Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The interior of the Pub was a cacophony of beer bottles, cocktails, and elegant glasses clinking together on a background of laughter, pop music, and more or less successful flirting attempts.

Dave and his group of old friends from college had organized a reunion filled with fun and bad decisions, some of which (according to them) were "in the name of science" like, what combination of alcoholic beverages was needed to start seeing everything green?
In the end, they decided to scale the entire spectrum of the rainbow, cause’ why not?!
Hence Toshinori's decision to limit himself to a single mug of beer, so that at least one person would remain sane in case one of them tried to turn their cell phone into a malfunctioning quantum teleportation device.

"...Toshinori? TOSHINORI!!"

“Huh?” the blond, Japanese native, turned his attention from the sleek flat-screen TV above the bar to his friend “What?”

“Come on, Tosh” the alcohol-induced blush on the guy’s cheeks seemed to deepen as he pouted “The world isn't going to end just because you took a night off”

“I know”
“I asked you to come with us so you could relax and have some fun ..."
“I know”
“... Not so you could watch the TV!!”

“I was just listening the news” Toshinori defended himself “Nothing crazy”

“EXACTLY" Dave replied, tapping his forehead with a finger “Look, even if something big happens right now, the other 10,000 Pro Heroes of New York can handle it, not you!!”
He snorted, waving a hand as if to swat away a pesky fly.
"What's the point of taking two weeks off in America if you have to be the Number 1° Hero here too?! Relax for once Tosh, grab another beer, SOCIALIZE!! God knows you could use a date, someone nice to take your mind off work ..."

“You know I don't have time for a serious relationship, Dave” Toshinori sighed.

Not that this encouraged his army of adoring fans to fill his press office with letters and postcards, often containing offers far too risqué for his tastes.

But still …

“Even just a one-night stand is fine, how about ..." the american scientist looked around "... about her?" he pointed to a pretty redhead among a small group of other girls. The woman in question blushed slightly when she met Toshinori's gaze, before lowering her head and exchanging whispers with her friends.

"Daaaaave ..." Toshinori shook his head and chuckled.

"No? What about him?" the other insisted.
This time he motioned to a tall, dark-haired man near the entrance, who paused mid-sip of his drink when he noticed he was being watched.

"Do you really want to spend the rest of the evening pointing out every single person in this pub you think I might like?" Tosh snorted, rolling his eyes at his antics.

"Well, I'd be more efficient if you told me what you want"

"Dave, seriously, I'm fin-..."

"Oh, OH!! What about HIM?" Dave interrupted, practically forcing him to turn on his stool and look toward the stage where the live music was playing, in the back of the pub.

A man had just climbed onto it.

He looked older than Toshinori, in his forties, but with a breathtakingly sculpted physique: Broad shoulders, a deep chest, and a perfect six-pack, the kind that made teenagers gasp for their first time.
He had olive skin and thick, curly white hair that, left loose down his back, kinda reminded him a cloud. A neatly trimmed short beard, and finally, a pair of intense golden eyes that seemed to almost sparkle in the dim light.

He wore only a black leather jacket, open at the front for the sole purpose of brazenly displaying his merchandise, ripped light-colored jeans, and black boots.

The moment Toshinori's eyes met the man's, the latter's lips curved into a sharp, almost predatory smile, which caused him a warm shiver down his spine.

“Pride is a damsel in distress,

hiding away where only I can undress her.

Try she can not confess…”

He had a deep, regal voice. The kind of voice a lion would have if he could speak, but at the same time smooth and silky like butter.

Toshinori felt a sense of dizziness as he listened to him sing.

“Wow, he's as tall as your Might form” Dave casually noted, impressed “And just as muscular”

"U-Uh? Oh …" the blond coughed weakly, his throat suddenly feeling dry "Yeah, I noticed"

"... In the end, it's all the same once I apply all the pressure"

"... Ooooh, are you considering the idea?" Dave whispered slyly, startling him.

"W-What?! NO!!" Toshinori stammered embarrassedly "I-I mean, he's ... he’s sexy, I guess, but ..." he glanced at the anonymous singer, who moved across the stage as if he owned it.

"Well, you know what? If you don't try, then I will!!"

"Dave, you married …"

"Ah-AH!! So you ARE interested!!"

"You're impossible ..."

"It could be mutual!! I mean, he's staring at you too, Toshiiii˜..."

"Lightning wields her, use and yield her.

Show her what she can't conceal..."

Toshinori stopped recording the rest of Dave's teasing, too absorbed in the burning gaze of the man who was, in fact, staring back at him.

"...For true nature will be revealed..."

He didn't even realize he'd completely missed the rest of the song until the roar of applause snapped him out of his trance, making him feel as if there'd been a time warp of a few minutes where he had no idea what had happened.

In any other context, that would have been worrying. Hell, if Gran Torino had been there, he certainly would have given him a good scolding about awareness.

Then the man stepped off the stage and, to his horror, walked right toward them.

"… So, honey, did you enjoy the show?"

God … even when he spoke normally, his voice sounded melodious.

This, combined with the fact that he was clearly UNDRESS him with his eyes, sent Toshinori's mind completely haywire. He had no idea how to act without looking like an idiot, so he stalled by downing the rest of his beer in one gulp.
Oh, and Dave's sly expression didn't help.

"A-Ah, yeah, interesting lyrics" he finally managed to say after clearing his throat "Never heard that before"

"I wrote it" the man boasted, claiming the empty stool to his left without bothering to ask permission "It's not something I do often, but that day I felt particularly ... inspired, so to speak, name’s James ..."

He offered his hand.

"James Dedios"

"Toshinori Yagi" the reply escaped his lips before he could even think it as he returned the squeeze.

"Japanese?" James commented, not letting go of Toshinori's hand "I wouldn't have guessed, you have all the attributes of a son of the West" The blond was about to reply, but the words died in his throat when James brought his hand to his mouth, brushing his lips over the knuckles "Nice to meet you, Toshinori"

He pronounced his name with the same care with which a believer might pronounce a prayer.

Now, Toshinori was absolutely certain he was blushing.

"… Oh look, the boys are calling me" Dave suddenly stated, rising from his stool with a smirk.

"W-Wha-…?! DAVE!!"

"See you later, Toshi, have fun!!"

Toshinori couldn't help but stare in disbelief as his friend abandoned him with a stranger. A handsome stranger, but still a stranger.

"Nice guy, your friend" James commented, laughing good-naturedly.

"He's nicer when he's sober" the blond grumbled -And when he's not trying to play cupid- he added mentally.

"I'll take your word for it" James smiled "So, can I buy you another beer?"

Talking to James was ... easy, easier than he expected once he got over the initial awkwardness (thanks, Dave). The fact that James was naturally charming certainly helped, as he had no problem guiding the conversation until Toshinori felt comfortable enough to participate more actively.

He was a judge.

"This is the first time I've met a judge with a rock star soul" Toshinori joked, gesturing to his clothes.

"Every place has its own outfit" James smiled "You're not in costume either"

"Hahaha, touché!!"

Toshinori had told him he was a Pro Hero, but not that he was All Might. In fact, his alter ego's name never came up once in the entire conversation. A fact Toshinori appreciated more than he cared to admit. Not that he normally minded talking about it; in fact, he was always interested in discreetly probing whether people thought he was doing a good job as the Symbol of Peace.
The problem was that most people who talked about All Might with him (without knowing they were the same person) ended up giving him a lot of unsolicited details about how and why they'd happily bed him.

When James asked about his power, he remained vague, calling it a simple Quirk that enhanced physical strength.

"What about yours?" Toshinori asked curiously.

"Thunder Bringer" James replied with a cocky smile.

It allowed him to create and control lightning.
Toshinori found himself watching with barely concealed fascination the way the thin ribbons of electricity danced along James's arms.

Lightning, an element that by its nature should be untamable, was docile in the judge's hands, bending and twisting into whatever shape he desired without a single spark going unchecked.

They left the pub together that evening.

"I had a good time with you tonight" James informed him, his fingers brushing his jaw "And I'm not the type of person who likes to beat around the bush, even at the risk of sounding … inelegant"

Toshinori let the other man lift his chin.
James's lips met his a fraction of a second later, in a kiss the hero more than willingly accepted.

It was brief, barely a taste of what they both wanted.

"I'd like to have you tonight" the older man stated bluntly as they parted. "If you're willing."

"Yes" Toshinori exhaled, licking his lips "My house or yours?"

"Where do you live?"
"Five blocks from here"
"My house, then, is closer"
"Good"

"This way …" James nodded, placing his hand behind his back as Toshinori sent a quick text to Dave.

The judge lived in a beautiful apartment that occupied the entire top floor of a building a couple of streets away from the pub. The style was an elegant mix between modern and neoclassic, with white marble floors paired with mostly dark furnishings.
What caught one's attention was the large collection of marble busts, bronze miniatures, and ceramics depicting scenes from ancient Greece. All were exquisitely crafted and well-maintained, the kind one would expect to find in a private classical art gallery.

One of the busts, in alabaster with gold inlays, depicted a woman with hard, proud features, wearing a helmet with an owl carved in relief.

"Athena" James informed him.

"Oh, I know her!!" Toshinori said "She's the Greek Goddess of wisdom, right?"

"AND war"

"Wasn't Ares the guy of war?"

"Ares is the God of slaughter and blood. He embodies war in its most monstrous form, exalting its fury and passions" James explained, moving closer "Athena, on the other hand, represents its strategic side, protecting the warrior's human qualities ..."

Toshinori felt his breath on his neck as he removed his jacket, sliding it down his shoulders.

"... She instills discernment and patience in the hearts of soldiers"

"You talk like ... an expert..." the blond noted, tilting his head slightly to ease his access.

James kissed the spot where his neck met his collarbone "I am"

There was something in the way he said it that seemed to imply more than bookish knowledge, but Toshinori was too caught up in the moment to think about it.

The rest of their clothes were removed and dropped, piece by piece, forming a trail that led them to the bedroom.

***

Chapter Text

It had been almost a year since his last battle with All for One.

Almost a year since he'd nearly died alongside his sworn enemy.
Almost a year since his entire world had been turned upside down by knowledge that, in that modern age, very few people possessed.

A faith that hadn't been practiced in millennia.
Myths he'd always thought were nothing more than fairy tales invented by the ancients to explain phenomena they couldn't yet explain with science. Names he believed belonged to fictional characters who never actually existed.

The Gods of ancient Greece, the heroes of mythology …

… Were REAL.

And he had been on Olympus, albeit for a few weeks (most of which he'd spent in a coma). Brought there by the man he'd thought, until recently, was a normal man, a simple civilian with an electric Quirk.
A man he'd fallen madly in love with and, for that very reason, had decided to leave for fear he'd become a target.

