked at the small boy remembering the way he had been shaking and crying remembering the way he had changed, the sheer power. If the commission or anyone else got a hold of him, what would they do to him to harness that power.  How would they use him as a political tool?  He couldn’t let that happen, especially not to a child!  But he was only 21 he’d just started his hero career a few years ago, he had no real power, could he fight the commission?

“There is one thing but I want you to understand just what you’ll be taking on Mic.” Tsukauchi began but seeing the determined look on Hizashi's face he went on,

“The Security cameras in the bank had audio,  we can take her last words as a ‘Last Wish contract’.” Tsukauchi said,  Hizashi frowned the term was vaguely familiar but he couldn’t remember what it was, Tsukauchi smiled a little

“Last wish contracts are a complicated part of the law and can only be upheld when certain conditions are met.  It was instituted following the disaster in Okinawa, several people lived long enough to ask heroes to fulfil last requests such as taking care of family members or ensuring a certain object was taken to a certain place or given to a specific person. While before the incident these last wishes were more of a moral obligation then legal some of the last wishes involved children and their care.  This resulted in the last wish contracts, these are legally binding and can only be made by a parent or guardian on behalf of their child with a hero.  Because she asked you specifically to take care of him and we have it on record, legally you can enact the ‘last wish contract’ and become the boy's legal guardian, or representative.” Tsukauchi explained.  Hizashi nodded.  He remembered now, he had forgotten because of how difficult Last Wish contracts were to approve.  It was very very rare to get any kind of record of the last wish beyond the hero and the victim making the wish.  That camera footage was probably the only reason Tsukauchi was making the suggestion. Without it Hizashi would never have the power on his own to take the boy in as his own.   He already knew he would, there was no question there.  Aside from how the woman had begged him to save her son, he would be damned if he left a child in the hands of the commission or some foreign government.

‘ I’ll do it.  She did ask me to take care of him, she begged me to save him.  I’m a hero, I couldn’t save her.  So I’m going to do my damnedest to protect this little guy .’ he said firmly.

Chapter Text

There was a weird sound as Izuku slowly roused from the darkness.  He felt weird, sleepy and weak but also very… aware?  He didn’t have a word for the feeling but all the sounds around him seemed extra loud and the smells so strong it almost hurt.  When he tried to open his eyes it was so bright his eyes burned from it and he whimpered rolling onto his side and scrubbing at them.  He was in a bed but not his bed. It felt wrong, the fabric felt too stiff and made his skin feel scratchy and there was something in his arm and on his finger.

“Hey little Listener, are you awake?”  Izuku shifted a little tilting towards the voice. It was soft, soothing, and familiar, he was trying to remember why when he felt something funny like... like something at the side of his head flicked or like something made his ear twitch but how did his ear move?

“T-too bright… too loud and smelly… too much.” he managed but even his own voice seemed like too much making him whimper from it.  He wanted his mommy, the bad man had grabbed mommy and the nice man had held him but, but then what happened?  He remembered the bad man getting angry and a loud noise louder than anything he had ever heard before but then it all got fuzzy.  His body had been hurting and hot and the voice that always talked was so, so, mad,  had the bad man hurt him? As he thought about this he realized that the sounds around him had become muffled and the light beyond his eyelids was dimmer.  Carefully Izuku peeked one eye open then both blinking back a few pained tears as he looked around confused

“W-what happened?” he questioned softly. He knew where he was now even if it was dark, he knew he was in a hospital.  Maybe that loud noise and pain meant the bad man had shot him?  Even though he grabbed Mommy, maybe he lied?  Villains lied a lot so Izuku could believe it.  Sitting in a chair beside the bed was the nice blond man, he was smiling but his eyes where red and his face looked sticky like he’d been crying, by the door was a tall man in black clothing arms crossed face half buried in a big gray scarf

The blonde man smiled weakly reaching out and touching Izukus hand gently his fingers where shaking but he was smiling, it reminded Izuku of how Mommy sometimes smiled even when she was sad, she’d hug him so tightly and tell him how much she loved him and then they’d watch a funny movie on TV until they where both crying from laughter instead.

