Chapter Text
"Izuku, it's time to go," Shouta calls into the apartment and it's only thanks to his years of training that he hears the quiet footsteps that patter down the hall. The kid stops just outside of Shouta's reach showcasing one of the many patterns he’d noticed in the boy's behavior during their two weeks together. Many of his patterns are similar and stem from caution. For one, Izuku’s head might as well be on a swivel and his hearing supersonic as he picks up every change in his environment, every sound made around him, and every person in his presence. Then, whenever any one of those variables changes in a way, he finds to be or sees the potential of them becoming a threat, Izuku’s eyes will flick to whatever escape routes he’d pinpointed the moment he’d walked into the room.
Shouta understands the boy’s hypervigilance, he'd only been away from his abusers—which was basically every single person in his life—for two weeks, but that doesn't mean he likes it. He hates it really but that hate isn't because of the changes he's had to make to his routine and behavior to make Izuku more comfortable, those are easy and even if they weren’t he’d still happily make those changes if it would make the kid even slightly happier or rather more secure in his new home. No, he hates it because of how many people had to hurt this child for him to sprint out of the room when Shouta says something just a bit too loud or for him curl into himself whenever anything moves a bit too fast. Every time the kid reacts so severely to such small things, it makes Shouta want to strangle every single person who'd ever hurt the boy and watch the life drain from their eyes and Shouta very rarely takes joy in the violence his job brings.
All that's not to say every minute of their days is spent in a terrible limbo, they have had their moments and made progress. One of the biggest leaps of trust they'd made was on the second day when Shouta noticed how Izuku was completely dead on his feet from lack of sleep. It wasn't hard to figure out the kid wasn't sleeping in fear of what Shouta would do while he was unaware so his solution was simple; he ordered a new door handle and had it delivered to the apartment where he then installed it on the boy's bedroom door. This new handle was only different in one way from the doorknob of what was previously a guest room but that little difference had Izuku's face mouth gape and his eyes wide in awe at the new installment and the sense of security a locking door brought him. Shouta obviously had a key in case of emergency but he left that bit of information out so that night and those following it the kid woke up looking not well, but much better.
Then there was the matter of Izuku's hair which Shouta had left alone at first, not seeing it as a priority with how skittish the kid was, but eventually it had to be dealt with. Izuku's hair was practically one big knot after the years of neglect the two had been through together and Shouta couldn't get close enough to do anything about it, so he supervised Izuku cutting his own hair. To anyone else the kid had probably looked the same as usual but Shouta could see his eyes shimmer and his lips twitch ever so slightly, the childish dream of cutting your own hair not lost on the boy who'd lost so much. It was simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking, but that didn't compare to when Shouta was allowed to help with the thickest knot on the back of Izuku's head. The boy still held his scissors tight in shaky hands and watched Shouta's every move through the mirror but it was a huge step for the kid. Having known Izuku for barely two weeks he doesn't really have the right but Shouta was proud of him for that and so much more.
However, even with him making slow and unsteady progress in many aspects of his life there was one very obvious obstacle they had yet to come even close to hurdling. "Are you ready?" He asks softly and Izuku nods his head then moves to put on the bright red shoes he'd actually asked for on their shopping spree the previous week. With his contained elation there was obviously a story behind the choice but it was hard to have complex conversations when Izuku wouldn't speak. The doctors confirmed there was nothing physically barring him from speaking and that his muteness was yet another trauma-induced habit, something that kept him safe before. They weren't completely cut off from communicating, though. The two of them were learning sign language in their free time but in the meantime, Izuku was comfortable with charade-like gestures and occasionally he would write something down for Shouta to read but his writing was yet another thing Izuku was secretive about, especially whatever he wrote in the notebook he was practically attached by the hip with.
Shouta didn't know what Izuku wrote in his beat-up notebook and he wouldn't risk the little trust he'd built with the kid over something so insignificant but whatever it was, Izuku obviously adored it. The kid had tried to hide the notebook or at least hide how often he used it and it truly was a valiant effort but Shouta had been an underground hero for almost five years and trained to become one for another three so when they went shopping he'd slipped a nice sturdy notebook into the cart. Izuku appreciated the "gift" but continued to use his old one. Shouta couldn't care less about what the kid decided to write on as long as it was paper so he didn't mind the notebook not getting used and even that may change whenever Izuku inevitably fills up his current one.
