Chapter Text
Katsuki shivered slightly under the air conditioning of detective Tsukauchi’s office, waiting for the next instruction from the man currently in the room adjacent. The small leak in the ceiling didn’t help at all, slowly dripping down into a bucket that was gradually filling ever so gently. Katsuki had never been a fan of the cold- his room evident of the fact, being filled with layers of blankets and sweaters.
However, he wasn’t sure if he could still call it his room.
Detective Tsukauchi had already informed him that it looked unlikely that he wouldn’t be going back anytime soon, if the state of the house when the police arrived was anything to go by. The man Tsukauchi was speaking to in the room next to him was apparently who would be taking care of him for the time being, at the very least until the case regarding his parents had been discussed in court, although most likely longer depending on the outcome. He could see through the large office windows that the man was also wearing a police uniform like the rest of the officers in the station, had raven-dark hair and unkempt stubble. Katsuki slumps into his seat on the couch at the thought of going to court, but what say did he really have? So far, the only questions he had been asked were about the discipline from the old hag and his basic information (which he had unwillingly given when asked about).
As if on cue, Tsukauchi finally walks back into the room with his usual confidence, followed by the new man, who approached much more lazily. He wore a large, grey scarf, draped around his shoulders, and shifted his posture as he spoke.
“Hey, kid. I’m Shota Aizawa. It’s nice to meet you.” He spoke gruffly, eyes locked onto Katsuki’s- Katsuki wasn’t a fan, suddenly finding the notice board incredibly interesting.
Tsukauchi spoke before the silence could become tense, “Bakugo, this is Aizawa- as he just said- and he works in a different section of the Mustafu police force. You’ll be under his care for the time being, whilst the court case takes place. He’s a good friend of mine, you’ll be safe in his hands.”
Now whilst Katsuki was not one to quickly trust anyone- let alone someone he had just met- in the few hours that he had spent with Tsukauchi, he had learnt the detective wasn’t quite so bad (and maybe even began to trust him). In the time passing, waiting for documents to be sent and people to respond, he had taken an interest in the kid’s hobbies. Apparently, the detective had a teenage daughter of his own who also enjoyed skateboarding. Katsuki started to notice the similarities between the man and the girl that he often sees smoking at the skatepark with her friends, but thought it better not to mention that.
“…right.” Responded Katsuki, bringing his thoughts back on track to the situation at hand.
“Well, if everything’s set, I ended work an hour ago, and ‘Zashi should be done by now. Are you ready to go?” Aizawa spoke up again, pulling out the hair tie keeping his hair locked in a bun.
The boy nodded, standing up from where he had sat cross-legged on his chair.
Following behind Aizawa like a lost duckling through the police station, the pair eventually reached the man’s car. Katsuki had not noticed Tsukauchi appearing just as he finished putting the few bags he had on him into the car boot, startling at the man behind him all of a sudden.
Not like her, Katsuki. She’s not here right now.
“I just wanted to confirm a couple of things with you, Aizawa. That alright? It will only take a minute.”
Aizawa sighed, “go on then. Katsuki, car door’s unlocked. Get in when you’re done packing up.”
Katsuki nodded once more, closing the boot when-
Where should he sit?
Aizawa could have meant the passenger seat, or the backseat- and how would he know where in the back to sit? If he sat in the wrong spot, would he-
“Kid? You alright?” Aizawa pulled him out of his spiral, taking notice of the fact he’d been awkwardly standing outside the car for however long he’d been lost in his thoughts.
“Uh- where should I sit?”
Aizawa tilted his head, “wherever you want, kid. Up front, if you like.”
A choice?
Katsuki wasn’t expecting that.
Sitting in the back meant Aizawas eyes wouldn’t constantly be watching him from the corner of their view, so he opted to sit in the backseat behind the drivers. Moments later, the adults had finished talking and Aizawa was getting into the car. He hadn’t mentioned Katsuki’s choice of seating, which the blonde found himself releasing some of his tenseness at.
The ride back to Aizawas place was quiet other than the other cars along the city roads, streets mostly empty and lit only by the streetlights. Katsuki found his gaze wondering upwards, towards the sky encompassed by clouds that blocked any stars from being seen. The rain that had begun earlier in the evening had come to a stop, leaving the dusty grey behind.
“Bakugo?” Aizawa asked, watching Katsuki through the rear mirror.
“Hmm?”
“I asked if you’d eaten yet tonight. It’s quite late, so my husband and son should’ve eaten already, but we can cook something up.”
