Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku had a rough day. His mother was killed by a villain today. She was walking home when some idiot decided to hold her hostage. The guy ended up stabbing her and running away.

He walked up a 20 story building, Izuku always loved it when the wind caught through his hair and slightly tipped him over. But what if he got to be at the edge of it all? No… he didn’t want to die, it was just… feeling the adrenaline.

Six year old Izuku took a few steps from the door that led to the roof. And he slowly walked towards the edge. Small rocks crunching over his foot as he got closer.

It was an abandoned building, so nobody would catch him…

Right?

When he reached the edge of the roof he was met with a 2-foot wall and a ledge that went slightly over the building. He climbed up the concrete wall and scraped his knee. Ignoring the slight blood now gathering in little beads on his leg, he went crisscross applesauce and looked straight ahead.

He was met with the city. It was dark, around 9 pm, and the luminous lights of the city blocked out all visible stars. Yeah, the city was pretty with all the pinks and blues and reds and oranges. But stars were gorgeous.

He turned sideways on the ledge feeling the wind slightly push him off balance and laid on his back, legs bending to steady himself. He looked up to the black, inky sky to look for a star. Sadly, he saw none.

No stars in the sky…

Izuku was never one to think spiritually, but there was something about the darkness of the sky that made him empty. Everyone gets to see stars at some point in their life, yet Izuku has never seen them. Sure, he’s probably seen one or two, but never an inky sky full.

When Izuku sits back up he realizes that he’d been crying. He scoots closer to the end.

Maybe I could seen mom again? Maybe Kacchan won’t be held back because of me.

He stats to quietly sob and scoot closer to the edge feeling the wind swirl around him, making him unbalanced and weak. He feels the gust of wind from behind him slowly push forwards. He tips forward slowly, getting ready to feel the gentle wind all throughout his body. Pulling him into a new place where he can be safe.

Instead, he feels something wrap around his waist and pull him back.

It scared him, really fucking scared him. He kicked and screamed in reflex, his sobs getting loud now that his adrenaline was skyrocketing.

“Get off of me!! Get off!! Let go! Let me go, let me go!!” He screamed, voice cracking with every few words. His throat was getting sore and for some reason he couldn’t breathe. Why couldn’t he breathe? Let go! Let me go! He kicked back at what had been holding him, threw a weak punch, and bit whatever had him at the waist.

“Kid- kid it’s okay, I won’t hurt you. Just breathe. Okay? Can you breathe for me?” The voice was gruff, but had a slight carefulness, worry, and calm in it.

Izuku did his best nod, holding his elbow that had been scraped against the concrete when he was pulled back.

The figure, that he suspects is a man, shuffles a little closer being careful not to startle Izuku. “If you’re having trouble, you can put your hand on my heart and follow the beats?” The man was cautious, keeping his voice low. It was still gruff, but you could hear the emotions in it if you listened closely.

Izuku shook his head and took a slight step back when the man shuffled forward a bit. He took in deep breaths in and out until he felt a little calmer. When he opened his eyes he saw the man. He had long black wavy hair that went a little past his shoulders, a black jumpsuit that was a little baggy for the guy, a bunch of grey stuff around his neck that hung loosely, yellow triangular goggle type things around his forehead, and deep inky eyes Izuku wanted to relate to the sky. The sky that told him there was no light to help him, and to give up.

Izuku backed up closer to the edge because the man was about three feet away now.

“Kid, I wont hurt you. I’m sorry I pulled you away like that, I know it scared you. I just, couldn’t have you falling off the roof.” He said slowly and stern but calm so that Izuku could understand.

Izuku sat back down leaning his back against the wall of the ledge. He sat for a good five minutes until the man spoke again.

“Why were you up here?” He asked gently.

Izuku took a moment to answer, “I- I like the wind.”

The man hesitated, then gestured to the boy like he knew the kid had questions.

“Who… who are you?” The kid asked hesitantly, like whatever answer he got would punch him in the face.

“Eraserhead, I’m an underground hero.” He paused to get an answer, when none came he continued. “Who are you?” He was still cautious, making sure he didn’t overstep.

“Izuku.” The boy gave a weak smile then dropped it after a few seconds. “What is the grey stuff?”

The man looked confused, then his eyes went to the loose grey wrapping around his neck. “Oh, thats my capture weapon. It helps me fight long-range and when I can’t use my quirk.” He unwrapped it from his neck and set it in the middle of them both so Izuku could see it. “How old are you?” In a quieter voice.