Now Izuku carries his ratty notebook in a backpack, one that would be used for school once Shouta was able to find one he was comfortable enrolling the kid in. He was bound to a few more things hidden away inside it too—Shouta had told him to pack enough to entertain himself for a few hours—but he didn't know what else. Probably some non-fiction books that he often found Izuku reading. He was much less secretive with of those so Shouta could tell they were books intended for kids at a higher reading level than Izuku should be at, but it was obvious Izuku was intelligent so he didn't doubt the kid was comprehending at least most of what he reads.
Shouta had his own bag hung over his shoulder. Having graduated with his bachelor's degree a year prior, he hadn't needed a bag in a long time but with the dozens of papers he was carrying it felt like a good time to bust out his old shoulder bag. You would think that with Nezu's whole thing being computers he would be more keen on doing all his paperwork on one but for some reason the creature likes physical documentation about things like this, things being his contract going over every aspect of what will be his new job and countless other documents he needed to read to accept the job as the law and ethics teacher at UA.
While it is a bit annoying and he isn't entirely convinced the rat didn't just print everything off to screw with him, the weight is nothing to a trained hero and the only advantage he sees in digital copies is they are easier to carry around and harder to lose. He shakes off his wandering train of thought and focuses on the road ahead.
Izuku is good about sticking close, however, Shouta has already found he is more comfortable with strangers than those he knows personally which would make him an easy target. That may be an insensitive thing to say but it's true and it doesn't even take a hero to know that so even though they live in a decent area, he stays vigilant until they are sitting side by side on the train that takes them to Shouta's alma mater. The entire ride, Izuku sits still and calm which has an older woman telling Shouta how his son is such a good kid, a statement that is only half true though he doesn't correct the woman about their private information.
The rest of their commute to UA is uneventful and soon Shouta is showing Izuku how to scan in their guest badges so they don't have a giant wall shoot up in their face. The wonderment shining in Izuku's eyes that had appeared the moment the gate came into view only grows as they walk through campus, his eyes finding interest in every detail. Shouta remembers the feeling to an extent when he was a first year at UA so he can't even imagine how it feels at such a young age. The last time he had been on campus, though, was his graduation and with how Nezu loves to see others struggle with direction—having compared it to rats in a maze when the creature acted as his mentor—it's no surprise when the chimera finds them long before they find their way to the principal's office.
"Shouta," the creature cheerfully greets and Shouta does his best to make the instinctual whip of his head look less out of surprise. His attempt doesn't work on Nezu which he isn't surprised by, the rodent is one of the few beings that can stay off his radar without a quirk that aids in stealth and that paired with the creature's intelligence means there isn't much that would truly surprise him in regard to the rodent, he is however, thoroughly disappointed. "What a pleasure to see you again. This must be the son I've heard so much about."
"Foster son," Shouta corrects, "and I've told you his name and age for his guest badge, anything else you know is because you're a stalker." The final word causes Izuku to shrink back and Shouta notes the reaction to think on later and whether it was the word itself that upset him or the perceived insult.
"It's semantics," Nezu waves off, "what's important is that I know and that according to my research, our meeting might be a bit dull for someone so young," or for anyone, Shouta thinks to himself, "so I took it upon myself to ask a current staff member with a son Izuku's age to bring them in."
He looks down at Izuku who is staring at Nezu in palpable fear. After a few seconds the kid drags his eyes from the chimera and faces Shouta with that terror-filled expression. Izuku urgently shakes his head and signs 'I can s-i-t.'
Shouta wouldn't force the kid to do something he was so uncomfortable with, not so early and not over something unnecessary, but Izuku's tense body language and eyes on the verge of tears make his cold, dead heart break nonetheless. "Izuku isn't very comfortable around people."
"I understand. While I can't say it's the same, I too have been hurt for things out of my control, especially relating to my quirk as an animal." Izuku looks back at Nezu with more curious eyes and a contemplative expression. "So I can assure you I wouldn't have arranged this if I thought anything bad of the boy but Hitoshi is also a bit like yourself. He's had quite a few people close to him hurt him because of his quirk."
Bright green eyes widen at the mention of the mystery kid's quirk and Nezu easily catches the change. "Interested them?" Izuku hesitantly nods. "Well, then why don't we get you two acquainted."
The group of three begins to walk again which, based on his faded memories of the place, seems to be to the teacher's lounge. Unlike the journey so far, this walk is filled with talking entirely on the rodent's part. Rooms they pass by and the history of the school are the main topics but Izuku still listens with rapt attention to the droning facts before the creature announces their arrival and asks Shouta to open the door for them.