A man who wasn't a man at all.

“… Hello, Tosh”

The hero gasped in surprise when he found a familiar silhouette waiting for him, standing in the dim light near the French doors of his bedroom.

A flash of lightning briefly illuminated his face.

James …

… no, Zeus.

The King of the Gods himself, who no longer cared to appear before him in his modern mortal disguise.
In fact, he wore a white chiton woven with gold threads, knee-length and secured on the right shoulder with a gold buckle embossed with a lightning bolt. An ochre-colored cloth belt encircled his waist.

“You shouldn't be here” Toshinori muttered.

“That’s what you said last night …” the God pointed out, with a small, affectionate smile.

“Last night was a mistake”

“… And the night before?” Zeus continued, his gaze absently wandering over the old awards Tosh had won during his years at U.A “And before”

"I've made many mistakes lately” Toshinori admitted irritably, turning his back on him.

The Lightning Bringer hadn't been able to stay away from him for long, although (and Toshinori had to give him credit for it) he'd tried.
But clearly, from his perspective, a few months should have been more than enough time for his mortal lover to digest the fact that all his atheist beliefs had been completely shattered.

Aside from the fact that he had been, albeit unknowingly, the lover of the GOD KING OF OLYMPUS.

Lover, the word gave him hives just thinking about it.

Turning his back to him was a mistake, as he immediately felt the others hands rest on him, massaging his shoulder blades with his thumbs. An achingly familiar touch that still managed to melt him, despite everything.

“Do you want me to leave, my Eagle?”
Fingers danced upward, along the throat, and his traitorous body shivered for that. Not in the bad way.

“Yes …”

He hated how uncertain his voice sounded as she turned to face him. That was a mistake too, cause' there were barely a few millimeters separating their lips now.

“Where do you want me to go?” Zeus asked.

“I don't know, away, away from here … maybe to your wife” the blond couldn't help to hiss “You know? The Queen of Olympus, your lawful wife since, I don't even know, millennia?”

“I am perfectly aware of who my wife is, Tosh”

“Then why do you insist on coming here?”

"Because I love you"

Toshinori looked away without saying anything, visibly torn.

“…Do you REALLY want me to leave?” the king of Olympus asked one last time, but not before brushing his lips in a half-kiss that completely destroyed Toshinori's will to resist.

-Oh, fuck you- the hero pulled off his shirt, staring at him in silence for a few moments before wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing him voraciously.

Zeus's mouth tasted like wine and honey.
One taste was enough to make him want more, and more …

… He would deal with his moral conflicts the next day, as always.

***

Toshinori woke with the unusual feeling that everything was a little too ... breezy?

This seemed strange to him, because he wasn't the type who liked to go to sleep naked, unless "sleep" was preceded by another kind activity that required removing his clothes.
He looked at himself and was surprised to see that, yes, he was wearing clothes, but not HIS clothes. He was wearing what looked to him like some kind of strange one-piece nightie, made with a single white cloth wrapped around his torso and held up by a buckle on the shoulder with a simple circular decoration. It was knee-length, cinched with a blue cloth sash with gold edges. The fabric felt cool and soft against his skin, almost pleasant, except that it made him feel uncomfortably exposed.

The knowledge that he wasn't wearing underwear made him feel embarrassed. However, the feeling quickly faded when he saw the enormous scar that ran across most of his abdomen.

A macabre, stylized flower with thin, distorted petals.

It was then that he remembered.

The final battle with All for One.
That gigantic bone spike piercing him from side to side …

… Him lying on the ground, on the verge of death.

-What the hell …?!- he thought, staring at his scar in shock.
How the hell was he still alive?! He and All for One had fought in an isolated place, far from the city, and Toshinori hadn't told anyone where he ... was ... going ...

Fuuuuck.

-If All for One didn't kill me then Gran Torino and Mirai surely will do it, for going off to face the bastard alone … shit. How much time has passed?- he mused anxiously -Where am I?-

"Oh!! You're awake!" a voice suddenly commented, startling him.

He was a man, between twenty and thirty years old.

He had tanned skin, long blond hair that fell loosely in soft waves over his shoulders, and amber eyes.
He wore a short white cloak over his shoulders, held together by a golden semicircle, and what Toshinori assumed was some kind of skirt with a pattern of yellow and orange bands. Golden sandals that laced up to his calf completed the look.

"Finally, you took your time" the stranger declared "I was starting to worry that you would descend into the Underworld despite my hard work, and then who would hear my father?"

Toshinori stared at him, blinking weakly "What- ...?! Who are you?"

He surely didn't look like a doctor, at all, but to be fair the place didn't really look like a hospital neither. Had he been kidnapped by any chance? He wasn't tied up, thought …

"Apollo" the man smiled, running a hand through his hair charmingly "Son of Zeus, and the one you have to thank for still being alive … and in a good shape too, your welcome"

The hero stared at him for several moments before raising an eyebrow in confusion.

“Uh, is that your Hero name, or ...?” then he thought, -Apollo…? Really? Like the God of…?!-

“…Of music, medicine, prophecy” Apollo replied promptly, as if he read his mind “Even of the sun, since Helios decided to dump his duties on me to settle down with that sea nymph. So no, it’s not my Hero name, dear, it’s my REAL name”

Now, Toshinori wasn’t the kind of person who got scared easily (he wouldn’t been able to become the “Symbol of Peace” otherwise), yet he struggled to restrain the urge to back away on the bed when the other man approached him. I t was strange. The man didn’t really look threatening; in fact, he seemed rather friendly. But there was SOMETHING about him. Like some kind of supernatural aura that made him feel anxious.

The kind of anxiety a rabbit would feel when faced with a wolf.

Was it his Quirk?

The stranger must have sensed the effect he was having on him because he tried to offer a reassuring smile.
“Don't worry, I have no intention of harming you” he pointed out “After all the effort I put into saving you!! Do you have any idea what state your internal organs were in? I had to feed you a lot of ambrosia to stabilize you”

He'd fed him WHAT?!

"I'm sorry about the unsightly scar. I couldn't fix that, but look on the bright side: your stomach and lungs are all in one piece again!! Healthy and functioning!! So I'd say you're been lucky"

"Wait a minute, I don't understand ..."

"Oh, me neither!! This is the first time Father has cared so much for a mortal" Apollo interrupted him with a chuckle, before adding in a soft voice "He must really love you ..."

The hero wanted to insist for an explanation, but the sudden sound of a door opening, slamming loudly against the wall, interrupted him.

"TOSHINORI!!"

"... JAMES!!??"

***

"... Would you have left?”

Zeus was lazily stroking Tosh's back, running his fingers along the muscles from the shoulder blades to the base of his spine, when he asked that question. A question to which the god responded with a puzzled look.

“I mean, if I had explicitly said no” the hero explained “would you have left, or…?”
—…Or would you have take what you wanted regardless of my consent?— That question had been buzzing around his head for a while now, ever since he’d discovered the truth. Because if even HALF the stories Toshinori had read in the mythology books were true (yeah, he’d felt the need to inform himself), then, to say Zeus’s love life had been “borderline” was an understatement.

Zeus seemed to have guessed the rest of the question, even though he hadn’t had the courage to say it out loud “I would have left…” he replied calmly.

“Really?”

“Yes” 

The God sighed.

“Look, I know that many of the myths about me are unflattering” he admitted “And I won’t lie, many of them are true. The control me and my kind had over our impulses back then was quite poor”
He paused briefly “Mortals revered us, and reverence is … like a fine wine, you know? One sip is enough to make you addicted; their perception of us influenced us as much as our stories influenced them. But millennia have passed since then, the world has changed … we have changed ...”
His hand lowered to intertwine with Toshinori’s on the pillow.

“I would never hurt you Tosh, and I’m willing to swear on the Styx if it makes you feel better.”

The blond looked at him intently, searching for any sign of deception.

He found none.

“… I believe you”

*** 

A man had suddenly burst into the room.

It was James, but at the same time ... he wasn't? He looked taller and more muscular than he remembered, with a pair of shiny black bull horns protruding proudly from the white curls, surrounded by a crown of gold leaves.
He also wore a robe in the same style as Apollo, only white with gold details.

"Tosh!!" James approached, his face frozen in an expression somewhere between concern and relief. "Thank the Fates, you're okay!!"

"J-James, is that really you? What the …?!"

"All right, time for me to go" Apollo exclaimed, heading for the door "I'm sure you have a lot to talk about"

James nodded, glancing at him “... Son”

“Yes, Father?”

“Thank you”

Apollo looked at him in surprise for a moment, as if he wasn't used to being thanked, then smiled “You're welcome”
With that, he walked away, leaving them alone.

Toshinori had SO MANY questions.
First: “Father”? James had never told him he had a son. Shouldn't such a significant detail have come out in two years of dating? And this new look. Where did the horns come from? Why was he wearing some kind of toga? Why were ALL of them wearing some kind of toga? What had happened?! Why was James there?

“I'm so glad you're alive, my Eagle” James took his hands, looking at him gently “How do you feel?”

“I-I …”

Physically speaking, he was fine, as impossible as that should be.
His memories may be a bit hazy, but he remembered being in desperate conditions and there was no one with him to offer him assistance.

He was dying ...

“…I’m fine” he finally stammered “James, you…you should be in America, why are you here?”
W

here exactly was “here”?

James sighed, sitting down next to him on the bed. “I’m sorry, I would have preferred to tell you the truth under different circumstances, but you forced my hand a bit by suddenly running away to Japan”

“What truth?”

“The truth about who I really am …”

***

The next morning, Toshinori was already putting on his costume to go doing his work while Zeus watched him from his bed, lying on his side.

“We’ll hold a fest next week, on Olympus” Zeus said, supporting his head with one hand. “On the occasion of the summer solstice…”

“Oh, yeah?”

“…I’d love it if you came”

Tosh stopped in the act of tying his cloak, surprised by the proposal “Are you serious?”

“Only if you like” the God reassured him.

“I … I don’t know, I mean …” Toshinori chewed his lip, uncertain “Will your entire … DIVINE family be there, I assume?”
-And your wife- he added in his head, without saying it aloud.

“You wouldn’t be the only non-family guest” Zeus revealed, rising from bed “It doesn’t happen often, but it’s not that uncommon for some mortals to be granted the honor of visiting Olympus”

“I’m still not sure it’s a good idea”

“No pressure” Zeus murmured, briefly raising both palms in surrender “If you decide to come, just say my name, I’ll come to you right away and …” He caressed his cheek, gently running his thumb over his lips “I promise we'll take a moment to talk, about our relationship”

The blond seemed surprised by the proposal “Do you really mean it?”

“Yes”

“…I'll think about it” Tosh promised after a moment's thought.