Izuku hesitated, but when he looked at the man who was sitting crisscrossed with his hands on his knees and making himself in a weak position he answered. “I- I’m six…”

The older man looked surprised but immediately covered it up with gentle empathy, he nodded for Izuku to continue their exchange.

“What… What’s your quirk?” He looked to his sweaty hands that were now tight to his chest. He relaxed a bit and sat crisscrossed matching the older man.

The man relaxed a bit and looked a little more happy than he was before and responded, “It’s called Eraser. It allows me to Erase someone’s quirk as long as I can see their eyes.”

The little boy’s eyes widened, before the man could speak the little boy rambled, “Do you have a time limit? If you do, how long is it? If it ends are you out of the fight? No, that’s what your capture weapon is for. Right? So you basically- You… Mr. Eraser you fight quirkless?” The boy was surprised by his own questions, he also had a little spark of hope in his eyes.

“Hang on kid, one question at a time. I still have mine, remember?” The boy nodded and looked down in embarrassment. Eraserhead looked at the time on his watch that read 11pm, so he had been here for an hour. At this point he really just wants to know the real reason the kid was up here, but he needs to get trust to do that.

“What is your quirk?” This should help, if he knows the kids quirk maybe the kid could talk about it enough to establish some trust?

The kid tensed up again, worse than before, and started crying again. Damnit, I thought he would’ve liked to talk about it. “Hey, hey kid. It’s okay. I wont judge, and I bet it’s really cool.” Just keep a low voice and show you care. He had to have been abused at some point to be this jumpy. Just stay calm and caring.

“I-“ He took a sharp breath in. “I- I don’t… I don’t have one.” He curled in on himself. Trying to fight back the sobs. Acting like he was going to get hit any minute.

The older man sat there and processed what the kid just said. If he was quirkless, then he had to of been abused. He just wanted to hug the kid, but he had to be careful. He stood up and carefully and slowly walked to sit next to the kid. When he sat down, lower back against the wall, the little boy flinched. Eraserhead immediately showed he would hurt the kid by putting has hands behind his back and calmly said, “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay. I wont hurt you and neither should anyone else. It’s okay, Izuku, it’s going to be okay.”

Slowly, Izuku scooted closer to the man. When he was close enough, the man gently scooped him up and sat Izuku in his lap. He hugged him gently at first, not to scare the boy, but when the boy hugged back tighter the man copied. Izuku put his head in the mans chest a cried while the older man just hugged him close drawing circles on his back.

After about 20 minutes Izuku pulled back a bit and whispered, “I like the wind in my hair, I wanted to know what it felt like all around me.”

The man gave a soft grunt saying he understood and held Izuku tight for a few more minutes before asking, “Won’t your parents be worried?”

Izuku shook his head, “Dad left when I was four… Mom… works late.” He sniffled.

The man nodded, “I can walk you home, but if you come back up here I can’t promise I can do this again.” Thats a lie, he would come back for this kid whenever the he needed it.

The kid stood up and started walking to the stairs and the man followed. When they got to the bottom of the 20 story building the little boy said, “Izuku Midoriya…”

When the man responded, “Shota Aizawa” Izuku wasn’t expecting it.

“Does… does this make us friends?” He asked below a whisper.

The man squatted to be face level of the boy. “Kid, I thought that was established when I sat you in my lap. Yes, yes we’re friends.” The man gave a small smile and stood back up when he saw the younger give a wide smile and hugged him.

“Thank you, Mr. Aizawa. Thank you!” He exclaimed. “I hope I see you again!” He turned to his right and bolted. Izuku heard the man follow a few steps telling him to wait, but Izuku turned the corner and left the older man.

Chapter Text

Today was sickening. It was Izuku’s birthday and tomorrow marks the two year death of his mother. At school, he had a desk covered in spider lillie’s, a cubby covered in red paint, and to top it all off! A punch straight to his stomach making him puke.

He walked up that same abandoned building he did the day his mom died. He walked up the 20 story building and out the stairwell walking on the crunch of old gravel. Getting a memory he thought if everyday. The memory of his only friend. The friend that most likely forgot about him.

He reached the wall, taller now, his eyes just barely peek over it. He climbed the wall noting to not scrape his knee like last time. He sat, legs dangling, staring at the bright city. It was still the same rainbow color as always and it blocked out all the stars making Izuku feel worse.