"Now this is our teachers' lounge. It is generally where staff spend their time between their classes and after school but due to the break, not many people are in today," he explains, "though as I told you before we do have another guest for you;
Izuku," the rodent introduces then gestures to a boy similar in size standing on the other side of the room "this is Hitoshi, Hitoshi this is Izuku." Izuku stands behind Shouta, partially shielded by his height, and waves at the slightly taller purple-haired boy. With how long it's taken for the kid to get comfortable enough to hide behind Shouta for protection—something he is privately ecstatic about— he's worried about how this will go, especially because while he trusts Nezu's judgment, he still knows nothing about this boy aside from his name. However, Nemuri is sitting at a desk having been talking to the boy in question before they entered and while Izuku doesn't know or trust her, Shouta does.
He kneels down next to the boy. “Are you sure you want to stay here with Hitoshi? You don’t have to if you don’t want, my meeting might be boring but you’re welcome to come.” Izuku hesitates but ultimately nods his head. “Okay well, do you see that woman over there?” He asks and points to his old friend. “Her name is Kayama Nemuri and she’s a pro hero too-“
'M-i-d-n-i-g-h-t.' The boy slowly fingerspells and while he understands long before the word is finished he watches until Izuku signs the last letter before speaking.
“I’m not going to ask why you know that but you’re right. She’s also a friend of mine so if something happens or if you just want to get away you can tell her, okay? She’ll help.”
'Okay.'
“Okay. I’ll be back soon. Are you sure you’re okay?” Izuku casts one last glance at the room’s other small occupant and nods his head more confidently this time. Then, unexpectedly the kid steps closer to Shouta and wraps his thin, short arms around his side. The positioning is awkward, it's short-lived, and they are both stiff, Izuku from uncertainty and anxiety and Shouta from shock, but there is no doubt in the world that Izuku had just initiated their first hug, at least he prays to God that it's the first of many.
No matter, the contact is quick and in an instant he’s far out of arms reach and cautiously crossing the room with his hands clutching onto the stiff straps of his bag. He watches as Izuku anxiously waves to the other boy who responds with quiet words, quiet enough that Shouta has to strain to hear them but isn’t given the time to do. “Come now, Shouta, we have much to get through and so little time,” his former teacher commands and Shouta huffs in response but he follows the principal after sending one last look towards the duo of children.
Remembering what he’d planned on asking before, Shouta whips his phone out as soon as they are out the door.
Nemuri
Can you keep an eye on Izuku for me and call if anything happens
of course i can, thats my nephew youre talking about
He’s not your nephew but thank you.
well he would be if someone cared to keep in contact
but fear not, that will be resolved when were coworkers so dont fuck this up sho ;)
11:56 am
With a tired sigh, Shouta slips his phone away and tunes into whatever his former mentor is saying. From that moment until they are finished over two hours later, he doesn’t think the chimera stops talking once excluding short breaks for the tea they’d discussed his mass amounts of paperwork over. After that long and dull meeting, Shouta walks out of the principal's office as his old high school’s new law and ethics teacher.
His bag is much lighter and his brain feels like mush as he walks back to the teacher’s lounge eager to see his ward again and to get them both home for a well-deserved nap, or rather Shouta will nap while Izuku will likely watch a documentary or write in his notebook. When he enters the lounge though, he immediately notices something is off.
“Nemuri," he starts slowly and doesn't bother to keep the accusatory tone from his voice, "where is Izuku?”
The woman doesn't look concerned, doesn't even look at him as she shrugs. “They wanted to explore so I let them go out.”
“You left him unsupervised?” He demands.
“I don’t know about Izuku but Hitoshi’s turning eight in a few months and they’re in one of the most secure facilities in the country, Shouta, they’re fine.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about," he grits out and turns to leave in hopes of finding Izuku before he has a panic attack around a kid who wouldn't know how to handle it without further triggering the boy. Shouta tries not to think of any of the worse scenarios that stubbornly echo through his head as hissed whispers. Before any of that though he's stopped by his old friend.
“Fine if you’re going to be such a protective papa I’ll go find them.”
“I am not a dad, I barely know Izuku," he denies because it's true. He doesn't have a right or reason to feel the pride that swells in his chest when the kid does something he's scared of or joy whenever Izuku shares a moment or an awkward hug with him. He also doesn't have a reason to hope these two weeks and that one hug is all he'll get with the hurt but somehow still incredibly brave boy.