“That's all I ask” Zeus smiled before kissing him "... Have a nice day at work, Eagle"

Then he disappeared in a flash of electric sparks.

***

Chapter Text

The first thing Toshinori wondered after learning the truth about his lover was how the hell was it possible that NO ONE knew about the existence of the divine?

Zeus answered that question by explaining him how the "Mist" worked.

The Mist was the supernatural force that distorted mortals' perception, preventing them from seeing the divine world with the right clarity. Essentially, the Mist altered the reality as perceived by mortals, transforming mythological creatures, Gods, and magical events into something that was familiar or, at least, acceptable to their minds ...

... A force that, for some reason, it HAD STOPPED working on Toshinori.

At first, he hadn't paid much attention at it.
Having grown up in a world where superpowers were the norm, it wasn't that unusual to cross creepy women with spider-like attributes or men who could separate their head from the body. His reaction to these things had been a simple: "It must be their Quirk ...", without any malice or suspicion from him, since it didn't seem like they were doing anything wrong.
However, as the weeks passed, Tosh began to notice that what HE saw didn't always match with what THE OTHERS saw.

At least not entirely.

Kitsune, Jorōgumo, Ōkubi, Nekomata, Wanyūdō … were just some of the creatures he could have sworn he'd seen wandering around; in the shadows of alleys, in the reflections of windows, hidden among people or darting through traffic.
And yet, where he was sure he was looking at a Raijū, the person next to him saw a normal cat, and so on.

"It's curious" Zeus had said about it "Of course, knowing the truth about my world should have weakened the Mist around your eyes, but not removed it entirely"

“So, you have no idea why I see these things?”

“I'll try to ask Hecate if she knows anything. As the Goddess of Magic and Crossroads, the Mist it's hers to control …” He then joked that if Tosh had been in America or Europe, instead of Yokai and ghosts, he would have see Minotaurs, Hydras, and winged horses.

So, yeah, the other Pantheons were real too!!

Each of which governed its own territory and its own believers, without interference from the others. Zeus himself, despite being the King of his Pantheon, had to ask permission from the Kami if he wanted to enter in Japan, and vice versa.

The fact that Toshinori had managed to assimilate all these informations without his brain imploding was a great achievement.

Anyway, the fact that the Mist wasn't working on him anymore was what allowed him to see Olympus in its true, glorious, form.

"Welcome to Olympus" Zeus declared as they appeared, in a flash of electric sparks, at the entrance to his palace. In the very center of Olympus.

Majestic palaces of gold and marble rose proudly between the white clouds, in a blaze of light and splendor, surrounded by lush gardens and sparkling waterfalls.

It was breathtaking.

"Wow, it's... it's amazing ..." Toshinori said sincerely, looking around in awe "All of this, are we seriously on the top of the Empire State Building?"

"Our Pantheon moved here from Greece, following the heart of Western civilization, which is now primarily identified with the United States" the Thunder Bringer explained.

"Incredible"

The air was cool and bright, with a pleasant breeze that swayed the folds of their clothes.

Toshinori didn't think he would wear a chiton (or whatever was considered fashionable in ancient Greece) again, but modern age or not, the Gods still cared for their original dress code and were more than happy to stick to it, especially in their own home.
Zeus had kindly made his wardrobe available to Tosh so he could see with what he felt most comfortable. In the end, he'd settled on a light, short-sleeved white tunic that reached just below the knee, its edges decorated with gold, geometric embroidery. Over that tunic, he'd added a light blue "chitoniskos" with an eagle's open wing embroidered on it, along the length of the fabric pulled toward his right shoulder by a round brooch.
A pair of golden bands, wrapped around the upper right bicep, completed the look.

“Shall we go?” Zeus smiled, offering him his arm “Now, as the lord of the house, I have the duty to welcome the most important guests, so I'll have to hang around the atrium for a while, but you can go ahead and make yourself comfortable”

“If you say so, but …” Tosh gave him a serious look “… We’ll talk later, right?”

“Of course” the God nodded, stroking the back of Tosh's neck “I promised you, didn’t I? But in the meantime ..." he kissed his forehead  "... have fun”

“Okay”

Contrary to what Tosh feared, socializing with nymphs, satyrs, and other mythological creatures was less complicated than he expected. None of them looked at him strangely, nor asked him questions like “What are YOU doing here?” In fact, they were more than happy to chat, or better yet, gossip, with anyone who would listen.
It wasn't all that different from the charity galas he'd attended as All Might.

In any case, just to be safe, the blond decided to wander around the only place he felt even slightly familiar with.

The buffet table.

There he fell madly in love with a layered dessert made with honey, dried fruit, and black pepper. One of the satyrs  had called it "gastrin" or something; it was so gooooood ...

“… Well, well, the mysterious new lover of the King has finally decided to show himself?” a female voice commented, catching his attention.

“I-… GAH!! I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, I SWEAR!!”

Toshinori screamed, quickly covering his eyes with his hands the moment he saw the MOSTLY NAKED figure of the woman who had approached him.

She was almost a head shorter than him.
Long coral-red hair, which seemed to fade to pink depending on how the light hit it, framed a face with perfect features; she kept it mostly loose, in soft waves decorated with strands of pearls and rose petals that reached almost to her ankles.

The woman let out a delighted giggle at his reaction. “Aawwh, aren't you adorable?” she chirped “Don’t worry, I like being looked at …”

Tosh hesitantly peered between his fingertips, and a pleasant scent of roses suddenly enveloped the two of them.

She wasn't wearing a real dress. Her entire outfit consisted of nothing more than a single piece of fabric resembling a purple stole, long and thin, wrapped around her body. One of her breasts was left completely exposed, while the rest of the fabric, sliding down her hips like a "skirt" barely exceeded her femininity.

The more the blond looked at her, the more he wanted to...

-What the hell am I thinking?- Toshinori shook his head violently, gripping the edge of the table as if it were a lifeline 'cause, what the hell ...? He wasn't sixteen anymore!! Seeing a half-naked woman, no matter how sexy, shouldn't have that effect on him.

And where the hell was Zeus?! He needed him to come there ...

… He needed him to kiss him…

… to tell him how much he loved him…

… to pin him against the nearest wall and…

-…The fuck?! Why am I thinking about THIS now?!- Toshinori fumed, blushing profusely.

“Oh darling, you don’t have to be ashamed, you’re mortal after all” the woman consoled him, staring at him with her intense amethyst eyes “And, in my presence, even the Gods have a hard time resisting the desire, especially when they’re already in love with someone …”

“Your … presence …?” Toshinori stared at her uncertainly “Who are you?”

“Sweetheart, haven’t you figured it out yet?” the redhead teased playfully “I’m Aphrodite”

-The Goddess of Love?- Tosh realized, blinking.

“You are Toshinori, right?” the Goddess said “I’ve been dying to meet you. You don’t look Japanese at all”

“A-Ah, Zeus said the same thing too” the blond muttered, still half-dazed “When we first met”

Aphrodite laughed, and the scent of roses became even stronger.
“I'm surprised he managed to keep you hidden for almost three years; usually he's much more obvious. How are things between you? I can feel your shivers of love, you know” she smiled, running her tongue over her full, red lips “And they taste sooooo sweet, even though with a slight aftertaste of doubt ... I wonder why?”

“I-I…”

“Aphrodite, dear, have some mercy” a new voice entered the conversation “You'll end up killing him of embarrassment”

"I was just a little curious" Aphrodite defended herself "My queen"

-QUEEN?- Toshinori swallowed nervously at the newcomer.

She was as tall as him in his Might form. She had a less curvaceous build than Aphrodite, slimmer, but no less captivating.
Her skin was smooth and milky white, without a trace of imperfection; long black hair pulled back in an elegant low bun, and big, intense blue-green eyes.
She wore a long light blue dress (a "peplos" if he remembered the name correctly?) with a dark blue cape decorated with peacock feathers. On her head, she wore a golden crown similar to a hairband.

He wasn't yet versed enough in mythology to distinguish the different Gods from each other, but the woman before him ...

…There was only one Goddess Queen universally recognized as being connected to peacocks.

“You should go back to Ares, I fear a fight is about to break out between him and Ephestus”

Aphrodite’s eyes widened at the warning “Oh no, my sweet soldier …!!”
The Goddess of Love immediately walked away, toward two males who, indeed, appeared to be arguing.

“That should keep her busy for a while” the woman gave Toshinori a knowing smile. “I must say, I’m impressed. Aphrodite doesn't hold back her aura at these parties; any mortal by now would have tried to jump on her or … whoever the object of his desire is”
She opened a fan, also decorated with peacock feathers, and the scent of roses faded noticeably, making him feel less dizzy “Tell me, Toshinori Yagi, do you know who I am?”

“Hera …” replied the blond, who had never been so close to having a panic attack.

'cause Zeus's WIFE was there, before him.
What was he supposed to say to her? "Sorry I fucked your husband, you're not going to turn me into a toad for that, are you?" It sounded ridiculous even only to think it. Sure, on the one hand, he didn't want to be turned into an animal or incinerated on the spot, but on the other ...

...Hera had a right to be angry with him, Zeus was HER husband.

And he hadn't even had the decency (or the strenght) to end the relationship after finding out that.

The goddess was about to speak, but he beat her to it.

“I’m so sorry!!” the Hero exclaimed “I never meant to ruin your marriage, or cause you pain!! If I’d known better, I would never …” He shook his head, visibly distraught. “You have the right to hate me, and if … i-if you here to ask me to leave him, I… I will … e-even if it breaks me, and regardless of what he says …”

“Darling, breathe …” Hera’s voice was calm and gentle “I didn’t come here to hurt you, nor to ask you to do anything”

“… Y-You're not?”

Something that sounded suspiciously like an amused snort escaped the Queen’s lips "I’m starting to see why he likes you” she murmured to herself, before smiling at him “Grab a cup of wine and follow me, will you? I'd like to talk with you ...”

***

He found himself sitting on a klìne, sipping wine diluted with honey next to his lover’s wife.
Since he didn't know what to say, he waited for her to speak first.

“… You know, the myths you mortals wrote about my marriage to Zeus paint a far too simplistic picture of what it really is” Hera began “The unfaithful, tyrannical husband versus the jealous, hysterical wife who takes it out on his poor lovers, oh dear!!”

“It wasn't like that?”

“It was, at the beginning. We are immortal beings, Toshinori. The moment WE love someone, we know we will love them forever” There was something solemn in the way she said it “There’s no ‘till death do us part’, no divorce settlements. I’m not even his first wife; he’s had six before me”

Tosh almost choked with the wine. “Wha-…?! S-SIX?!”