“Wh-what can you remember?” he asked, Izuku frowned and carefully retread everything he could remember up to all the pain and… more… no wait, as he talked it out he remembered.  The pain fading from him before things began feeling so sharp.  How aware he had been of everything,  like the world around him had slowed.  He had felt like he was watching a show in slow motion.

“Sometimes things slow down on TV, and the sound goes kind of muffled but the character moves normally, it was like that in my head.” he explained thinking about how his eyes moved then, he felt his body act but he wasn’t the one moving it.  Everything had hazed over in an awful toxic green color and the world had felt so unnatural to him like he had been a passenger in his own skin… it was scary.  Everyone had moved so slowly, but not slow enough, never slow enough he could see it playing in his memory.

“He killed mommy…” Izuku said finally tears flowing freely as his hands trembled looking at them as it hit him, a young boy only five years old stared at his hands knowing…  he went pale, then he turned a sickly green, both men saw it, but before either could react Izuku lurched grasping the edge of the bed and puked.  Coughing and sobbing as he realized what he’d done, what the taste in his mouth was, why he was still alive but Mommy wasn’t. Oh god oh god oh god!  He puked again, gasping and wheezing sobbing out in panic and fear what had he done? The man in black had moved, opening the door and shouting something while the blond man had stood and grabbed a folded sheet off the counter wiping Izuku's mouth and rubbing his back gently making soothing sounds and speaking nonsense.  Or at least that's how it sounded through the rushing in Izukus ears.  It was so loud! He hated it but felt like he deserved every little bit of pain because he was bad.

“I-I killed him… I-I killed him I-I didn’t mean to I-I I…” he was stammering and gasping out harshly fighting to breathe as the feel of the blood in his mouth it had been wrong even the voice had been disgusted spitting it away as it had padded over to his mother, it like he had wept for the woman, why why was she hurt why did the bad man hurt her?  Because he was a villain and that's what villains did… but Izuku had done it, Izuku had killed that man so that made him a villain!  Izuku didn’t realize he was muttering it all until the blond man spoke

“No! No, kiddo you’re not a villain.  You’re a kid, something scary happened and someone hurt your mom. You just wanted to save her and stop the villain.  You’re not like him, I promise I Promise you.”  the blond man was holding him, rocking him and all Izuku could do was curl up fingers grasping at man's shirt as he sobbed harsh broken breaths, grief and horror consuming his mind as he wailed.  

Hizashi, despite his aching throat just kept repeating over and over no Izuku wasn’t a villain, he wasn’t bad, He had tried to do good he had saved a lot of people by stopping that man.  He kept talking and rocking the boy until his voice was so hoarse he had to stop, but he never stopped his movements, never letting go cradling Izuku close, fighting his own tears and feelings of guilt, because no child should ever feel this way.  It only took a moment for Aizawa to flag down a nurse but by then Izuku was slumping exhausted in Hizashis arms.  The boy looked so much smaller curled up in the tiniest ball he could manage small fingers never letting go of the shirt tears and bile on his face. With the help of the nurse Izuku was settled and cleaned up, his hospital gown changed and his IV which had become dislodged in his lurching panic re-administered. While he was tended to the floor was cleaned and his sheets were changed for fresh ones

“Here.” 

The grunted word broke Hizashi from his thoughts as he looked from the settled child and up to Shouta who was holding something out to him.  He stared dumbly at the fabric for a moment, confused at the meaning.  Shouta sighed a little seeming to realise and clarified 

“It’s all over you. I thought you might want to clean up and change, but I know you.  You’re not leaving his side are you?” he asked simply Hizashi gave a small smile in return shaking his head, no, no he wouldn’t leave.