He felt the wind blow through his hair and slightly tip him over. Since living by himself he can’t eat as much and he has to ration. It’s easy to get to school, but after this school year he can’t afford to keep going. There’s only so much money his mom left for his schooling, so he will have to find a way to get money. Maybe he can mow some lawns? Carry groceries?

No.

What was he thinking? Aunt Mitski put him in foster care. If she found out there was a small, quirkless, greenie walking around earning money in their neighborhood she would know he ran away. He can’t be sent back to that place. They treated him like shit. Hell, he has literal scars from how they treated him.

The wind went to tip him backwards. Yeah, he lost so much weight the wind tipped him easier than last time. So what? At least he is still here, getting tipped over.

He sat in silence just listening to the wind blow through his hair.

What if… what if I didn’t have to worry anymore? It’s not like he will be snatched back again. The underground hero most likely forgot about him. The only person that cared forgot, so now he has no reason to live. Why wait then? Why go through starvation and abuse just to end up with nothing?

He started leaning forward.

Why let kids at school beat him up if he had no reason to live?

He started to tip forward.

Why hold Kacchan back from being a hero?

He started slipping off the edge.

Why wait to see his mom… if he could see her right now?

He let go a flew through the air. The wind soared all through his body calming him. As he got closer and closer to the end he felt his heart getting faster.

What if I don’t see my mom? What if Kacchan gets in trouble for this? What if the hero does remember him? What- what if-

He’s yanked backwards sending his head and arms forward. Something was around his ankle and he had no idea what it was, only that it was coarse and thin.

It pulled him up fast bumping him into the hard brick wall scraping him up. He kicked and screamed several times to let him go, but nothing ever happened.

“Let me go! I said let go! You’re hurting me! Let me go!!” He gave high pitched screams that were rough since he was crying and his heart was pounding in his chest.

When he was yanked over the wall he scraped his face on the wall. He was immediately pushed away from the wall and tumbled backward to his butt. The grey wrapping around his ankle immediately let go and he followed to where it swerved in the wind to land gently in a pile. A pile that was around wavy black hair, that lead up to deep, inky eyes he had seen before.

After a moment of realization the hero slowly walked over to him making sure not to startle the kid. When he got to the green headed kid he got crisscrossed and looked into the kids eyes. The kid copied, staring into the eyes that had saved him twice, and the eyes that he called a friend.

Izuku relaxed a little after it finally reached his mind that Aizawa, the man who was his friend, remembered him. The kid immediately started sobbing quietly, the warm tears making tracks down his cheeks.

Aizawa sighed and pulled the kid into his lap. The kid was incredibly light, around 20 pounds? He could practically see the kids collar bones peeking out. He decided to set that aside for now, currently, he needs to figure out why the fuck this kid actually committed this time.

As the kid tucked his face into the older’s chest he slowly calmed down. When he was calm enough he was getting tired. Being in a warm embrace like this after two years makes him feel safe, and loved. He slowly starts to doze off, rubbing his eyes and yawning when he feels a hand go through his hair. This makes him even more tired as he drifts away to sleep.

He wakes to a small shake of his arm. He had always been a light sleeper, so just a small shake should wake him. He rubbed his eyes to get the crusties out and then opened his eyes. He was met with a green-ish yellow eyes that reminded him of a lime, and on the same face, a pale-ish red eye that reminded him of Kacchan but… nicer?

Wait- why was there a man in his house? Better yet, why was it so cold in his house? He looked away from the eyes that were cautiously watching him in silence. When he turned his head away from the man he hit his head on something hard.

“Ow.”

“Shh, it’s okay kid. It’s okay.”

That startled Izuku, ok… now there were to people in his house  that was somehow freezing cold. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light he had not known was there, he realized he was in an office. More specifically, a doctor’s office.

No. No no no no no no no! He- he couldn’t be in a doctor’s office! They- they’ll call mom! They’ll find out!! They- NO!

His hand was pulled to touch something warm.

No! No no no no- Stop! Stop it! Stop!!

He wanted to speak, why couldn’t he speak??? Just- just let me go! Let me go and leave! I wanna leave let me go! Let me see mom! Let me- let… me…

“…th…ollow m… art…”

I… I think I know that voice…

The bright was incredibly bright so Izuku still couldn’t see much. Even if he did recognize a voice, he needed to get out. Nobody could know about his mom, about him running from child care. He was not going back.