“Metis, Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto” Hera listed in an almost affectionate tone “Each one of them has had and will always have a special place in his heart, because he loved them … even if it was out of duty”

“Duty?”

“After we emerged victorious from the Titans Wars, many of them were cast into Tartarus” Hera explained “However, several of them played important roles in the fabric of the universe that needed to be filled to maintain balance, and on that time there were only six of us. As king, it was his duty to ... compensate”
She paused briefly, letting the mortal grasp the implications of what she was saying.
“But Zeus and I always knew we were destined for each other” she continued “I waited for him as long as it took, knowing that after me, no one else would have the privilege to be his queen”

“It sounds romantic” Toshinori admitted reluctantly, though he still didn’t understand the queen’s point.

“The point is: I will exist forever, HE will exist forever” Hera said “And eternity is a long time, TOO long to live it without feeling the desire to get closer to other people too. The root of our problems was that, as the Goddess of Marriage, I couldn’t allow myself to love anyone other than my husband. This made our relationship unequal, so I found a solution: Remove Marriage from my domains and hand it over to Hestia”

Hera smiled slightly at the sight of her mortal lover chatting with Dionysus “Do you see that man over there?” she pointed out "His name is Flavio Crociata. He's a mortal just like you ... and my lover"

Toshinori looked in surprise at the young man in his thirties laughing in the distance. A handsome, friendly man with wheat-colored hair and dark eyes.

"This means that you and Zeus ...?"

“We agreeded to open our marriage” Hera nodded “I still love him, of course, and he loves me. It’s just that our relationship has become more … flexible, there are no more secrets between us. In fact he’d already told me about you”

“So you don’t care if we …?”

“Love each other? No” the Goddess reassured him “As you can see, I’m perfectly cool with it. I'm actually surprise you didn't know. Didn't Zeus tell you anything?"

"Not really, no"

"Then maybe you should talk with him about it"

"Yeah, I should" Toshinori took a last sip of wine from his cup before standing "I, uh... thanks for the chat and... for not turning me into a toad?"

Hera laughed at that and her laughter caught Flavio's attention, who ran over to her with a big smile on his face "Hera!! There you are, where have you been ...?"

Toshinori didn't hear the rest of their conversation, having already left to look for Zeus. Oddly, he found him alone, leaning against a column with his arms folded.
From the look he gave him, Tosh got the impression he was waiting for him.

"My Eagle" he whispered softly "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"I spoke to your wife" the mortal declared, wanting to get straight to the point.

Zeus's expression remained unwavering "Oh, really? In that case, I hope your discussion has been enlightening"

"You knew" Tosh realised "You knew Hera would come to speak to me"

"I ... hoped so" the God admitted, approaching "I knew you needed a reassurance about us after all you've read"

"Why not tell me those things yourself?"

"Would you have believed me if I had?"

“I …” Toshinori closed his mouth.
Would he believe him? He had believed him when he swore he'd never hurt him, but this thing was different. After all, how many unfaithful husbands don't make up sweet stories to convince their lovers not to leave them?

The truth is that he didn't know …

“It's okay, Tosh" Zeus smiled “My reputation speaks for itself, I understand”

“Hera said she doesn't care if ... if we're together”

“That's true” Zeus confirmed “Hera doesn't care if I sleep with mortals anymore, as long as I return to her ... and I will, one day, when your soul will descend to the Elysium …”

“…”

“…If you still want me by your side, of course”

Toshinori wanted it, he wanted it so badly.

His Master had to give up her own son for adoption to avoid putting him in danger, so Tosh had assumed that he could never have a real relationship, nor fall in love with someone without fearing for his safety.
And he had accepted it, or at least he thought he had until he met Zeus.

Zeus, who was immortal and he couldn't be killed or harmed…

He could love him and be loved by him, without any fear that something would happen to him because of him or his inheritance.
He didn't have to choose between love and his career; he could have both.

Tears began to form in his eyes, in a similar way to the ones he'd cried when he'd written that farewell letter to James; before leaving to fight  All For One.

His watery silence began to worry the King of Olympus. "Tosh? Are you—..."

For the first time in months, Toshinori took the initiative and kissed him.

***

Chapter Text

“… Dad, you think that … t-that even though I don't have a Quirk …”

Little Izuku squeaked in the dim light of his bedroom. Hot tears streamed down his chubby cheeks as he pointed to the computer screen, the only source of light in the room in that moment.

The video of All Might's official debut.

“… Could I ever … b-be like… l-like him?”

"Izuku..."

"Could I ever be a hero, like All Might?"

Gods didn't really have a DNA, at least not in the sense intended by mortals.
Their genetic trails, if you could call them that, usually manifested in their mortal children through traits such as dyslexia, ADHD, and, most importantly, the specific powers or abilities of their divine parent.

That's why Hermes, the divine messenger of the Olympus, wasn't surprised when Inko called to tell him about the doctor visit after which their child had been officially declared Quirkless.

To him, it was obvious that the Divine Heritage would prevail over the Quirk factor.

What he didn't expect was the way his son had reacted to the news.

A reaction that had scared his poor Inko enough to beg him to come back to Japan.

Of course, in his boy's defense, he didn't know who his father really was; and he wouldn't know for a long time, until he began to show more of his divine attributes (which usually happened around the age of seven or eight, unlike Quirks).
He didn't know he would gain powers, regardless of whether his feet had joints in the pinkies or not ...

... But now.

“Oh, darling” Hermes knelt before his son, using the largest wings of the lower back, to envelop him in a comforting embrace “Yes, you CAN become a Hero!!”

Izuku stared at him with his big, tear-filled green eyes “Y-You mean it?”

“Absolutely!!”

“Even though … e-even though the doctor said no?”

“Why should we care what some stupid doctor thinks?” the God snorted at that -That ignorant worm, he's lucky I don’t have the same temperament as Apollo or Uncle Poseidon; they killed or cursed people for much less …- he thought before smiling sweetly at Izuku “He doesn’t know you, he doesn’t know your soul, but I do. You don’t need a Quirk to help someone, and isn’t that why you want to become a Hero? To help others?”

Izuku nodded as his father gently rubbed the tears away from his cheekbones with his thumbs.

“I want to be the kind of Hero that makes people feel safe, like All Might” he glanced longingly at the video that was still going.

“Then focus on what you can do to become that Hero and don't let  other people's opinions get you down, okay?” Hermes kissed his forehead and then ruffled his hair “You're my son, as far as I'm concerned, you can do everything you want”

For the first time in days, Izuku offered a little smile “…Thanks, Dad”

Hermes stood up, carrying Izuku toward his bed “You wouldn’t even be the first Hero to be Quirkless, you know?”

Izuku blinked in surprise “Really?” he asked, frowning thoughtfully, probably because he was trying to remember all the top-ranked names he knew.

The God of Wanderers settled into bed with the child on his lap.
“He’s not someone I expect you to know about” he chirped conspiratorially, as if sharing a secret “He lived a long, long time ago, well beyond the age of Quirks. A Hero whose deeds were sung by poets and recorded in books. He had no powers, no super strength, not speed; he couldn’t do things like produce fire from his hands or turn himself invisible. He was just a man, a determined man with a goal in mind, great willpower, and a healthy dose of wit …”

“What was his name?” Izuku asked, his green eyes now sparkling with curiosity rather than tears.

“Odysseus” Hermes declared “The Hero of the versatile mind”

“So cool”

“Would you like me to tell you his story?”

Izuku nodded vigorously, excited.

“Very well, but first …” Hermes cast a knowingly, mischievous, glance toward the bedroom door “Inko, darling, don’t we always say it’s rude to eavesdrop?”

“Oh dear!!” 

The mother of his son, Inko Midoriya, appeared in the doorway, looking visibly embarrassed at having been caught “Forgive me, boys, I … I just wanted to make sure everything was okay”

“Don't worry, darling” her lover reassured her “I was just about to tell our Izu a story. Want to join us? Before I came here, I took the liberty of ordering takeout, so you don't need to make dinner tonight” He spread one of his wings in an inviting gesture. “This nest is big enough for the whole family”

“I'd love to” Inko said, wiping away the last traces of tears from her eyes “Oh, Izuku…”

“Sorry, Mommy” the boy murmured, hunching his shoulders in regret as she took a seat next to them “I didn't want to make you cry”

“No, no, sweetie” Inko leaned over to kiss his forehead “You have nothing to apologize for, your mother was just being silly” 

She and Hermes looked at each other in silence for a few moments, almost as if they were communicating through their thoughts, before the woman smiled “…So, who was this Odysseus?”

“Oh, trust me, darling” Hermes smiled back, hugging them both with his wings “You’re going to love this”

***

“…I thought you would tell him the truth” Inko murmured, absentmindedly running her fingers through her son’s unruly green curls.

Izuku had fallen asleep on the bed a while ago, curled up between his parents, who had lain down on the bed with him.

“I explained you how it works” the God replied. The little wings sprouting from behind his ears fluttered lazily, opening to reveal his eyes “He’s not old enough yet to handle the consequences the truth about his nature will bring”

Inko nodded “Because the monsters of your world will hunt him”

“They'll TRY” the other corrected “That’s why it’s best to wait until he’s old enough to start learning how to handle them”

Inko grimaced, worry darkening her eyes.

Hermes took her hand “Don't worry, darling” he whispered “I'm not allowed to fight our son's battles for him, but I can make sure he's prepared. Besides, monsters aren't even as strong as they were millennia ago; at most, it will serve him as training to  become a Her-...”

“It's not the monsters that worry me” Inko confessed, interrupting him “It's this society. After … After we got back from the visit, I did some research online about Quirkless …”
The woman chewed her lip, troubled.
“…What I read about hate crimes, discrimination, the … t-the suicide rates …” her voice broke.

She was ashamed of having been caught so unprepared by the situation.
Hermes had been clear from the beginning about how things would work if she agreed to be with him. He'd told her he couldn't live with them in Japan because his place was in America, with his Pantheon. He'd told her that any child born from their union would be a Demigod, whose nature would be different from that of all other children.
He was the God of thieves and liers, but he loved her, enough to have always been honest with her.

Enough to offer her the choice.

And Inko had chosen to love that charming, playful winged boy who had stolen her purse during a weekend in America (a gift from her parents for her graduation) and then returned it to her with a rose inside.

Then he had given her Izuku, their child, her greatest joy ...

"... Izuku needed me, he needed me to tell him what you told him" Inko squeezed Hermes' hand tightly "But I didn't, I was overcome with panic and despair, so I called you. What kind of mother am I?"

“Nothing irreparable has happened, darling” Hermes whispered sympathetically “You had a moment of weakness. It happens. That doesn’t make you a bad mother”

“But …”

“No buts,” the God silenced her, placing a finger on her lips “Our son is fine, Inko, he WILL be fine. I promise you …”

And Inko belived him.