“While he’s asleep at least go wash up a bit, you don’t want to smell like puke when he comes around.  I’ll stay right here, I promise you.” with Shouta’s reassurance that he’d keep watch over the little listener Hizashi slipped into the small bathroom and stripped.  He was quick, washing off the smell and damp feeling.  Changing into a too big T-shirt and sweatpants once clean Hizashi stuffed the soiled clothing into the bag the clothes had come in, as well as the tags he had popped off the clothing, not even wanting to know how much Shouta had paid at the hospitals little shop with it’s inflated prices.

“Thanks Shou, I didn’t even notice.” he admitted as he emerged feeling refreshed and clean, it wasn’t much really but it went a long way towards making him feel better. The dark haired man nodded and walked over reaching to cup the back of Hizashis head gently and pressed a kiss to his forehead in a rare show of affection that made his heart do little flip flops in his chest.

“It’s fine ‘zashi, They’ll be kicking me out soon. Only one of us can stay, and since you’re the official caregiver I gotta head home.” he said with a small smile as he pulled back brushing the blond hair back from his partner's face, dark eyes meeting sharp green as he gently took the bag of soiled clothing.

“Want me to toss these?” he asked softly, Hizashi frowned thoughtfully.  Even if Izuku hadn’t puked on them he probably would have had a hard time ever wearing them again, the trauma, the blood.  It was odd when he’d been younger he hadn’t understood the idea of people throwing away clothing after something traumatic happened, now he got it.

“Yeah uh, yes please… Hey, um, be careful heading home?  Make sure to eat something real, I know you, and I know you only had one of those jelly packs for lunch.” he said with a small teasing smile which Shouta returned before nodding and waving as if brushing off a nagging sibling

“I’ll make myself something, no worries, you focus on the kid ok?  Call me if anything happens or you need me ok?  I’ll clear out the spare room as well.” he said gently just as a nurse popped her head in and reminded them in a friendly manner visiting hours were coming to an end.  The two hugged tightly a long moment before parting Aizawa heading off home to eat, sleep and feed the cat while Zashi settled down for the night, pushing together the two chairs in the room to have a more comfortable sleeping space close enough to Izuku in case he was needed.  In the quiet he pondered his relationship with the underground hero.  They where really only roommates,  closer then that but not lovers,  certainly not brothers.  Hizashi might just lose his mind if Shouta ever said they where like brothers.  But what was there was undefined, had been ever since… Well that didn’t matter now.   He turned his attention back to Izuku and smiled,  he knew he wouldn’t sleep deeply but he’d accept that to make sure he could keep the child comfortable through the night.

As it was, through out the night the boy would rouse periodically from nightmares and would cry himself back to sleep in Hizashis arms.  Thankfully he didn’t puke again but sometimes he cried so hard Hizashi half expected it.  Deep heaving sobs would wrack his small body so that the voice hero had seriously considered calling a nurse for some kind of tranquillizer just so the boy didn’t make himself sick again!  Thankfully that didn’t happen and eventually Izuku would cry himself back to sleep.  It was around 7 in the morning that Dr. Tachiki came to check on Izuku again.  She was wearing the same clothing as the day before and they looked a little rumpled giving Hizashi the impression she’d probably caught a nap in a break room before continuing what must be a monster of a shift.  They quietly discussed what had happened the day before and plans were made for a therapist to see the boy as soon as possible.  As they spoke Nyomi was taking notes in a small book she’d produced from her coat pocket and jotted down a few things in a scrawl Hizashi couldn’t read but might have been English at some point between her brain and her hand.

“Cursory examination shows that his quirk eruption yesterday hasn’t agitated his body in any extreme way.   We had expected the nausea, I imagine it was only exacerbated by the trauma of remembering what happened. We both know about killers guilt so I won’t bore you with the whys and hows.  If he wakes in the next hour and can manage a solid meal he’ll be clear for discharge, I’ll be putting in a referral to paediatric psychiatry as soon as possible as well as contacting a quirk counsellor who specializes in late bloomers and false negatives in regards to transformative types.” she explained before pulling out a page  from the notebook and passing it to Hizashi with a small smile 

“Now, when it comes to things like counselling I know it can depend on comfort and rapport so this is a list of a few different counsellors and Psychiatrists so if he finds he struggles to work with either of the doctors he’s been referred to you may find one he works better with on the list.” she explained Hizashi looked over the note and nodded.  Actually now he was really looking he could read the names, and the numbers were a lot more clear.  Satisfied, the doctor shook his hand and went to inform the nurse of Izuku's care plan.  As expected within the hour the boy woke, not jolting awake but a slow rouse more fitting for a child as he scrubbed at his eyes and groaned sleepily. 

