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Hizashi can’t actually remember the first time someone put a muzzle on him. And man is that a depressing thought. But seriously, his quirk came in at birth. By the time he was old enough to form conscious memories he had already been unceremoniously dumped by his birth family and bounced through half a dozen foster homes. He was honestly not sure which of them was the first to put a muzzle on him in an attempt to keep him silent. It had just sort of always been there.
Honestly, he understood. Really he did. He had been a kid with a powerful quirk and no control over it. They had just been scared, with no idea what to do or how to help. Hizashi liked to think the best of people. He’s sure they meant well. They didn’t mean to cause any sort of trauma. They were probably good people who just screwed up. (That thought was just one of the many reasons that Shouta would say he was too kind. Of course Shouta had his own reasons to be pissed at and traumatized by the system. The fact that he also got pissed on Hizashi’s behalf is just one of the many reasons he loved him.)
The problem was, even if they had meant well, it still traumatized Hizashi in ways he couldn’t fully explain. He tried. Oh how he had tried. He had spent hours talking through it with his therapist (not Hound Dog, never Hound Dog, just the sight of him in that muzzle sent Hizashi into a spiral) and all that resulted was an understanding that the trauma was there, and that muzzles were a trigger. He’s gotten better at handling being around them, because there were some circumstances when using a muzzle on a villain was a necessity (and there’s the whole having to work with Hound Dog, even if he does try to avoid looking at him most of the time) , but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t spend the nights after he’s seen one used silently screaming into Shouta’s chest.
The point is, muzzles are a trigger. That’s why, when he sees the so-called heroes put one on a student? Hizashi loses his proverbial shit. It doesn’t matter that Bakugo is a hot head, or a pain-in-the-neck, or that sometimes Hizashi struggles to even like the kid. He’s still a kid. One of Hizashi and Shouta’s kids. And he’s being treated like an animal.
He knows Shouta feels the same way. Knows it from the way that Shouta squeezes his hand and says “Go”, the moment they see the chained up kid rise up onto the stage. He knows that if his husband had even a modicum more strength he would be right at his side.
He never quite recalls how he makes it to the stage, but one second he’s in the booth and the next he’s on the stage bodily throwing himself between Bakugou and the so-called heroes. It’s all he can do not to unleash his quirk on all of them. They deserve it for ever thinking that muzzling a kid is an acceptable thing to do. (Dimly, he thinks that this must be how Shouta feels when he thinks about the way Hizashi was muzzled. He dismisses the thought though. The people who had muzzled him had thought they were doing the right thing. These so-called heroes just did it because they seem to think it’s funny.)
He snarls as Nemuri takes a step towards him. He must let some of his quirk out because she winces at the sound. Well, too bad. She should realize he has poor quirk control when triggered. They’ve certainly been friends long enough that this is a thing she should know. And if she can’t get why he would be triggered by this… well then maybe they weren’t as good of friends as he had thought.
Whether she realizes the cause or not, the snarl is enough to make her take a step back. It is only momentary, but that is enough time for Shouta to make it to his side. Dimly, Hizashi is aware that the other heroes expect Shouta to use his quirk in order to get Hizashi to calm down. Heh. Jokes on them. The last person Shouta is likely to use his quirk on is Hizashi. Nemuri and Snipe on the other hand… Well, if they try to use their quirks they might find it a bit difficult.
Some of that must show in Hizashi’s expression, since both take a step back that looks more instinctive than anything else. Or possibly it’s the fact that he seems to be growling. And when did he start doing that? It’s effective though, so he’s not really inclined to stop. Or at least not until Shouta lays a bandaged hand on his arm.
“Let’s see if he’s good for anything,” he breathes with a whispered glare toward the approaching All Might.
Hizashi nods. He still doesn’t trust himself to speak without his quirk manifesting. Luckily Shouta knows that. So he speaks for both of them. Impressive glare evident even through the bandages he grinds out, “You will get those chains off of our student.”
“Of course my boy.” All Might seems visibly shaken as he inches past the two of them to get to Bakugo. Still, it is the work of but moments for All Might to break the chains holding Bakugo. Hizashi catches the boy as he collapses, muscles clearly screaming from what was done to him. Then he carefully, oh so carefully removes the muzzle. He wants to rip it off, but he knows from experience that that can cause more harm than good. He has the scars to prove it.
Other people might assume that upon removal of the mask Bakugo would immediately begin to curse at those who put it on him. Bakugo himself probably would assume such a thing if presented with this as a hypothetical scenario. Hizashi knows better. There will be cursing later he is sure, but first there will be desperation. There always is. This too he knows from experience.
That is why he is ready when Bakugo begins to choke, frantically gasping for the oh so precious oxygen that was denied him only moments prior. “Easy,” Hizashi whispers. “Easy. Just follow my breathing. In and Out, In and out.” He lets his word fall into a soothing murmur. In total control of his quirk, if only for this moment. Because as mad as he is, this child is more important.
Shouta stands guard over them. The bandages that cover his form should make him look silly, or weak. They should, and they did when he was up in the booth with Hizashi. But here, standing guard over one of his students they just serve as a reminder. A reminder that this was one of the children that Shouta had stood against villains in order to protect. One the ones that he had nearly died for.
At last, Bakugo's breathing evens out. When it does, Hizashi stands, scooping the boy into his arms. And, oh, the boy is so light. He shouldn’t be that light. Something else to look into. But that’s for later. For now, “We’re taking him to Recovery Girl.” He snarls, the barest hint of his quirk in his voice. “None of you better stand in our way.”
To their credit, not a single person in the stadium does. Instead they part like the Red Sea to let the three of them pass. Hizashi can feel the weight of every eye on them as he walks head held high towards the school. He can feel Shouta beside him. Feel his partner’s beautiful brain already whirring with all the plans for actions that they’re going to have to make in response to this. But that is for tomorrow. Today is for protecting this child. But Tomorrow? Tomorrow is for making sure that none of U.A.’s children are ever muzzled again.