***

His father's words had not only saved Izuku's dream but also his self-esteem, which, despite the bullying of his classmates and the indifferent attitude of his teachers, remained untouched.

As time passed, he and Hermes became more and more similar, especially in terms of personality.
Izuku became a lively and witty kid, prone to pranks (especially towards those who called him a "useless Deku"). He also became passionate about analyzing Quirks, becoming increasingly better at identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

Around the age of eight, the first physical changes began.

He grew wings. Three pairs, exactly like his father's, one on his head, one his back, and one on the sides of his ankles. The pupils of his eyes sometimes narrowed like those of a snake, especially when he was excited or angry for some reason.

His smile became sharper and more mischievous.

“DEKUUUU!!” Katsuki Bakugou blurted out, slamming a hand on the grinning green's desk.

“Ooh? What can I do for you, Ka-ccccchan?” Izuku asked, blinking innocently.

“Where are they?!”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific, dear friend” Izuku replied with an overly broad smile.

“My shoes!!” the blond fourteen-year-old growled, emitting sparks from his palms “I know you took them!! You snake!!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, kind sir ...” the boy chirped, not even trying to keep the wings on his head still, which were fluttering in amusement “Oh by the way, have you already filled out the application form for U.A yet? 'Cause I did ihihihihih ...”

***

Chapter Text

“…I'm starting to consider reporting you for stalking” Toshinori commented coldly as he looked at his former sidekick “Seriously, you also waiting for me at my front door now?”

“I wouldn't have had to do that if you'd bothered to answer my calls” Mirai replied.

The relationship between him and Mirai Sasaki, AKA Sir Nighteye, had begun to strain after his last battle with All for One. Almost five years ago.

He hadn't blamed him for that, at first. Mirai had the right to be angry with him. He'd gone to face the self-proclaimed Symbol of Asshol-… *cough* of Evil alone, without any backup and, most importantly, without a real plan that included anything more than a simple: “Let's go over there and smash his face”.

Then he disappeared for weeks.

Mirai, Gran Torino, and the others couldn't possibly have imagined that he'd spent that time in a magical coma induced by the Greek God of Medicine to heal his internal organs, and Toshinori couldn't tell the truth without sounding crazy.

Luckily for him, Zeus, as James, took it upon himself to give them a reasonable explanation, ruling out the supernatural elements of the story "Tosh's farewell letter had shocked me," he declared, placing a hand on his heart "After everything we'd shared, I couldn't let him go like that. We needed to talk face-to-face at least, so I rearranged my schedule and booked a flight to Japan and blah, blah, blah ..."
He explained that he'd been the one to find him after the fight (which was true), and since he was injured, he'd had him admitted to a private clinic (that was slightly less true) he knew, where they'd treated him as best they could without the risk of prying journalists.

However, the experience must have shocked his friend more than Toshinori imagined because from then on he began to treat him differently.

He constantly questioned him about his health.
He insisted on accompanying him on patrols.
He insisted to do more team-up operations with other Heroes than solo ones.
He personally filtered the requests from the Hero Public Commission, so he could decide BY HIMSELF which ones to accept and which ones to reject.

It was like he wasn't longer free to work in HIS OWN agency as he wanted, controlled and treated as if he were made of glass!!

A fragile glass ready to shatter into a thousand pieces at the first misstep.

Not to mention the strange looks the blond had caught him giving him, looks of concern but also ... confusion, as if every time Mirai looked at him, he expected to see something that wasn't there.

He cared about Mirai, truly, but the situation became so tense that they often ended up arguing.
Until the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back"...

***

"What the hell, Nighteye?!" Toshinori roared, bursting into his sidekick's office.

"Good morning, All Might" Mirai greeted calmly, without even looking up from the computer "What's the problem?"

"You even have the nerve to ask me that?! You rejected another request from the HPC without telling me!!"

"Based on the information I was given, I didn't consider this a case where your intervention was necessary" Nighteye replied calmly, as if explaining the obvious.

"You didn't consider ...?! Mirai, they're talking about heteromorphic human trafficking here!!"

The blond growled as he slammed a printout of the Commission's email onto the desk. An email he'd stumbled upon by pure chance, emptying his email trash.

"Yes, a case of trafficking on which the Hero Commission had acquired very little information, too little to organize a truly effective operation" Mirai glanced blankly at the crumpled sheet of paper in front of him "Not all crimes can be solved with punches, Toshinori. Some situations require discretion"

"So your solution is just  wash your hands of it?"

Sir Nighteye sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose "Of course not, I emailed the Commission saying I'd study this case more thoroughly before passing it on to you ..."

"They performed the raid YESTERDAY!!"

"I know. I warned them it wouldn't end well, they didn't listen. The operation was not studied properly and this way not only did the villains behind the traffic escape, but the Heros weren't even able to save more than three victims"

"Maybe more could have been saved if I had been there too"

"Or maybe you would have made things worse" Mirai blurted out in a low voice.

“EXCUSE ME?!”

“Look, we can talk about this later …”

“Oh no, let’s talk about this NOW!!” Toshinori growled “Can I ask, please, what the hell is your problem?! You’ve been acting absurdly ever since I got back from my convalescence”

“Convalescence?” Mirai’s tone became low and sharp “Is that really how you call it? You’ve been missing for weeks”

“I needed to recover from the fight with All for One!!”

“Which you decided to fight ALONE, without telling anybody!”

The #1 Hero’s anger diminished a bit at that, tempered by guilt “That battle wasn’t yours to fight, I …”

“You almost died!!”

“That's a risk we costantly take in our line of work” Tosh took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing “Listen, I’m sorry I couldn’t let you know where I was right away, I really am, but it’s been MONTHS since then. All for One is dead. I’m fine ...—”

“That’s exactly the point, YOU SHOULDN’T BE FINE …!!” Mirai stopped abruptly, recoiling in his chair with the expression of someone who’d just said too much.

“W-What …? What the hell are you talking about?” Tosh muttered, after several seconds of stunned silence.

“I …” his friend hesitated, running a hand through the dark green hair “The physical condition you’re in now ISN'T what my Quirk predicted”

“You ... You use Foresight on me?!”

“Toshi …”

“You promised me you’d never do that!!” Tosh screamed, wounded.

They’d had several discussions in the past about the implications of Nighteye’s power, often by the philosophical and ethical side of the matter.
The blond had always been adamant about NOT wanting to know what the future held for him.

“I know, but I also know you, Tosh!!” Mirai blurted out in frustration “We finally had a clear lead on All for One, but I was afraid you'd rush to confront him at the first opportunity. I HAD to see, and what I saw…”
He ignored the way Toshinori shook his head, hissing “Don't say it …”
“…I saw All for One disembowel you like ... like a calf, there was blood everywhere” he grimaced, as if the mere act of describing it was enough to cause him physical pain “A flash of lightning tore the sky open for a moment, then ... for a while, I saw only black…”

-A lightning bolt? Zeus …- Toshinori thought absently, looking at the other man with bitterness.

“…When I came back to see, I saw the aftermath of that fight” Nighteye stared at him apprehensively “A permanent wound to your side that has weakened you to the point of being a skeleton, able to use One for All for barely three hours a day ... coughing up blood every time you strain too hard”

“But it didn’t happen” Tosh protested, clenching his fists “I’m fine and able to use One for All as usual so I don’t understand, what’s the problem?!”

“The problem is my visions hasn’t changed. Not even once”

Not even once.

“ ... Mirai, how many times have you used Foresight on me?” Toshinori whispered.

“Ever since you came back …”

***

“I have found a suitable successor to inherit the One for All” Sir Nighteye declared bluntly.

-Oh please, not this again- Toshinori thought “I’ve told you countless times that I do NOT need a successor” he hissed “I didn’t need one five years ago, and I don’t need one now”

“Toshinori, please, if you could listen to me for five minutes …”

Nighteye reached for Tosh’s arm, but he pulled away before he could touch it.

“Do NOT touch me—…!!”

“Is there a problem?”

Zeus suddenly appeared next to Toshinori, wearing a light gray pinstriped suit and having his hair slicked back neatly as if he'd just emerged from a court.

"Zu-... James!!" the blond corrected himself, blinking in surprise at the newcomer.

"Hey, Tosh!!" Zeus slipped between him and Mirai nonchalantly, giving him a casual smile "I had the weekend off, so I thought I'd stop by" He shot a warning glance at the former sidekick, who, though annoyed by the interruption, took a step back "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah" Toshinori replied curtly, looking at the other Hero "Mirai was about to leave, right?" he added, hoping he would take the hint and leave.

As annoyed as he was, he didn't want to give Zeus a reason to smite him.

“Toshi, please” Mirai begged him one last time “His name is Mirio Togata, he’s in his second year at U.A. and he’s a good boy; who wants to become a Hero for the right reasons. I don’t expect you to give him …” he paused, looking at Zeus out of the corner of his eye for a moment “…You know. I’m just asking you to get to meet him, know him”

Since Zeus knew exactly what Nighteye was talking about, there wasn't really need of secrecy, but Toshinori wasn’t interested enought to point it out.
Instead, he took a deep breath and asked “If I promise I’ll think about it, will you leave?”

Sir Nighteye nodded, though he stared at him with a kicked-puppy expression that only made him feel angrier.

He had no right to look at him like that, not after what he’d done.

Not after trying to force him to retire. 

“Okay” Tosh huffed, turning her back on him “I was planning on going to U.A. one of these days anyway …”

“Thank you, Toshinori”

Then he left, leaving the two lovers alone.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” the God asked, stroking his shoulder “You seemed pretty upset, especially when he tried to touch your arm”

“I don’t like the idea of Mirai touching me” Toshinori admitted. However, seeing Zeus’s brow furrow dangerously, he quickly added, “It’s nothing weird,  just his Quirk ‘Foresight’ … one of the conditions for activating it is phisically touch the target, and I don’t want him to look into my future, ever again”

“I see” Zeus’s fingers brushed his chin, lifting it for a kiss “I missed you”

“I missed you too” Tosh smiled softly.

“Got something for you …”

A bouquet of sunflowers with a few red roses inside filled the Hero's vision, whose day instantly brightened thanks that "Thank you" he said, taking it in his arms "I love it!!"
Then his expression became more playful "So, wanna come inside?" he said, his blue eyes shining with mischief as he gestured towards the front door.

Zeus's smile turned predatory "Gladly"

***

Chapter Text

If someone approached a group of teenagers and asked them "What's the most popular and desirable job in the world?", they'd surely answer "Being a Hero!!". Because everyone, at least once in their life, has expressed the desire to become a Hero, whether for money, fame, or simply a genuine desire to help others.

