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“Hey Eraser?” the vigilante said quietly, not turning away from where he sat facing the skyline of their city.
“What is it kid?” the hero inquired, glancing over at the kid that was in every way that mattered his kid.
It had been a quiet night for the two of them. Not quiet in the sense that there was less criminal activity, but quiet because the kid was clearly thinking hard about something. He wasn’t as snarky as usual. The hero didn’t want to push him and knew that when he was ready the vigilante would tell him what was wrong. The kid had been getting better at that.
“I… I did something... bad,” he whispered, shrinking in on himself and pointedly looking away from Eraser.
“...Izuku, kid, I’m going to need more information than that,” he said calmly, trying to stop his panicked thoughts. He knew the kid wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone but the list of illegal activities he was willing to partake in to bring down bad people was extensive. And concerning.
“I don’t think it’s bad. It's just generally seen as bad. But like, it’s not going to affect anyone so it doesn’t really matter. I just know that it’ll matter to you which is why I kind of feel bad that I did it, but not really? Like I don’t regret doing it but I feel bad about how it will make you feel which sorta makes me want to do it again, because I feel bad, but not do it again because that’ll make it worse, but it kinda makes it better, so I guess if I keep doing it it’ll even out, but, like, the guilt will probably out way any relief I get but if you don’t know then I won’t have to feel so bad, but I’m an idiot because then I shouldn't have even said anything but-”
“Izuku!” Shota said, cutting off the kids rambling in a confused panic. He spoke slowly and calmly. “You are my kid, and I will care about and love you no matter what. What did you do?”
There was a long moment of silence, stretching for what felt like an infinity before Izuku shifted. He took a deep breath and let his anxiousness fade away to near nonexistence. It was replaced by the same calm and easily concealed apathy that Izuku held when they first met. As the kid moved, the tiniest whisper in the back of Shota’s mind got louder and he violently shoved it away because that woul dn’t be the case .
Izuku continued his easy movements and just like that, it was the case. Just like that, the tiny, terrible, dreaded suspicion that Shota held since the first time he saw this child risk his life so easily for a stranger, was true.
And it hurt so much more than anything he’d felt in years. It hurt and he couldn’t let it show because that would make it worse for his kid.
“I- I haven’t since before you brought me that first bento,” Izuku whispered into the silence, “but this morning… I don’t… I just..” He trailed off, lifting his head so he didn’t have to look at the wounds anymore, and finally looked into Shota’s eyes before simply shrugging.
He was so calm about it. Only a little anxious, worried about Shota’s reaction.
And Shota was shocked as he quickly put the information together. He gave Izuku that first bento seven months ago . His kid had been clean for seven months and now here he was, apathetically showing off the deep cuts in his arm.
They were clean cuts. Straight lines going across the inside of his bicep, surrounded by dozens of faded pink scars. They’d been cleaned up well and had clearly been bound earlier to help them close faster.
There wasn’t anything for Shota to do other than stare at the marred skin of his child. He wasn’t sure of what he could do to help.
He’d been where Izuku was once but he’d moved past it before anyone knew. Before they’d been discovered by his best friend who said nothing of them, although definitely seeing them, until Shota was ready.
But he was here now to help him. His kid wouldn’t have to work through his pain on his own.
Shota had sworn to himself that he’d never let his kid be alone like that.
“I’m gonna hug you now,” Shota mumbled, pulling Izuku to his chest. The kid tensed up for a moment before allowing himself to relax and just be held.
“I shouldn’t’ve spoke, huh?” he said quietly into Shota’s chest.
The hero tightened his grip just enough to be noticed and shook his head. “I’m glad you spoke,” Shota replied, “Please always, always , speak to me. We’re gonna figure this out. You’re not alone, okay kid? You’re never gonna be alone again.”
“I-“ Izuku started, his voice cutting out abruptly. He swallowed, taking in a breath that sounded close to a sniffle.
“Thank you,” he whispered, and Shota knew just how deeply he meant those words.
They stayed like that for hours, just sitting on a rooftop together until the vigilante, Izuku, his kid , fell asleep.
And even then Shota stayed.
He wasn’t going anywhere.