Husband? When Aizawa had mentioned Hizashi earlier, Katsuki had assumed he meant a brother or older son. But a husband? In some way that the boy hoped wasn’t wierd, that ever so slightly eased his nerves. Bringing his attention back to the question at hand, he sat up straight, “I’m not hungry, sir.”
Aizawa frowned slightly at the young boy’s wording. “First of all, no need for such formalities, kid. You can call me Aizawa or Shouta, whichever you prefer. And whilst I understand you might not feel so hungry right now after everything, if you haven’t eaten yet it’s important that we get something in your system.”
Well, that was unexpected. Katsuki had expected him to brush it off at best. Instead he was faced with- what was that- genuine concern?
The fight with his parents had begun whilst he was cooking earlier that evening. So no, he hadn’t gotten the chance to eat since lunch at school, which, isn’t all that nutritious itself. Now that he thought about it more and paid attention to his body, Katsuki realised he was in fact quite hungry. With how much he worked out, he usually ate more than the average teen anyway. Skating took a lot of energy out of him too, not that he was sure whether or not he would be doing that anymore.
“Uhm, I guess I haven’t? The old hag started shit whilst I was cooking as per usual, so I didn’t get to finish making that.”
Moving on from the slightly concerning point as to why a thirteen year-old was cooking his own meals on a regular basis, Shouta nodded as he took a left turn into a much quieter neighbourhood. Not too long after, Katsuki could feel the car slowing to a stop and opened his eyes from where he had briefly rested them (and, if he had almost fallen asleep, neither of the two said anything).
“Alright, we’re home kid. Need any help getting your stuff out the back?” Aizawa says, unbuckling his own seatbelt and taking his keys. Katsuki removes his own, scowling at the suggestion.
“I’m fine, I don’t need help.” The younger boy snapped, slamming the car door shut. Instantly realising his mistake afterwards, the blonde froze with his hand still hovering where the door had been moments before. “I- I’m sorry, I-“
“It’s alright kid, no need to worry about it. Car’s fine, grab your things and we’ll head in.” Aizawa reassured, shutting his own door and fiddling with his keys, attempting to find the right one.
The rain seemed to be starting up again, Aizawa hurriedly encouraging Katsuki inside. “Just so you know, I have another kid, he’s a couple of years older than you. I’ll let him introduce himself. We’ve also got two cats, but I’m guessing you’ll be fine with them since Tsukauchi said you didn’t have any allergies?”
Katsuki nodded, following Aizawa into a decently sized house for what was apparently a family of three (plus one).
Stepping into the house, Katsuki was met with the scent of coffee and cats, stronger than Aizawa himself. As one of said cats rubbed up against Katsuki‘s leg, he watched another hop down from a cat tree in the corner of the open living room. The whole downstairs floor of the house seemed to have an open floor plan, the living room being closest to the front door with the kitchen and dining room further back. The staircase tucked away to the right, a utility closet underneath it. Through the kitchen Katsuki thought he could see a laundry room, followed by a back garden.
“I’ll show you upstairs, to your room, so that you can put your things away. Sound good?”
The boy nodded for what felt like the hundredth time that evening, taking his main rucksack from where Aizawa had stretched his arm out towards him.
Given that Katsuki struggled to hide the limp of his left side, the man quickly took notice. “Did you get instructions for when you can next take painkillers for that?”
The blonde boy buffered, what had they told him? One moment he was being limply carried out of his house, the next he was in some bright hospital room barely able to hear whatever they were saying.
“Uhm, I’m not sure. Sorry.”
Aizawa bottled his concern of the kid’s lack of awareness for his new upcoming call with Tsukauchi to ask about whether the kid could take any medication yet.
“No worries, kiddo. I’ll ask Tsukauchi later. You sure you don’t want me to carry that?”
“I told you, I’m fine. I’m not weak.” Katsuki spat, tensing his shoulders up to his neck.
“Needing help doesn’t make you weak, Katsuki. You’re injured, it’s okay to need extra assistance.”
Slowly, Katsuki’s shoulders deflated to their original position at the base of his neck. On one hand, this could just be a test to see if he’ll really stoop to that level. However, this bag is really fucking heavy on his hurt shoulders right now.
The teenager carefully slides his bag off of his shoulder into his hand again, passing it back to Aizawa without so much as a glance.
And if the raven-haired man had to hold back a smile? Nobody was around to know.