So, he kicked and tried to pull away from the grip. He tried to get away, get out of the blanket holding him. But nothing let go. When he finally got up and out of the bed something just picked him up and shoved him back on the bed.

Now he was in someone lap? Why- why was he being bead hugged? He- he wasn’t a threat! Let go!

“Let- let me go!!!” He did his normal scream, but it was incredibly high pitched and raspy. Why- why was it so hard to talk? Oh… he was hyperventilating… makes sense.

“…ku.. alm dow… please…” They sounded desperate.

The hug started getting tighter and Izuku started to bite and claw his way out of the hold. When he escaped he was pulled back and his neck was tilted. Then something sharp was put in his neck.

He let out a small scream and tried to get out again, but it was weaker and he was getting tired. Until he fell asleep in the bear hug, head resting on an arm.

When he woke up it was darker, and he was clearly in someone’s lap. It was kind of uncomfortable, but then he realized that whoever’s lap he was in, was holding him. Their arms around his neck, hands clasping on his chest, legs crossed. While Izuku was a little sideways, legs curled slightly to the right, head resting between a shoulder and upper arm.

He made a movement and slight groan noise. Then almost immediately before he processed where he was.

“Shhhhh kid, you’re okay. Just go back to sleep if you need it. I’m right here and will be.” It was a calm and quiet voice. He also remembered it. The same gruff tone to it… Ai- Aizawa???

He slowly turned his head backward and slightly up. He was met with the normal deep inky eyes but now, they had a little crimson tint to them.

Izuku finally processed everything…

“Kid? You alright?”

Izuku nodded, turned his head to where was comfiest, and drifted back to sleep. Ignoring the blonde that was sitting in a white, plastic doctor’s chair while staring with a kind of “I am gonna bug you about this later” look.

Izuku felt safe.

He doesn’t really remember what happened after that. The only thing he can really call out was Mr. Aizawa asking for his address. Being in the back of the car facing the side window, he thinks Mr. Aizawa was sitting with him. And being carried inside a house.

When he awoke there was a dim light shining in the room. He realized he was in his room. He got up and ran to the living room because he remembered what happened last night.

To his surprise, Mr. Aizawa nor the blonde man were in the living room, or the kitchen. They weren’t in the house.

“Shhh Izuku, kid, it’s okay. Just rest, I can understand your mom is working late. So you are used to going asleep late, but I won’t leave a kid your age home alone.”

So, why wasn’t anyone here? Yeah, he should be happy they left and didn’t find out. He got ready for school since it was a Wednesday. When he was about to head out there was a knock at the door. That was weird, nobody came to this house. It isn’t for sale, is it? He went to open the door, as he did he saw the man who had been so nice to Izuku, he felt safe.

Izuku met eyes with the man who was in his hero costume, and immediately went to slam the door. The mans foot slid in and stopped the door from closing and Izuku ran for it.

“Kid, kid stop please. I just need to talk.” He was desperate, but also stern as if he really needed Izuku to stay.

Of course, Izuku was no fool. Mr. Aizawa probably found out about his situation and called child services. So, Izuku ran to his room, slammed the door and locked it, ran to his window, opened it, and climbed out.

He never told Mr. Aizawa what school he went to, so if he just went straight to school he could get away. He might not be able to go to his house for a while, the man might stay and-

“Izuku, wait.” Something familiar wrapped around his waist and pulled him back. Izuku looked forward to try and get out, but then a speeding car flew by right where he was going to walk.

He turned to look at the hero in surprise.

“Kid, I- I’m sorry. Please, just-“

There was no time to finish. Izuku had slipped out his blade, cut through the fabric holding him, and sprinted around the corner when the man looked down.

When the older looked up, Izuku was nowhere to be seen.

The next two weeks Izuku avoided his house, he slept in abandoned buildings, parking garages close to the school and one night he had to sleep on a park bench. That was really risky. When he went back to his house, he noticed a for sale sign in the yard. He ran inside, grabbed what he could, and left.

Now where would he go? He couldn’t go to school all dirty and smelly. He would just have to rent something or stay at a hotel until he runs out of school money. Yeah, and try to do some things for the guests and other renters to earn money.

He could do this, Izuku could do this.

Right?

Chapter Text

Wow… it’s crazy how much can happen in five years. Izuku came to the normal abandoned building he goes to when he’s tired. Tired of everything, mostly living, but… you get the point.

He had been going place to place the past five years. Hotel room to hotel room, apartment to apartment, abandoned building to abandoned building. He wonders if he stayed in child care… would his life be better? Or would it be worse? Hell, would he had killed himself already?