And Denki Kaminari, a fourteen-year-old in his final year of middle school, was no exception.

Classes were out for the day, and all the students were heading home.

"... Hey Denki!! Are you really planning on applying to U.A?" asked one of his classmates after catching up with him outside the school, near the gates.

"Well, of course!!" Denki exclaimed cheerfully "It's the best school for Heroes in Japan"

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" another boy his age interjected, looking at him doubtfully.

"What do you mean?"

“It’s just …” the boy hesitated “Don’t get me wrong, Denki. Your Quirk is cool and all, but ... what about the written test? U.A has one of the most difficult written exams in the country, if not THE most difficult, and your grades are a bit, well…”

Denki’s smile faded slightly at those words.

Although he usually hid it behind smiles and jokes, the truth was that Denki was ashamed of not being able to be a better student. 
Part of the blame, incredibly, lay with his Quirk “Electrification”, which allowed him to absorb and generate electricity. A great Quirk, on paper, except that every time he overdid the voltage, his brain literally short-circuit.
It had taken Denki a lot of effort to learn to manage the effects of Electrification, but like all children who liked to show off their powers, he too ended up overdoing it every now and then.
Between this and some less-than-patient teachers he'd encountered along the way, his average grades had never risen above a passing grade.

"There's still ten months to go until the exam" Denki reminded him "I can do it, I'll just have to study a little harder than usual"

"Well, I guess you'd never know if you don't try" his classmate commented.

"Yeah, 'hope you pass, buddy" the other nodded "It's just, if I were you, I'd send my application to other schools too, like Shiketsu or Ketsubutsu. Just to be safe, they also have good Hero courses"

-No, it must be U.A- Denki thought before checking the time on his phone "Damn, I'm late!! Sorry guys, but I really have to run ..."

He quickly said goodbye to his classmates and then ran out the school gates, knowing he had to stop somewhere else that day before heading home.

Lucky for him, the "Garden of the Fox" flower shop was close enough to his school that he didn't have to run far; in fact, he slowed down as soon as he spotted the sign in the distance. It was a small, rustic-style garden, featuring light-colored wood furniture, wrought-iron decorations, and charming wicker baskets containing floral arrangements hanging from ropes from the ceiling. In front of the shop's entrance were two decorative painted wooden statues of foxes, right on either side of the door.

Denki knew the shop well, having frequented it often over the past four years. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he entered.

“Good morning!!”

“Ah, Denki-kun!” the owner, Inadama-san, greeted him, looking up from the satsuki she was spraying.
She was a very beautiful woman in her forties, tall and with a curvaceous figure. She had very pale, almost white skin; long, straight black hair, which she kept neatly loose behind her shoulders; and intense dark eyes, highlighted by red makeup.
She wore an elegant dark red kimono with white and pink rice stalks embroidered along the skirt.

“Nice to see you, dear. What can I do for you?”

“I’d like a bouquet of yellow orchids, please!!” Denki replied promptly.

"Oooh, I see..." a knowing glint crossed Inadama-san's eyes "It's the visit day, I'll get it ready for you right away"

Two minutes later, the orchid bouquet was ready, tied with a beautiful red satin ribbon "Here you go dear, it's 2,300 yen" the woman smiled, delicately placing the bouquet on the counter near the register.

Once paid, Denki took the flowers "Thank you, Inadama-san"

"You're welcome, dear, go now" she urged "I'm sure your father is waiting for you"

Denki nodded, smiling "Have a good day ma'am!!"

"Bye"

Inadama-san watched the boy leave her shop with a small smile on her face, before sighing wistfully "Such a good boy, it's a shame he lost his mother so young ..." she commented aloud.
A slight movement from the rest of the shop caught her eye.

"... Isn't that right, my dear?"

A white fox with nine tails emerged from the shadows, looking curiously at her owner.

"Keep an eye on him for me, will you?" Inadama-san said, leaning down to pet the fox behind the ears “His mother was very devoted to me. What better way to repay her than to ensure her son's safety? Especially now that he's about to embark on the same career as her…”

The fox seemed to nod before running forward and disappearing like smoke through the front door, intent on carrying out his GODDESS's bidding.

***

Narihana
Kaminari
Wife,
Mother,
Hero.

Known as the ProHeroine ElecTricks, Narihana died four years ago in an ambush during an operation to dismantle a gang of villains involved in illegal drug trafficking. Since then, nothing remained of her except a stele in the cemetery, along with the memories Denki and his father had of her.

Kenji Kaminari spread out a small picnic blanket in front of the stele to lay the sack containing the lunch he'd prepared that day, while Denki replaced the wilted orchids with the new ones he'd bought.

"Denki, why don't you place the lunch on the blanket while I arrange the incense?" the man asked.

"Yes, Dad ..."

After praying for his mother's spirit, Denki and his father ate lunch together in front of her stele. It wasn't the first time they'd done it; in fact, you could say that it had become their personal ritual.
Kenji took the day off from work to stay home and prepare lunch while Denki, once he was out of school, stopped by to buy flowers.

Yellow orchids, her favorite.

Once home, they packed up everything and headed to the cemetery together.

Denki enjoyed those lunches spent with his father, talking about her, remembering her ...

... feeling her close.

"...And now, the dessert" Kenji chuckled, opening the container where he'd placed the Sata andagi "... Soooo?" the adult smiled as he waited for Denki's opinion on the sweets he'd made.

"Ummm, not bad" the fourteen-year-old chuckled, biting into his second Sata andagi "Do you remember mom always burned them?"

"Yeah, and then she said: 'But crispy are better'!!" Kenji laughed at the memory, glancing at the name engraved on the stone. A hint of wistful nostalgia crossed his eyes "Gods, I miss those silly moments, so much ..."
He was silent for a moment before continuing.

"She'd be really proud of you, you know that, right?" he sadi lokking at Denki "Aiming for U.A, the best school in the country, where she studied too ..."

“I haven't passed the exam yet, Dad” Denki clarified, looking halfway sad and half-concerned, as his classmate's words came back to him.

“It doesn't matter” his father reassured him “I've seen how hard you've worked this year, Denki. If you keep pushing like this in the coming months, I'm sure you'll pass” Then, noticing his son's expression, he added “But, even if you don't pass the exam at U.A, there are still other schools that offer Hero courses; you'll realize your dream, you'll see …”

He pulled him into a half-hug from the side, and Denki leaned into it, resting his head on his shoulder.

“I love you, Denki”

“I love you too, Dad” 

***

Two days later, Denki was walking home from school when he suddenly noticed a blue glow in the distance.

-What was that?- he wondered.

Curious to know what that light was, the fourteen-year-old quickly headed in the direction it was coming from. As he got closer, he couldn't help but notice how the air around him seemed to be getting warmer.
He turned a corner, and that's when he saw it.

A five-story condominium was burning like a torch, completely engulfed in flames.

BLUE FLAMES.

"W-What the...?!" Denki exclaimed, staring at the building in horror.

A small crowd of people was bustling in front of the building, mostly made up of those residents who had managed to escape the building in time (easily identifiable due to their scorched and panting appearance) and the few worried onlookers who had approached to take a look.
Cries of concern rose in the scorching air.

“…What the hell happened?!”
“I don't know, it looks like someone with a fire Quirk started the fire!!”
“What the f—…?! Families live here!!”
“I know!!”
“What are they waiting for to call the firemen!? The HEROS?!”
“They called them, but the flames consumed half the building in seconds”
“Did everyone come out?!”
“We don't know, we ...!!”

“MOM!!”

A little girl's scream froze Denki's blood.

She couldn't have been more than ten or eleven years old, with a sweet, plump appearance. She had tried to run toward the burning building before being promptly grabbed around the waist by one of the adults present.

"What do you think you're doing, kiddo?!" the man scolded her.

"No, no!! My mommy's still inside!!" the little girl screamed, desperately trying to break free from the man's grip "MOM!!"

“W-What …?!” Denki whispered as he approached the two “Someone is still in there?”

"My mom!!" the little girl cried "Let me go, let me go!!"

"I can't, kid, I can't ..." the man shook his head helplessly  "... I'm sorry!! I ... I can't let you run in there ... Where the fuck are the Heros?" he added with low voice.

"Hey, hey, kid!! What floor are you on?" Denki asked quickly, trying to catch her attention.

"What do I like about being a Heroine? ..."

"They're my neighbors" a woman interjected "They live on the second floor"

"...The thought that every person I save, is a person who'll return to his family"

Maybe it was because he didn't want to see that little girl cry anymore; or maybe it was because he'd zapped himself so many times that he'd really become a senseless idiot.

Or maybe it was because he knew what it felt like to lose a mother.

Denki ran inside the burning building before he could even properly process the thought.

From there, his memories became hazy, until he woke up in a hospital room with ...

... A guy who claimed to be All Might's secretary?!

***

Chapter Text

This is the first time I've posted an image on this site. I hope I've done everything right and you can see the drawing. If necessary, I'll add the DevientArt link where it can be found, but I really wanted to post it.

https://www.deviantart.com/elegirl/art/Zeus-x-Toshinori-1231209721

Chapter Text

The Takoba Municipal Beach Park had definitely seen better years.
Environmental pollution and the indiscriminate dumping of waste had transformed what was once a beautiful public space into an open-air landfill.

Denki was truly sorry about this, but ...

“…YOU WANT ME TO CLEAN THE ENTIRE BEACH?!” Denki shouted, staring at Mr. Yagi in disbelief.

When the No. 1 Hero in Japan's segretary offered himself to coach him for the U.A. exam, this was definitely not what he expected.

***

If there was one thing Toshinori regretted about the society he, as a Symbol of Peace, had helped to create, it was the almost complete lack of initiative people seemed to have developed in recent years. Heroes included.

Just twenty minutes earlier, he'd found himself having to knock out a Villain who somehow had managed to take a man hostage despite the fact that four Pro Heroes were already on the scene. He'd managed to save the man in time, of course, but that didn't change the fact that seeing his colleagues stand by and watch an innocent man being suffocated to death had been quite disheartening.

So you can imagine his surprise when one of the people in the fire area told him (more like YELLED at him) that a young boy had run into the burning building, presumably to help a woman trapped inside.

He decided to accompanying the boy to the hospital, his civilian identity.

So yeah, he got curious. Sue him!!

The fourteen-year-old lying on the bed barely opened his eyes, only to close them again immediately, annoyed by the excessive white fluorescent light. He kept them closed for about a minute, inhaling and exhaling clean oxygen through the mask covering his nose and mouth.

“…Where am I?” he muttered faintly.

“Musutafu General Hospital” Toshinori informed him, looking away from a motorcycle magazine he was leafing through while sitting in one of the armchairs near the window “You’ve inhaled a lot of smoke”

“W-What … What happened? How did I get here?” Denki asked.