“Mhm that was definitely the vibe I got when you two were saying goodbye like it was the end of the world rather than a meeting,” she says sarcastically. “Oh and while I’m gone I thought it would be best you work out any animosity between your new coworkers so I called someone down for you. They’ll be here in a minute.”
Without any further explanation of that ominous statement, the heroine begins to walk away. “Wait animosity? Who’d you call?”
“I’m sorry Shouta I was just sent on a very important mission, I don’t have time to talk," the woman says over her shoulder with faux urgency and slides open the door but stops just inside it.
“Nemuri,” a frantic and horribly familiar voice calls his high school friend’s name. “You said there was an emergency, where’s Hitoshi?”
“The kid’s fine, I’m just about to go find him.”
“Find him?!” the host of the radio show Shouta always skips over when looking through stations screeches.
“Yes, you two need to stop worrying so much. Now go in there and talk to Izuku’s father, those boys were already attached at the hip when I let them leave so you’ll all be seeing a lot of each other soon, I’m sure, so clear the air,” Nemuri all but demands and shoves the second half of the conversation into the room before slamming the door shut behind him.
“Clear the-?” the man starts but cuts off when he catches sight of Shouta. He looks different, Shouta thinks. With Present Mic being a limelight hero it's inevitable that Shouta's seen him over the years but this wasn't like the promotional or hero merchandise he'd seen. Standing before him dressed up in a dark leather costume didn't stand Present Mic because the man was without his ridiculous hairdo and instead long, blonde hair was pulled up in a quick bun. Translucent shades were traded in for rounder glasses with light makeup hidden beneath them. This wasn't Present Mic, the rising hero somewhere in the top 100 last he'd heard, this was Yamada Hizashi and he hadn't spoken with Yamada Hizashi in five years.
The two of them stand and stare at each other in silence, the air tense between them. Shouta wonders if he grabbed one of the half dozen knives he kept on himself at all times would he be able to cut that tension. He decides against trying and instead swallows the lump in his throat before tersely addressing the man, “Yamada.”
“Aizawa,” the blond replies looking just as awkward and out of place as Shouta felt. “It’s been a while.”
“It has,” he agrees and plans on standing in awkward and tense silence for however long it takes for Nemuri to return with his kid so he can leave, however, his mouth doesn't seem to get the memo his mind sent in time. “So you work at UA now.”
“Yeah, English and I’m getting a homeroom class this year. And you?”
“Law and Ethics.”
“It suits you," Yamada huffs a largely forced laugh but his smile quickly falters as does the man while he searches for some way to keep up a conversation that's already as good as dead. "You uh- you have a kid now.”
Shouta shrugs. “A foster kid but yes and you do too.”
“Yeah and same.”
“Cool," he trails off without much to say on that or on anything really and really what is there to say? They hadn't left on the best terms and they hadn't spoken in years. Any relationship they had or could ever hope to have died alongside the part of their heart Oboro took with him. They aren't partners, they aren't friends, all they are is coworkers now both in the field and as teachers and they don't need to be anything but civil with each other for that. "I think-” he starts but overlaps with the other man.
“Look S-Aizawa- Oh I’m sorry. You go first.”
“No, it’s nothing, just say what you were going to say.”
The voice hero hesitates but ultimately sighs and gives in. “...Fine. I just wanted to say-”
“We’re back!” Nemuri announces and slides open the door with a wide smile, then following behind her comes the most unexpected thing he’s probably ever seen. Izuku had been extremely hesitant to be around this new kid and Shouta knew why. He didn’t have details but Shouta knows the kid hasn’t had good experiences with his peers during the few years he’s been in school, it’s why he’s still looking for a place to enroll the kid. At best he had expected for Izuku and Hitoshi to hang out in some kind of amicable silence or for there to be tension that resulted in Shouta being called and Izuku joining his meeting. What he hadn’t expected was for Izuku to walk into the room with a wide smile—at least the biggest he’s seen on the boy—and practically vibrating out of his skin, his quick movements shaking the other smiling boy through the connection that is their clasped hands. The sight makes Shouta's brain reboot but there is one thing he knows through the shock which is the two are undeniably adorable.
“I take it you had fun?” He asks the kid who loses some of his excitement when facing him. It hurts a little no matter how much he gets it, but Izuku still holds a small smile as he answers Shouta’s question with a meek nod. Then the boy’s nervous eyes flick over to the man on his right and they go wide.
Bright green eyes are stuck on the leather clad blonde and Izuku’s jaw drops then, with what must be all the awe and amazement the kid could muster, Izuku whispers, “Present Mic.”