“Hey there kiddo, good morning.” Yamada managed, his voice sounding better after drinking a medicated tea provided by one of the nurses who had infused a bit of his own healing quirk into it. Big green eyes looked over and the boy managed a small weak smile

“G-good morning Sir.” he said shifting and sitting up carefully gasping as Hizashi moved to help him sit up. He obviously still felt weak but his color was better thankfully. Yawning again the boy stretched before pausing as if noticing something then looked at his hands

“I-I have claws.” he said, wiggling his fingers in mild awe.  

Izuku had been so upset the day before he hadn’t really had much time to take stock as it were.  He wasn’t hurting any more, and the burning pain was all gone. His tummy felt kind of gross, probably from being sick and crying so much, but it was much better then before.  Now he mostly felt hungry, sounds still seemed too loud and while the light was bright, it wasn’t awful like yesterday which was a relief.  When Izuku was done getting a feel for how he felt he looked over at The blond man who smiled in encouragement.

“Yeah, you do,  you have a few other changes too. Now that your quirk is active it’s possible these are going to stay or you might learn to pull them back in like they were before.” the man said encouragingly which made Izuku nod and feel a little better he didn’t want to accidentally hurt someone with his claws!

“We’ll be meeting a quirk counsellor to help you with that, and to just understand your quirk better in general, but not today ok little listener?” the man continued, again it tickled in his mind the phrase.  Unable to focus on why it stuck out Izuku instead reached up curiously, what other changes?  His face felt mostly normal but her felt a funny pattern on his cheeks that seemed to come and gone making his fingers tickle.  He followed along his cheeks and back to touch his ear remembering the weird flicking feeling and gasped at what he felt!

His ears had… had… fins? Like a fish? Or?  He wasn’t sure.  

His hair was longer too, it felt kind of rough like the horses mane at the zoo but it was still green and still very curly.  

As he examined the changes Hizashi paged a nurse and asked for a meal so Izuku could try and eat something.  The boy brightened a bit at the suggestion and Hizashi smiled, glad to see anything cheer the kid up.  Grief worked in odd ways and if Izuku had a few moments of levity away from his crying then Hizashi wouldn’t take it from him.

“M-mommy… momma said daddy had a dragon quirk, that he was super strong and saved lots and lots of people.” Izuku said slowly watching his hands as he moved them, scales rippling across his skin rising and sinking like water, it was an amazing sight for both of them, and Izuku wondered if that was what he felt on his cheeks.

“Ah yes, it seems that way.  Your mom had her ID and so we know your name is Izuku and your dad was an amazing hero in the UK and northern Europe.” Hizashi said with a smile Izuku nodded slowly looking over his hands, turning to the back to watch the scales move across his skin when he moved, then flipping them so his palms were facing up.  There were no scales on his palms but the skin seemed thicker, tougher maybe? 

“I … I did something really bad,  I didn’t mean to, I-I really didn’t, I just wanted to save Momma, but she died anyway.” he said softly taking a lot of deep breaths as fresh tears welled forcing them back because already his head was hurting from the threat.

“My head hurts so I don’t want to cry right now… Momma says food helps s-so I hope that I can eat soon.” he said looking to the man who nodded reassuring him food was on the way, as he did Izuku watched and listened and it hit him hard and fast a sudden bolt of knowledge

“Y-you’re P-Present Mic!” he said, stunned, staring wide eyed as he realised he was in the presence of one of the biggest up and coming heroes of the last couple years.