“Don’t you remember?” Tosh asked, putting the magazine aside.

“I …” Denki took a moment to think about it, before widening his eyes. “Oh my God, the fire …!!”

“Yep”

Denki winced, weakly trying to push himself up “T-There was a woman there ...!! She was trapped and ...!!”

“I know, don’t worry” Toshinori gave him a reassuring smile “The woman who was with you is fine, in fact, she asked about you too”

“Really?”

“She said you saved her life”

“O-Oh …” Denki gasped in surprise “She said that?”
He slumped back onto the bed, sighing “I didn’t do anything special,” he muttered dejectedly “We both would have died if All Might … It was All Might, right? I think I caught a glimpse of him before I passed out”

“All Might was the one who pulled you out, yes” the adult confirmed “But don’t belittle what you did. Mrs. Yagami said you pulled her out of her apartment before it collapsed”

“Only to get us both stuck on the landing”

“Maybe, but if you hadn’t run into that building, that woman would have died, and she knows it …”

They both remained silent for a few moments, with only the noises of the equipment audible.

“You know, All Might wanted you to know he was impressed” Toshinori commented casually.

This got him Denki's full attention “All Might said what?!”

“He said that it was very brave of you to do what you did” Toshinori explained, chuckling at his reaction “He called it heroic”

“Wow, I …”

“Stupid, but heroic”

“HEY!!” Denki pouted a little at that clarification before staring at him in confusion. Who was that guy anyway? He didn’t even know his name “Excuse me, but who are you? And how do you know All Might?”

“Toshinori Yagi” the man sneered, offering his hand “And I am … All Might’s personal secretary …”

Denki gasped, his eyes widening "All Might's ...?"

"I'll be happy to answer any questions you have" Tosh promised, returning his gaze with an amused expression "But first, I'd like to ask you something"

"What is it?"

"Why did you run into that building?"

The question and the sudden seriousness with which it was posed took Denki by surprise.

"You knew what you were risking so, why did you do it?"

"I ... I don't know ..." the boy admitted, trying to think "There was a little girl. The daughter of the woman trapped inside, she ... she was screaming and crying, she looked so desperate. I just wanted to help ..."

"Just help, huh?" Toshinori repeated to himself, smiling slightly.

*** 

“… Can you explain me why I have to clean up all this trash from the beach?!”

“You want to get into U.A, aren't you?”

“Exactly!!” Denki blurted out “What does that have to do with cleaning the beach?!”

“These days, many Heroes are only interested in showing off” Toshinori snorted, shaking his head “Once being a Hero used to be practically volunteer work. No job was neglected, not even the ones with little visibility, and now look around you” he waved his hand at one of the piles of trash “A once-beautiful beach reduced to a pile of garbage. This, is what happens when Heroes forget their original role, which was to be useful!! No matter how …”
He paused briefly, turning to look at Denki.
“When you helped that woman, you did it because you wanted to HELP HER, not because it was cool or any other frivolous reason. Am I wrong?”

“I…”

Denki looked around.
They were surrounded by mountains of garbage, and the mere thought of having to clean it up all by himself gave him stomach cramps, but …

… He had to admit that Mr. Yagi's point made sense.

“You want to become a Hero? Making yourself useful is the first step to doing so. All Might did it too” Tosh's expression softened, giving way to a more cheerful expression “Plus, it'll be great physical training for the practical test!!”

He handed the boy a stack of papers.

“Uh, what is this?” Denki asked.

“Your training program” Toshinori declared with a huge smile, resting his hands on his hips “Ten months go by in a flash, so we have to proceed methodically”

"Even the sleep hours” Denki stammered as he leafed through the file.

Thus began ten months of hell.

Picking up the trash proved to be an even more daunting task than Denki had imagined. There was everything on that beach!! Boxes, tires, bicycles, window frames, glass, microwave ovens, even car wrecks. In short, thousands of pieces of trash of various shapes, sizes, and weights had to be moved and loaded into a van Yagi-san had rented for the occasion.

“… You know … for not having … a Quirk… you doing … well, sir …” Denki panted one of the first days, leaning for a moment against a pile of tires “Better than me, for sure …”

He’d been surprised when Mr. Yagi told him he was Quirkless, since being All Might’s secretary and all.

“A Quirkless man who lives alone in the city MUST learn to live up to the world around him” Toshinori shrugged nonchalantly “Otherwise, anyone could take advantage of him, not only villains …” -When I was your age, I felt like a rabbit surrounded by wolves until I decided that even a rabbit can learn to bite if it wants to- he added mentally as he easily pushed a refrigerator up the flight of stairs that led to the beach.

His childhood years had always been bittersweet to remember.

People looked at him and all they saw was only a poor, un-evolved orphan who'd lost his mother at the age of seven during a Villain attack. Someone who could only be protected, certainly not protect himself or others.

He'd never been ashamed of being Quirkless, but he'd hated that feeling; the fact that the world thought he couldn't do it on his own.

Then he'd met Nana, and everything had changed.

"...That's what training is for, young Kaminari, to LEVEL the playing field" the Hero continued, giving him a smirk "Strengthen your physique, increase your stamina. Depending on the type of garbage, you make work different muscles; so less talking and more dragging!! We need to fill the van before lunch break, so afterward we can start working on the basics of self-defense"

Thus passed the first three months.

Three quiet months, during which Denki slowly but steadily became accustomed to Mr. Yagi's training regimen.
Fatigue aside, he started to like Mr. Yagi. He gave good advice and was fun.

"Should I put this here, Yagi-san?" asked Denki, nodding with the head toward the broken microwave he was holding "Uh, Yagi-san?"

Toshinori was staring at something near a small pile of garbage.

"Yagi-san!!"

"Huh?! Oh, sorry, young Kaminari"

"what are you looking at?"

“…” the adult took one last look at the pile of trash “Nothing” he finally replied, turning to look at him “Did you need something?”

“I wanted to know where to put this …”

What Denki couldn’t see, but Toshinori clearly saw, was a white Kitsune dozing in front of that pile.
Tosh had no idea why the mystical animal would be interested in following a normal boy like Denki, yet it wasn’t the first time he’d caught it observing the boy.
However, it hadn’t given him the impression it meant him any harm; mostly the fox just watched him.

CRASH!!

A sudden crash of falling junk, crashing into each other, filled the beach, followed by some screams.

"FUCK!!"

"KACCHAN, I told you to be careful!!"

"What happened?!" Denki exclaimed in alarm.

"I don't know" Toshinori replied, frowning in concern "Let's go see"

Several meters ahead, past a couple of mountains of garbage, the mentor and student were confronted by a bizarre scene.
A boy with three pairs of white wings dotted with gold and green towards the tips of the primaries was hovering over another boy who, judging by his current position, must have slipped on the garbage. The winged one appeared to be trying to pull his friend(?) to his feet, grabbing him by the arms and soaring upward.

"I swear, if you dare comment this ...!!"

"I didn't say anything"

"But it's clear on your face that you want to, snake!! You're smirking like a psico" the ash-blonde boy growled, trying to free his foot from a fishing net "I still don't understand how you convinced me to come here"

"Because I've listed all the benefits of using this landfill as a training ground ..."

"Hey, you two!! Are you okay?!" Toshinori called, attracting their attention.
As he approached, the blond glimpsed the outline of a golden aura around the winged boy -I've seen an aura like that before ...- he thought, recalling some demigods he'd met in the recent years, during celebrations on Olympus.
Each of them, to a greater or lesser extent depending on their origin, emanated the same outline.

"Hey there!!" Denki exclaimed, friendly.

A pair of intense green eyes with slitted pupils stared at them playfully "Oooh, hello new friends!!"

***

Chapter Text

Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugou.

These were the names of the two boys Toshinori and Denki had come across while cleaning up Takoba Beach. They were the same age as Denki and, just like him, they dreamed of becoming Heroes.
Which was why, at Izuku's suggestion, they had decided to frequent that beach.

Toshinori decided to introduce himself to them as the secretary of his Hero persona, just like he did with Kaminari.

“YOU ARE ALL MIGHT’S SECRETARY!!?” Midoriya shrieked “Oh my Gods, that’s so cool!! Does that mean you can get me his autograph?!”

Bakugou’s reaction was far more subdued, almost indifferent, except that Toshinori was pretty sure he’d heard him mutter something that sounded like “You better get me an autograph too …”

After that, they started talking about what exactly they were doing here.

“Aawwh, you guys wanting to clean up the beach ruins all my plans!!” Izuku protested, pouting in an overly melodramatic way after Tosh explained the training program.

“What do you mean?” asked the adult, puzzled.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like your plan, but I was planning on using this beach as a training ground precisely because it’s like this, see?” The green-haired boy stretched out an arm, in a movement that also included one of his larger wings, to show the various piles of garbage surrounding them. “This place it’s like a battlefield, with obstacles, blind spots, etc. Perfect for honing fighting skills in a more realistic environment than a gym or dojo”

-It's true- Toshinori realized, looking around -After just few minutes of fighting with a villain, any place ends up becoming a kind of landfill, unless the Hero in question is particularly experienced-
"Sharp intuition, kid" he nodded thoughtfully, taking a moment to think before looking back at him "Maybe we can reach a compromise?"

"What compromise?" Bakugou asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Alternate days" Tosh suggested "One to clean up the beach AND one to use the landfill environment for combat simulations"

"Ooh, that's not a bad idea" Midoriya agreed "What do you think, Kacchan?"

"Why should I waste half my training time moving trash around?" Bakugou challenged, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Because as All Might’s secretary, I can get you a special permission to use your Quirks in a limited area, under supervision of course” Toshinori stated with a smirk.

This caught the explosive boy's attention.

"Wait, seriously?" Denki interjected, excitedly.

"Yeeep" the adult confirmed "I can get them for you in a week but, like I said, you have to agree to use them under the supervision of someone authorized, which in this case would be me"

"That's great!!" Denki and Izuku cheered in unison.

"Okay, old man" Katsuki agreed with a small, mischievous smile "You got a deal"

As the weeks passed, the beach began to look better, as the various piles of garbage were cleared away and Toshinori got to know the boys better.

Izuku had a rather ... lively personality, and his wings ...
Tosh probably should have got it sooner, but in his defense, he hadn't had that many opportunities to talk to HERMES.
The realization came to him suddenly, after hearing young Midoriya laugh in a peculiar way that sounded familiar. Before that moment, he had assumed the boy was the son of a Kami, or some other mythological Japan creature.

Of all the Olympian Gods, Hermes was undoubtedly one of the busiest, since he was not only the messenger of the Gods, but also the one who accompanied souls to the afterlife; protector of travelers, guardian of commerce, patron of thieves and the cunning.