Izuku had also been living the past five years off of scraps. His appetite is incredibly low now and he is pretty sure he weighs around 60 pounds? Man… if his mom saw him- if she saw him now she would hold him and cry, not what he needs, but he would bear it…

Theres always Mr. Aizawa, but doesn’t he know about his current situation? Wasn’t he going to take him into child care?

You don’t know that… he could have just wanted to help. He could have thought your mom had to work all night. Fuck, if he did know there was a chance he might’ve wanted to take you in or help you get on your feet.

No… no you don’t know that! He- he took me to a doctor he- he pulled me back! He knows!

But are you sure he wanted to harm you? Are you sure he was putting you in child care?

If not, who was the blonde man!? He probably worked for CPS! He- he was ready to send me back!

You still don’t know that.

Izuku slammed the roof door shut and ran through the gravel that seems to grow every time he comes up here. He went to his normal spot against the wall with small blood stains.

Some from the times he scraped a knee or elbow. A little from when Kacchan beat him up and made Izuku spit out blood. And some from when Izuku hurts himself.

He fell, his back slid against the wall. His head is now barely reaching it when he sits, when he stands his chin it to the top of the wall.

Izuku slams his head against the hard concrete wall.

Just shut up, I know what I’m doing. I- I just gotta make it quick. He comes by this way in about twenty minutes.

He slams his head against the wall again, and again.

When his vision starts to get dizzy he does his best to stand. Getting a wobbly view of the roof door.

A warm trickle of iron and salt spread down the back of his head and the front. It reaches over his nose and drips to the floor.

When he is fully standing, but slowly tipping over. He stands on the wall facing the glowing city, knife in hand. He looks to the dark, inky, never glowing night sky one last time. He thinks of all the things that had happened in the past seven years. His first friend that will turn up in about 10 minutes, his friend that made him feel safe but now he hides from.

His brings the knife up to his throat as he looks back at the city and down to the drop. He notices how his school uniform is sparked with a crimson color and pale semi- washed out red. How his uniform is black, but you can still see the dark spots of past and present blood. How you can see holes and wares from Kacchan.

How Kacchan gave him a reason, “Just pray that you'll be both with a quirk in your next life, and take a swan dive off the roof of the building". 

And how Izuku was walking his way to his normal building when a slime monster started taking over his body.

How Izuku was saves by one of his favorite heros, All Might.

How when he asked said hero, if he too, could be a hero… He was faced with another reason, “Some villains can’t be beaten without powers, so honestly no. I honestly don’t think you can be a hero without a quirk.”

Izuku pressed the knife to his neck.

About seven minutes till he gets here, now or never.

He hesitates, why the fuck would he hesitate!? He wants this! He- he hates it here! All might said- All might even said he couldn’t be a hero! He can’t get a job! Nobody accepts him! How would he live!?

He presses harder bringing another small trickle of crimson red on his uniform.

Feeling the wind blow through his hair, he presses even harder. Making it hard to breathe.

Two minutes before he comes, fall… Now!

He throws the knife down and as he turns to fall from his back he hears a landing noise.

“Th- Thanks,-zawa.” He whispered because damn, it’s hard to breathe.

As the man runs to grab the kid, Izuku falls.

Feeling the wind through his hair and body again really makes him happy. His memories rush to him, not in random… no, his safest memories.

His mom, hugging him close and making his favorite katsudon.

Mr. Aizawa, holding him close and whispering for him to sleep.

The lights of the city start to fade out along with the noise of a man screaming and cars driving by.

A few minutes later the lights turn red and blue. The noise becomes small whispers and sirens followed with beeping and shouting to grab this, grab that.

Were… were they trying to save him? Good luck with that. He knew where vital damaging spots were… He’s- shit- did he hit them?

He tries to reach for the blade in the pocket but his body won’t listen. Why wont his body listen!?

Everything feels distant. Muffled sirens, hurried voices, a hand gripping his to keep him awake. Wait- when did the hand get there? He can’t make out the words that are said, but there is something that comforts him along with the hand that came from nowhere.

He thinks it’s Aizawa. It feels like Aizawa.

The world fades in and out after that. Lights. Voices. Cold air.