The hero may have had two or three conversations with him, but his way of laughing had stuck with him, and well, from there, it was easy to put two and two together.

They even had the same set of wings, except Hermes was able to hide them, which his son didn't seem to be capable of.

Young Bakugou was, well, a "normal" boy, albeit with a somewhat caustic temper.

At first glance, you might think he was a young man in need of anger management training, given his demeanor, but aggression aside, he was essentially a very, VERY determined and goal-focused guy.

One day, they were practicing how to manage a chase, with a sort of tag game where one of the boys, the "villain", had the task of escaping the other two (using any means necessary, while the "heroes," on the other hand, had to be careful not to damage the surrounding environment too much and not hit the sandbags with smiley faces drawn on them, as they represented civilians) when a female voice interrupted them.

"... Ah!! So you're the ones cleaning up the beach!!"

Midoriya, who had masterfully taken on his villain role by deciding to take a sandbag hostage, gasped, causing it to fall.
Then he looked up and saw a beautiful girl with shoulder-length pink dreadlocks and intense yellow eyes. She was wearing a black tank top under a dark blue mechanic's overalls, the top open with the sleeves tied around her waist, and black work boots.

“Congratulations on helping the environment and everything” the girl snorted “But you’re throwing away a lot of components that I could have used for my babies!!”

“Babies?!” Katsuki replied, glaring at her.

“My inventions” she clarified “My name is Hatsume Mei, and one day I will become the gretest Hero support equipment engineer on the planet!!” she stated with a blinding smile.

“Oh, that's cool!!” Denki commented “I am Kaminari Denki, and they are-...”

“Miiiiidoriya Izuku, at your service!!” the demigod exclaimed, speeding past Denki so fast he kicked up a breeze that ruffled everyone’s hair “Japan’s future number ONE Hero!! Nice to meet you, my dear” he said, offering her a hand shake, which she happily returned.

“Tsk, Bakugou Katsuki” Kacchan added, rolling his eyes at his childhood friend’s behavior “And contrary to what this idiot says, I will be the one to dominate the top of the Hero rankings in the future”

"Yeah in a VERY distant future, close to retirement age" Izuku chuckled softly, addressing the girl in a way it seemed he was confiding her a secret.

Mei's lips quivered in a half-laugh at the joke.

"I'm Yagi Toshinori" Tosh finally introduced himself with a nod "I supervise the training of these young future heroes"

"My pleasure, but now tell me, why you suddenly decided to clean this beach? It's been like this for years, and I find a lot of useful materials for my work here" Mei asked.

Oddly enough, it was Izuku himself who wanted to explain the situation to her, beating Toshinori to the punch.

"... Oh, so it's also a way to train as well as a community service" the pink-haired girl summarized in the end.

"Yes, what can I say? We're generous, and good, and beautiful souls ... well, at least SOME of us are" Izuku chirped the last part in a low tone, casting a sidelong glance at Kacchan before floating next to her, thanks to the movement of the smaller wings on his feet "But fear not my dear!! If you tell us what components you need, we can separate them for you, isn't right, Yagi-san?"

"Uuh ..."

"Really? That would be great!!" Mei smiled before starting to make a rather confusing list of what she was looking for, with a lot of technical terms.
The only one who seemed to actually understand anything was Izuku, but the others were completely lost. Nevertheless, she continued to babble on undisturbed, making Katsuki's eye twitch.

"...Oh, you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" Mei asked after nearly five minutes of chatter.

"Not even a bit" Denki confirmed, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment "Sorry"

"I HAVE!!" Izuku replied enthusiastically, raising his hand "I've never studied mechanics, but I've read several Hero gadget magazines over the years, so I know, roughly, what you're talking about, darling"

"Well, in that case ..." Mei chuckled at the green boy's behavior as she pulled out her phone "Can we exchange phone numbers?"

Izuku was already ready with his contact page open "Gladly"

"Can we get back to damn training?" Katsuki snorted.

*** 

"... Zeus, stop!!" Toshinori laughed as Zeus kissed his shoulder "At least, give me time to take a shower. I'm all sweaty!!"

"Mmmm, I like you sweaty" the God replied, caressing his hips.

"AND I spent almost the entire day rolling around in garbage" Toshinori turned to him with a playful expression "Come on, just a quick shower. Five minutes" he declared, wrapping his arms around Zeus's neck "Then I'm all yours ..."

"All mine, huh?" The  golden eyes sparkled with desire mixed with amusement "Dangerous words to say to a God, my Eagle, you should be more careful" he whispered in his ear, brushing his lips against the lobe.

“Then it's a good thing I'm a Pro Hero” Tosh replied “Danger is my profession”

They stared at each other intensely for several seconds before Zeus let him go.

“I'll wait for you in the living room” the god agreed with a smile.

Exactly five minutes and 43 seconds later, Toshinori emerged from the bathroom wearing a light white short-sleeved T-shirt and his boxers. 
He found Zeus half-reclining on the couch watching TV “So, how's training going with the little ones?” he asked as soon as he saw him arrive.

“Good, the boys work hard” the blond replied, sitting down next to him “At this rate, I'm sure they'll have no problem passing the U.A. entrance exam”

“And what about my nephew?”

Of course Toshinori had told him about his hunch about Midoriya “Chaotic as ever”

“Well, I can't say I'm surprised, considering who his father is” Zeus chuckled, thinking fondly of Hermes. He had always been among his favorite children, after Athena and Dionysus “Did I ever tell you about that time Hermes stole half of Apollo's cattle when he was just a few months old?”

“Few months?!” Tosh repeated curiously.

“Yes, Apollo was so furious. He dragged him before me, demanding an exemplary punishment” the God explained “Even in front of me, that little scoundrel continued to deny stealing the cows, but his attitude was so amusing that in the end I let him go with just a warning, provided, of course, he returned the stolen goods”

“Speaking of demigods” Toshinori said “Do you know of any other demigods of Greek origin in Japan? 'cause I've got the feeling that I met another one today”

“Really? Who?”

“A young inventor, Hatsume Mei” the blond explained. “Apparently, she visits the beach to get parts for her creations. She was surrounded by the same kind of aura I see around young Midoriya”

“Inventor, you say?” Zeus mused, stroking his chin “Ummm, well, I know Hephaestus recently fathered a daughter, but I don't know with which mortal”

“Not that it matters, I was just asking out of curiosity, since it looks like we'll be seeing her a lot in the future” Toshinori clarified “Divine heritage or not, she gave me the impression of being a good young woman. Young Kaminari and Midoriya (especially the latter) took an immediate liking to her”

“Ah, at this rate, you'll end up building a small army”

“Eh, at this rate you'll end up building a little army for yourself” Zeus joked.

“I'm just helping some promising young men build their futures, they're not my army” Tosh snorted before his eyes widened at a sudden thought “Oh and I almost forgot, there was something I wanted to ask you …”

“Then ask, my Eagle”

“Remember when I told you about young Kaminari's Quirk?”

“I remember” the God confirmed “Electrification, isn't?”

Tosh sighed “Yeah, I spoke to a Quirk consultant who suggested running electricity from a high-voltage battery through his body, so he can gradually get used to withstanding more powerful shocks and, well, we're doing that, but this only helps him with power, not control; and apparently there's no way the boy could learn to direct electricity without the help of a support item”

Zeus nodded understandingly, waiting for him to continue.

“So, you know, I was wondering if maybe it was possible for you to help him?” the blond offered “Since you’re literally the God of Lightning …”

“Technically, that would be Thor” the other corrected him “I have control over lightning because they belong to the SKY, which is one of my domains”

“So, it's a no?”

“I should meet the boy and see what he’s actually capable of before I give you an answer”

“You could come with me to the beach one of these days” Toshinori offered "We never been at the beach together"

After a brief moment of consideration, Zeus agreed.
They had dinner together that evening, then spent the rest of the night making out on the couch.

***

Chapter Text

The last few weeks of Izuku's life had been particularly hectic, as well as full of unexpected surprises.

He'd made new friends, gotten All Might's autograph (yes, in the end Yagi-san had kept his promise, getting one for both him and Kacchan), met his GRANDFATHER ...

Izuku had become aware of his demigod nature around the age of eleven, when the mythological oddities had become too many and too illogical to be considered a normal part of a society based on superpowers.
After nearly being kidnapped by an Oni near the park where he and Kacchan used to play, his parents had agreed it was time to tell him the truth.

Discovering he was the son of a deity from the Greek pantheon had indeed helped shed light on several aspects of himself that, until then, he had never been able to explain.

Like the fact that despite his Quirk being, unofficially, "Triple Wing" (a name chosen in reference to the three pairs of wings he had developed), Izuku possessed superior agility and speed compared to other children, combined with other unique abilities such as speaking with snakes; partially manipulating the way gravity affected his body, making it lighter or heavier; and sensing traps or dangers not visible to the naked eye.

All things that had nothing to do with his wings.

His father, Hermes, had later explained to him that the Gods were not allowed to interfere in the lives of their mortal children, at least not directly. They could show themselves, offer advice, sometimes even magical objects, but they could not fight their battles for them, nor be a constant presence.

Which explained his supposed work in America and the fact that he saw him so rarely.

Once the truth was revealed, Hermes thoroughly instructed him on their family tree.
Hence why, when he saw Zeus join them on the beach in the company of Yagi-san, he instantly recognized him despite his mortal disguise. 

They communicated more with looks than words, but that little was enough.

A nod of approval from the God, along with a small smile, was enough for Izuku to realize that he'd recognized him as his grandson, which was great.

He did the same for HER.

Hatsume Mei, the most beautiful, intelligent, and chaotic girl he'd ever met in his short life. He knew she was a demigod too, he just wasn't sure whose daughter she was.

"... Wait, don't tell me!!" Mei exclaimed, giggling. "Let's see who can guess first?"

He was pretty sure Mei had already figured it out while he was still undecided between Athena and Hephaestus, but that wasn't the point.

The point was that just one look was enough to make him completely fall in love with her...

... He needed her to be his.

A plan of conquest was therefore urgently needed, but who should he turn to for advice?

Not his parents, that would have been too embarrassing, and certainly not Kacchan, since he had the same romantic instincts of an angry Pomeranian.
Yagi-san? They weren't close enough yet. Grandpà Zeus ... well, if he'd believed what he'd read in the myths, he'd probably have suggested something involving kidnapping or animal transformation, no thank you.

Maybe he should try asking a girl, but his circle of female acquaintances was limited to his mother and Mei herself.

Maybe he should just listen to his instincts, after all he was the son of Hermes.

Stealing things was part of their nature ...

... even if the thing in question was a heart.

***