When they finally reach the hospital, everything is too bright. He hears shouting, footsteps, the squeak of wheels. He tries to speak, but his voice is gone. Someone’s hand is still holding his. He clings to that warmth until it’s gone, and when it leaves, panic floods in. His body twitches and he tries to move. Why can’t he move!? He gives a small kick, twitch, whatever it is and it hits something. It brought a gasp from his mouth that hurt like hell. He isn’t stopping there. He tries again, he tries so desperately to get the hand back. He just wants Mr. Aizawa’s hand!

He tries to move again, to find the hand, but every motion makes the pain surge through his neck and head. It spreads like lightning, and before he can take another breath, the world folds into darkness. The only thing he noticed before then was that a hand was in his. Not the hand he was looking for, but good enough.

Chapter Text

Izuku felt heavy. That was odd. He could carry his body incredibly easily and he never felt heavy. He was also tired. Incredibly tired. It wasn’t just those. There were a million things that were weird at the moment, but Izuku couldn’t think of them all.

He tried his best to bring his weighted hands to his fave and rub his eyes. When he managed to get them halfway something tugged at his arm. What-

He tried to move his arm again, closer to his face, when the tug came again. Ok what-

He tugged this time and he was free. He moved his hands to his face and rubbed at his eyes. When he opened he was met with bright LED lights that he felt would blind him if he looked longer.

Suddenly, he got a sharp pain in the back of his head. He moved his hand under his head slowly and was met with a soft… bandage?

Oh…

Oh shit-

No… no no no no NO! Not again! NO!!! He- He was supposed to see his mom! he-

oh shit- this…

Izuku looked around the room painfully. His head shooting painful warnings to rest. He spotted white tiles around the walls with a blue and light grey checkered floor. When he studied the right side of the room he noticed a man. A man that looked like Mr. Aizawa, but in civilian clothes, fast asleep in a hospital chair.

Now why would Mr. Aizawa be in his hospital room. Better yet, why would he be in civilian clothes?

He sluggishly moved his hands under himself so he could stand up. What he wasn’t expecting was for his arms to collapse under him when trying to shuffle. This caused his finger thingy that was connected to the heart monitor slide off.

Let’s just say it scared Izuku more than anyone thought it would.

When it slid off it gave a very loud and high pitched squeal. It immediately woke Mr. Aizawa up and caused the man to run to the boy who was in shock. Two nurses ran in two minutes later and everything was chaos.

Izuku is almost ninety-percent sure, if the monitor was on him now, there would be more than two nurses in here. He was so overwhelmed at the moment he couldn’t breathe. Izuku looked to Aizawa who was squeezing his hand while Izukus other hand grabbed at his chest. He felt his vision blur out and his breathing started to slow. Before he knew it, he was asleep again with a hand squeezing his.

****

When he sluggishly opened his eyes again he groaned. It caused a sharp pain in his neck and head making him flinch. The flinch woke the man that was still sitting in the chair, but close enough to the bed so he could rest his head on the mattress and still hold Izukus hand.

It calmed him.

The man looked at Izuku and to the kids heart monitor that was a wee bit fast, but the older could dismiss it for now.

“Don’t talk, it can damage your throat more. Small noises and nods are fine, but it’s preferred for you to just give thumbs up and down. We don’t need you to open the stitches.” He spoke calmly.

Izuku gave a weak thumbs up when Aizawa raised the kids bed a bit.

“First things first. Are you thirsty?”

Izuku was aghast at the question, but he can’t deny, he was really thirsty. Izuku gave another weak thumbs up.

“Okay, because they don’t want you to re-open that wound they told me how you will get water. I have a syringe-“ Izuku gave a small flinch when Aizawa held it up “Hey, kid, it’s alright. It has nothing but water in it, okay?” Izuku nodded and immediately regretted that decision. Aizawa gave a soft nod and continued, “I will put it at the corner of your mouth and release a little at a time, all you need to do is swallow at the best of your ability. Understand?”

Izuku opened his mouth a little as a response and Aizawa did as he said he would. The syringe went to the corner of Izukus mouth and slowly, cool water entered. He tried to swallow, but immediately stopped. He raised his hand to tell Aizawa to stop.

“Hurt like hell, didn’t it?”

Izuku dramatically widened his eyes and his irises moved to look at Aizawa.

With the water still in his mouth, he tried a few more times to swallow. All of them ended as a failure and Izuku gave up letting the water and saliva drip from his mouth.

Aizawa stared in shock and disbelief at the kid. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Kid- you have to get something cold down your throat. I know it hurts to swallow, but you have to actually get something down it.”

Izuku stared.

“Do you like slushes?” He asked gently.

Izuku only had a slush once and it was about nine years ago. He can’t exactly remember what it was like, all he knows is that he liked the blue one.

Izuku tilted his hand side to side.

“What- kid, what does that mean?”

Izuku gave a weak shrug. Honestly, it was less than a shrug and more of a shoulder tick.

“Mk’ I’m getting you a slush. What flavor? One finger for cherry, two for green apple, three for blue raspberry, and four for coca-cola.”

Izuku thought for a while. He knew it was a blue colored slush… The only one he read off that could be blue was blue raspberry.

He held up a three.

“Alright kid. I get you this, you have to drink as much as possible. Alright?”

Izuku gave a thumbs up.

When Aizawa let go of his hand Izuku squeezed it instead and didn’t let Aizawa go.

Aizawa looked back at the kid who had a weak grip at the moment, but it still caught the mans attention.

“Kid, I have to go get the slush. I’m not leaving you, I promise.” He stated slowly as if he was speaking another language to the kid.

Izuku shook his head and looked at the other hand in his lap. His neck hurt again.

The older sighed, “Izuku. I can’t get a nurse to get it and I can’t get ‘Zashi to either. I have to go get it. I promise you, it will take five minutes. Then I will come right back and if you want, I can lay next to you.”

Izuku disregarded his confusion about whoever Zagi or whatever his name was and focused on what Aizawa said. Five minutes…?Thats it. And then Aizawa would come back.

It was a few minutes until Izuku loosened his grip on Aizawas hand. Though the grip wasn’t much, at least Aizawa noticed it.

The man squeezed the kids hand one last time before standing up and setting a timer on his phone to leave for Izuku. “Five minutes kid, I will be back.”

***

The five minutes went by quick. When the alarm went off, Shotas watch dinged and he sprinted back to the room avoiding nurses, patients, and doctors. When he arrived the kid looked like he was about to start balling his eyes and hyperventilate again.

Noted, set a reasonable time.

When the kid looked at him Shota saw reassurance and the kid relaxed a bit.

He lowered the railing to the hospital bed and climbed on it setting Izuku up and scooting him a little to the left. Though he did his best effort to keep the small, skinny boy on his own side, the kid refused and sat himself in Shotas hold.

The man sat crisscrossed while the kid was falling asleep under his arms. The youngers head was placed between his shoulder and upper arm reminding him of last time.

****

When the kid was fast asleep Shota sent an update to Hizashi, explaining that he was in the hospital and everything was okay, he just found the kid again.

Hizashi immediately responded, “Send picture… NOW!”

Aizawa did his best to get himself and the sleeping, underweight, problem child in the camera view. The picture ended up with his face in the top left corner and the kids viridian hair on his arm in the middle of the screen.

When he sent the picture to his husband the response he received was surprising.

Zashi:

Babe… We need to talk- about him.

Shota was confused

You:

What are you talking about?

Zashi:

The kid, Izuku. We need to talk about him. I know you care a lot about him, he clearly has issues he is dealing with, and we… we know his situation. I would like to talk about this face ti face though.

You:

Zashi… I care about this kid so fucking much. I know his predicament right now, and I want to help as best I can. If that means that we… have to talk about it… I will do as much as I can to convince you. If we have to do it face to face, I will do that.

Zashi:

I know you do, and though I have only heard what you tell me and I’ve sene him once in Recovery Girls office, I have a rebuttal. I would like to explain when you get back because I really need you to know what I mean. I love you.

You:

Alright, I love you too.

Shit, if we wait any longer this kid might… I don’t want to think about it, please kid. I’m begging, stay safe.

Shota had to leave for the night because he had spent the night before in the plastic hospital chair. Before he left, he told Izuku he would be back in the morning. Sometime around ten-thirty.  The kid was the most hesitant he had seen him. It was a stretch, being gone for several hours, but after some convincing the kid released his grip on Shotas hand and allowed the man to walk out.

It wasn’t until midnight that Shota got home. He left the hospital at eleven and it was about an hour away. When he walked in Hizashi was sitting at the kitchen counter with a glass of water. He must’ve used his quirk a lot today, his voice starts to get croaky if he does.

Shota carefully tiptoed through to his husband and when he arrived rubbed his hand on the voice hero’s back in circles resting his head on the others shoulder and hummed.

“We- How will we provide for his needs? We will need to take out our workspace for another bedroom. Be calm and careful you- You know thats not my strongest suit.” He huffed a sad laugh and looked down at his water.

“Zashi.” He moved to wrap his arms around his husbands waist, putting his head on the mans back. “I believe. If you do your best. That is what counts. The kid is going to take a lot of work. There will be times where he might lock himself away, there might be times where he is completely open. It all depends on trust and at the moment, I can’t even believe he slightly trusts me.” He said calm and slow. “You can do it Hizashi. I believe in you- But this kid… if- if he stays where he is any longer… He will try this again. And next time he won’t make a mistake.”

“But, Shota. You need to take care of yourself too. I understand how much you want to help this kid, I want to as-well but-“ He turned around to face the gorgeous, deep, midnight eyes he fell in love with all those years ago and held the mans hands in his. “You cant save everyone. I believe this kid can be saved with time just as you. But you can’t ruin yourself in the process… Shota. You have to take yourself into consideration too.”

The black-haired man gave a slow nod and squeezed the blondes hands.

“As long as you promise me you will consider yourself. I’m fine with it.”

Shotas eyes widened slightly and he hugged the blonde tightly. “Thank you Zashi, thank you so much.”

They let go after a moment.

“No coffee tonight, Shota, don’t you have to get up early?” He slightly teased.

“It’s building some kind of trust… I think… I know at least that it has helped. The nurses give a time, and as long as they are back on time or a few minutes earlier he is fine. It’s worse with me, though. Tonight will be a test, I told them to call me the moment they hint he is getting worried.” He started to walk to their room.

Hizashi nodded. “So, if you are late he starts to freak out? Or if you are away too long? I am guessing because you have been there for him every time?”

Shota nodded. “They mentioned that when I let go of his hand he had started breathing heavily and mumbling something close to ‘Zawa’ and ‘Hand’. When a nurse squeezed his hand he had calmed down a bit.”

“Aweeee. ‘Zawa’ That’s so cute!” He teased completely this time.

“Yeah yeah… I’m going to bed now. ‘night, love you!” He crawled in the bed and fell asleep to his husband’s television show he was watching.

Chapter Text

The first night Shota wasn’t at the hospital was a small test. Everyone agreed they should see the time limit on Izuku being without him.

Around two in the morning he had got a call from the hospital. They explained that the kid was freaking out and stuff, so he rushed his way over and ended up staying the whole day.

It was hard. And though they had several incidents where Izuku tried to hurt himself again while in the hospital, he never succeeded.

It was a good two weeks of sleepless nights, three AM slushy runs, and calming the kid down from panic attacks.

Around the ninth day, when the kid was significantly better- at least physically. And Shota had gained a good bit of trust, he decided to ask the kid something.

“Hey, kid, are you alright with a kinda heavy question?” He made sure he didn’t sound pushy.

The kid gave a croaky hum and looked at Shota from the mans lap.

Carding calloused fingers through the deep emerald hair, “How come you don’t have a good living situation?” He knew the kid didn’t have a home or at least a good one. The kid mentioned it at some point when the nurse asked if he had someone they could call. But he didn’t know why, or how, and if he wants this kid he needs to know.

After a silent moment of thinking the kid slowly slurred, “M’ Mom. Sss-She pass’d firs’ime we m-met.” It was dry and rough, clearly from lack of using his voice, but it was clear enough to break the mans heart.

“Kid… I can understand if not. But I really hope you will because damn, I would love it if you did. But, would you want to become my son?”

The kid looked up immediately in disbelief and shock. “Y- You wan’ me? Quirkl’ss ol’ me?”

“Yes. I want you, amazing, beautiful you.” They have a good bond, relationship, trust, and more. Hopefully it’s enough for this kid to come home with him.

The kid took a moment. A moment to dissect the situation. This kid, Kami, this kid has been through so much. Enough to believe nobody would want him. And this, this just breaks Shotas heart even more.

This kid nods after a while of making sure it wasn’t a lie. That someone actually, really wants him. Wants to be with him. Wants to care for him and feed him and everything he should have right now. Everything his mom gave him. And for some reason, it makes Izuku feel happy. He hasn’t felt like this in a good ling while.

When the kid makes a quick movement to hug and hold Shota tight in agreement he didn’t hesitate to put an arm around the kid. Kami, this kid is his now. He can finally show this kid what he deserves. This world did this kid dirty and Shota will be the one to help the kid through the mess. It’s only a matter of time and careful footing to make recovery as easy as possible for this- No. His kid.